Research


1. Energy-efficient Buildings


  • 1.1 PCM Integration into building envelopes

  • Ref: Building and Environment 199, 107930, article link


      • Publications
    1. Rai AC, 2021. Energy performance of phase change materials integrated into brick masonry walls for cooling load management in residential buildings, Building and Environment 199, 107930, article link.
    2. Sharma V and Rai AC, 2020. Performance assessment of residential building envelopes enhanced with phase change materials. Energy and Buildings 208, 109664, article link
      3. Funding
      • 2017-22: BITS Outstanding Potential for Excellence in Research and Academics (OPERA) award, 19.8 lakhs.


    2. Climate Change Impact Assessment


  • Ref: Energy and Buildings 244, 111050, article link.


      • Publications
    1. Rai AC, 2021. Energy performance of phase change materials integrated into brick masonry walls for cooling load management in residential buildings, Building and Environment 199, 107930, article link.
    2. Sharma V and Rai AC, 2020. Performance assessment of residential building envelopes enhanced with phase change materials. Energy and Buildings 208, 109664, article link.
      3. Funding
      • 2017-22: BITS Outstanding Potential for Excellence in Research and Academics (OPERA) award, 19.8 lakhs.


    3. Indoor Air Quality


  • 3.1 Phytoremediation of Indoor Particulate Matter

  • Ref: Energy and Buildings 244, 111050, article link.


      • Publications
    1. Budaniya M and Rai AC, 2021. Phytoremediation of airborne particulate matter in indoor environments. Healthy Buildings Europe, Oslo, Norway. Conferred distinction award!
    2. Budaniya M and Rai AC. Effectiveness of plants for passive removal of particulate matter is low in the indoor environment. Under review in Building and Environment.
      3. Funding
      • 2019-22: Assessment of indoor plants for improving air quality in buildings, SERB, 39.71 lakhs.


    3.2 Indoor Ozone-initiated Chemistry


  • Ref: Science of the Total Environment 607, 691-705, article link


      • Publications
    1. Rai AC, Lin C-H, and Chen Q, 2015. Numerical modeling of particle generation from ozone reactions with human-worn clothing in indoor environments. Atmospheric Environment 102, 145-155, article link
    2. Rai AC, Lin C-H, and Chen Q, 2014. Numerical modeling of volatile organic compound emissions from ozone reactions with human-worn clothing in an aircraft cabin. HVAC&R Research 20, 922-931, article link
    3. Rai AC, Guo B, Lin C-H, Zhang J, Pei J, and Chen Q, 2014. Ozone reaction with clothing and its initiated VOC emissions in an environmental chamber. Indoor Air 24, 49-58, article link
    4. Rai AC, Guo B, Lin C-H, Zhang J, Pei J, and Chen Q, 2013. Ozone reaction with clothing and its initiated particle generation in an environmental chamber. Atmospheric Environment 77, 885-892, article link
    5. Rai AC and Chen Q, 2012. Simulations of ozone distributions in an aircraft cabin using computational fluid dynamics. Atmospheric Environment 54, 348-357, article link


    4. Low-cost Air Pollution Monitors


  • Ref: Science of the Total Environment 607,691-705, article link


      • Publications
    1. Rai AC, Kumar P, Pilla F, Skouloudis AN, Di Sabatino S, Ratti C, Yasar A, and Rickerby D, 2017. End-user perspective of low-cost sensors for outdoor air pollution monitoring. Science of the Total Environment 607, 691-705, article link
      Funding
    • 2020-22: Development of a reliable, low-cost, portable, IoT-enabled, optical device for measuring PM2.5 concentration in air, DST-DDP, 35.96 lakhs.


    5. Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage for Concentrated Solar Power


  • Ref: Renewable Energy 174, 305-319, article link


      • Publications
    1. 1. Tiwari V, Rai AC, and Srinivasan P, 2021. Parametric analysis and optimization of a latent heat thermal energy storage system for concentrated solar power plants under realistic operating conditions. Renewable Energy 174, 305-319, article link
      Funding
    • 2022: Improved design methodology for high-temperature thermal energy storage systems for concentrated solar power plants, Travel grant from EU-SFERA, 5 lakhs.