Vijayakumar S
Thermal Engineer | Ph.D. Researcher | HVAC Systems Specialist
Chennai, IN.About
Highly accomplished Thermal Engineer and Ph.D. researcher specializing in advanced refrigeration and HVAC systems, with extensive hands-on expertise in vapour compression, absorption, solar-assisted, and natural refrigerant-based cooling. Proven ability in thermal load calculations, heat exchanger design, system integration, and performance validation, consistently delivering energy-efficient and sustainable cold storage solutions. Adept at the full lifecycle of cooling systems, from design and fabrication to commissioning and troubleshooting, ensuring practical engineering implementation and optimal system performance.
Work
IIT Madras
|Project Officer – Domestic Compact Solar Desalination & Cold Storage Project
Chennai, Tamilnadu, India
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Summary
Currently leading the design, fabrication, and evaluation of a compact solar-powered cold storage system at IIT Madras.
Highlights
Led the end-to-end design and fabrication of a compact solar-powered cold storage system, specifically for domestic applications, enhancing energy independence.
Successfully integrated advanced PV and solar thermal subsystems with refrigeration, optimizing system performance and sustainability.
Currently evaluating the system's cooling rate, storage efficiency, and stability under tropical conditions to validate real-world performance.
Adithya Inst. of Tech. (AIT)
|Assistant Professor – Dept. of Mechanical Engg.
Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India
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Summary
Educated and mentored mechanical engineering students while contributing to departmental academic and research initiatives.
Highlights
Taught core Mechanical Engineering courses, including Thermal Engineering, Thermodynamics, and Refrigeration & HVAC, to over 200 students annually.
Mentored and guided numerous undergraduate and postgraduate student projects, fostering practical research skills and technical innovation.
Contributed to departmental academic planning and curriculum development, enhancing program relevance and student outcomes.
PA Polytechnic College
|Lecturer - Department of Mechanical Engineering
Pollachi, Tamilnadu, India
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Summary
Provided foundational instruction in Mechanical Engineering, preparing students for technical careers.
Highlights
Delivered foundational lectures and practical sessions in Mechanical Engineering, preparing 150+ students for technical careers.
Supervised laboratory experiments and workshop activities, ensuring hands-on learning and skill development in mechanical processes.
Provided academic support and counseling to students, contributing to improved learning outcomes and student retention.
Education
IIT Madras
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Ph.D.
Mechanical Engineering
Grade: 8.5/10
Courses
Measurements in Thermal Engineering
Refrigeration Machinery and Components
Sorption, Refrigeration and Heating System
Utilisation of Solar Energy
Design and optimisation of Thermal Equipments
SNS College of Tech.
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M.E.
Thermal Engineering
Grade: 9.481/10
Courses
Measurements in Thermal Engineering
Refrigeration Machinery and Components
Sorption, Refrigeration and Heating System
Utilisation of Solar Energy
Design and optimisation of Thermal Equipments
Dr. Mahalingam CET
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B.E.
Mechanical Engineering
Grade: 7.67/10
Courses
Measurements in Thermal Engineering
Refrigeration Machinery and Components
Sorption, Refrigeration and Heating System
Utilisation of Solar Energy
Design and optimisation of Thermal Equipments
Awards
HTRA Scholarship
Awarded By
Ministry of Education, Government of India
Awarded a prestigious scholarship supporting Ph.D. research in Mechanical Engineering from 2019 to 2024.
Gold Medal – Branch Topper in M.E. Thermal Engineering
Awarded By
SNS College of Technology, Coimbatore
Recognized as the top-performing student in M.E. Thermal Engineering.
Publications
Certificates
New Product Development in CNC Machining
Issued By
Kriatec Services
Advanced Diploma in TPM (Total Productivity Management)
Issued By
TÜV Rheinland
Skills
HVAC & Refrigeration Systems
Vapour Compression Systems, Absorption Refrigeration, Solar-Assisted Cooling, Natural Refrigerants, Thermal Load Calculation, Pull-down Analysis, Equipment Sizing, Heat Exchanger Design (Evaporator, Condenser, Plate Heat Exchanger), Cold Storage Systems, System Integration, Commissioning, Troubleshooting.
Thermal Engineering & Analysis
Energy Modelling, COP Evaluation, Performance Analysis, Heat Transfer, Fluid Dynamics, Thermodynamics, Experimental Validation, Design and Optimisation of Thermal Equipments, Measurements in Thermal Engineering.
Technical Software & Tools
Aspen Plus, Aspen Exchanger Design and Rating, Ansys Fluent, SolidWorks, AutoCAD.
Research & Development
Technical Documentation, Design Reports, Specifications, Experimental Design, Data Analysis, Scientific Publication, Problem-Solving.
Projects
Advanced Plate Heat Exchangers for Enhanced Cooling using Modified PHEs
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Summary
Research project focused on fabricating and testing modified plate heat exchangers to enhance heat transfer and energy efficiency in VCR systems.
Spray-Coated Heat Exchangers for Energy Efficiency
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Summary
Project focused on surface-engineering corrugated plate heat exchangers to improve thermal performance and energy efficiency.
Solar Absorption Cold Storage System for Tropical Climates
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Summary
Designed and built a 3.5 kW solar absorption cold storage system for tropical climates, focusing on performance evaluation.
Electronic Equipment Cooling using Water, Ethanol, and Petrol Mixture
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Summary
Developed a closed-loop thermosyphon system to cool high-heat-flux electronic equipment using various fluid mixtures.