CEER-MHRD

Centre of Excellence for Energy Research (CEER) under the scheme establishment of centre of excellence in frontier areas of Science and Technology (FAST)

Funded by Ministry of Human Resource Development
Amount: Rs.2,50,00,000/- (Fund received till 2018 September,Centre became sustainable since then)
Duration: 7 Years (2014-2021)
Coordinator: Dr.T.Sasipraba
Principal Investigators:
Bioenergy: Dr.Dawn .S S
Solar Cells/Super Capacitors/Solid Oxide Fuel Cells : : Dr.P.Kuppusami and Dr.T.S.Shyju

Energy demand and need for sustainable sources for fuel production have already resulted in the development of the alternate fuel technologies. The growth of automobile fleet and mechanization of moving components in widely used unit operations in the manufacture and production sector, demand fuel sustainability not only from the availability aspect but also in terms of improved fuel properties and reduced emissions. It has therefore created a need for processes or technologies that will meet fuel demand in both quantity and quality. Centre of Excellence for Energy Research (CEER), was established under the Scheme of Establishment of Centre of Excellence in the Frontier Areas of Science and Technology (FAST) at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology in August 2014.The Centre was formally inaugurated by former President His Excellence Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam on 9th December 2014 in October.

The Centre funded by Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India has exclusive divisions to execute the research objectives in bioenergy, solar cells, solid oxide fuel cells and supercapacitors .

Research Objectives:

  1. Bio-Energy

    A bioenergy Division has setup a 50 liters production Biodiesel Unit for Conversion of any edible/non-edible oil in the Centre for Waste Management at the International Research Centre, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology (Deemed to be University). The Pilot Scale production unit facilitates bulk production of Biodiesel. An exclusive biofuel characterization facility to determine the physicochemical properties including Gas Chromatography-TCD/FID and Fermentation and Bioprocessing facility is also available to meet the following research objectives.

    • Compositional and Structural Evaluation of Kappaphycus alvarezii Rejects and Solid Food Waste Blends for Bioethanol Production

    • Investigation of Bio-Ethanol Production from Municipal Solid Waste Brewing

    • Optimization of Fermentation conditions for maximum bioethanol production from the recovered Kappaphycus alverizii rejects and food waste Reduced Sugars.

    • Recovery of Bio ethanol from fermentation broth using nanomembrane technology.

    • ZnCl2 activated carbon food waste nanoparticles for Biodiesel Wash water treatment

    • Conversion of the existing 50 Litres Capacity Pilot Plant for Biodiesel Production into Zero Liquid Discharge Facility recovering and upgrading by product bioglycerol to industrial grade and treating biodiesel wash water for reuse.

    • Oleaginous Microalgae isolation for Biodiesel production

    • Biodiesel feed stock production using micro organism (actinomycetes)

    • Performance and Emission characteristics of Waste cooking oil and Chlorella variabilis MK039712.1 biodiesel blends

    • Characterization of Food Waste for Biohydrogen Production

  2. Solar Cells

    • Developed CZTS and CZTSe based Absorber Materials

    • Development of perovskite thin film solar cell

    • Fabricated Transparent Zn-N Thin Films Prepared by RF Magnetron Sputtering

    • Development of Zn-Sn-N absorber material

  3. Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC)

    • Electrochemical Impedance spectroscopy (EIS) of Ni-YSZ Anode material for SOFC application

    • Development of anode material for SOFC

    • Development and study of conducting mechanism in cerium co-doped electrolyte materials for intermediate temperature SOFC applications

    • Application of pulsed laser deposition of doped ceria electrolyte thin films

  4. Supercapacitors

    • Synthesis and characterization of metal oxide and nitride based thin film supercapacitors

    • Application of voltammetry and impedance analysis of supercapacitors