Special Projects
• Summary of IIT-Associated Solar & Cooling Projects
Kanyakumari Solar Desalination Project (IED Project)
A solar multi-application desalination system installed at Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari.
Funded by the Ministry of Health Sciences.
Designed to treat seawater and produce high-purity distilled water.
System capacity: ~10,000 m³/day (average production ~1.13 m³/hour).
Key components
Solar thermal system
Solar photovoltaic (PV) system (15–25 kW)
Solar multi-effect desalination system (flash chamber, evaporator, condenser)
Water quality: Less than 5 ppm (high-purity distilled water).
Water is mixed with remineralized water before use for drinking and domestic purposes.
Brine disposal is environmentally safe, returned to the sea via a diffuser system to avoid ecological impact.
Research outcomes were published in journals such as Solar Energy and Solar Compass.
Solar thermal system
Solar photovoltaic (PV) system (15–25 kW)
Solar multi-effect desalination system (flash chamber, evaporator, condenser)
Water quality: Less than 5 ppm (high-purity distilled water).
Water is mixed with remineralized water before use for drinking and domestic purposes.
Brine disposal is environmentally safe, returned to the sea via a diffuser system to avoid ecological impact.
Research outcomes were published in journals such as Solar Energy and Solar Compass.
Neyveli Solar Cold Storage Project (cooling tower-neyveli)
A 1 TR solar-powered cold storage system designed for R&D and chemical storage.
Operates at around 10°C room temperature.
Based on Vapor Absorption Refrigeration System (VARS).
Refrigerants used: R-134a and Dimethylformylamine (DMF).
Key components
Solar thermal collectors (~20 kW) for heat input
Solar PV plant (~15 kW) for pumps and motors
Primarily used by Neyveli for chemical storage and research applications.
Rooftop Solar VARS R&D System
Similar to the Neyveli system but installed on the 7th floor of a building.
Requires higher pumping power due to height.
Designed as an R&D and optimization platform.
Uses a cold water bath simulator instead of a physical cold room.
Purpose: to study system behaviour, heat exchanger modifications, and performance optimization.
Focused on developing a compact, efficient, and optimized absorption cooling system.
4MW Germany
In 2014 Mr. Ashok Kumar was appointed as the Consultant for 4MW Heilbronn, Germany. This is an On-Ground project.
In 2014, Ashok Kumar was appointed as a Consultant for a 4 MW ground-mounted solar power project in Heilbronn.
This international project marked a significant milestone, showcasing technical expertise in large-scale solar installations and global collaboration in renewable energy deployment.
75kW Kayathar
This is a hybrid of Wind energy and solar energy. 250kW of wind energy and 75kW of solar energy. This is the project of the National Institute of Wind Energy. The wind energy is used for only 5 months, the rest of the time the energy will be supplied by the solar grid.
This project represents an innovative hybrid renewable energy system combining 75 kW of solar power with 250 kW of wind energy.
Executed in association with the National Institute of Wind Energy, the installation at Kayathar demonstrates the effective integration of multiple renewable sources to ensure consistent and reliable power generation.
RO Plant Thoothukudi, Government periyathali panchayat
This project to convert salt water into drinking water. RO is used to convert the salt water using the energy generated from the solar.
25kW on grid system of solar installed
1lakh liter sharpener plant
Sump 1lakh liter - panchayat over head tank
A sustainable water infrastructure project implemented in Thoothukudi for the Periyathalai Panchayat, aimed at converting saline water into safe drinking water.
Key highlights of the project include
Installation of a 25 kW on-grid solar power system to operate the plant efficiently
Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology used for desalination
1 lakh litre capacity water purification system
1 lakh litre sump connected to the Panchayat overhead tank for distribution
This project stands as a model for integrating renewable energy with essential public utilities, ensuring sustainable access to clean drinking water in coastal regions.
Installation of a 25 kW on-grid solar power system to operate the plant efficiently
Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology used for desalination
1 lakh litre capacity water purification system
1 lakh litre sump connected to the Panchayat overhead tank for distribution
This project stands as a model for integrating renewable energy with essential public utilities, ensuring sustainable access to clean drinking water in coastal regions.