Solar Thermal Conversion Technologies for Industrial Process Heating

T.V. Arjunan is a professor in the department of Mechanical Engineering, Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya (Central University), Bilaspur (C.G.). His active research areas include solar thermal applications, heat transfer, desalination, fluid mechanics, energy systems, etc. He has vast experience in teaching and research for approximately 23 years, during which he has developed many innovative solar thermal systems and supervised many research projects of undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral theses. He has executed many sponsored projects, workshops/seminars, and research projects more than 3 crore worth from various funding agencies, such as DST, AICTE, CSIR, ISTE, and MHRD. He has carried out many collaborative research projects with researchers working in India and abroad. To his credit, he has 5 patents of which 2 are international applications, authored more than 120 research papers in peer-reviewed international journals, and refereed conferences organized by various professional societies. He has contributed 4 book chapters in the field of solar energy systems published by Springer Nature. In addition, he serves as a reviewer in various highly reputed international journals. He is an active life member in several professional bodies such as ISTE, SAE, Bioenergy Forum, and Solar Energy Society of India. In recognition of his research work, he was awarded the “K F Antia Memorial Award” from the Institution of Engineers (India) and received a certificate of recognition from ZF Windpower Coimbatore Ltd, for contributing in bearing information system proof of concept development. He is an active speaker and has delivered many keynote addresses in international conferences, workshops, and seminars organized by various reputed institutions in India.

Vijayan Selvaraj is working as an associate professor in the department of Mechanical Engineering at Coimbatore Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore, India. He received his undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral degrees from Anna University, Chennai, India in 2006, 2011, and 2018, respectively. He has served as postdoctoral fellow in the department of mechanical engineering at National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli from December 2019 to June 2022. His research interests are development of solar thermal applications such as air heater, dryers, and energy storage system for low and medium temperature applications. He has authored or co-authored more than 30 publications in international refereed journals, conferences, and book chapters. Currently, he is serving as an associate editor in the Journal of Advanced Mechanical Sciences (JAMS).

M.M. Matheswaran is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering in 2006 from Anna University, Coimbatore, India, and obtained his Master's degree in Energy Engineering from the same University in 2009 and his Ph.D. degree from Anna University, Chennai, India, in 2020. Presently, he is working as an associate professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department, Jansons Institute of Technology, Coimbatore, India. His active research areas include solar thermal applications, heat transfer, solar air heaters, fluid mechanics, energy systems, etc. He has published 5 patents and authored 23 research papers in peer-reviewed international journals and refereed conferences organized by various professional societies. Further, he is serving as a reviewer in various highly reputed international journals.