The use of thermal energy storage (TES) systems is essential for solar power systems because of fluctuations in the solar energy input. Several classes of storage may be required for a single installation, depending on the type and scale of the solar power plant itself, and the nature of its integration with conventional utility systems. For heating and hot water applications, water and phase change materials (PCMs) constitute the principle storage media. Soil, rock and other solids are used as well. In this regard School of Mechanical Engineering, Galgotias University organized a national webinar on &ldquoResearch Perspectives in Solar Thermal Energy Storage&rdquo on 29^th July 2020 from 10:45-12:30pm. The objective of this webinar was to introduce the Solar Thermal Energy storage Technology to all students of School of Mechanical Engineering and audiences across the nation who are looking forward to understand the energy conservation. Through this Webinar, students and teachers are encouraged to understand the new technology in the present era.

The Speaker of this lecture was Dr. R. Senthil, who is presently working as Associate Professor at SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur Campus, Chennai. The event was started on Zoom platform from 10:45 am with the welcome note was given by our Mechanical engineering student Mr. Kartik Chaudhary. The event was coordinated by Mr. Manoj Kumar, Assistant Professor, School Of Mechanical Engineering, Galgotias University.  

The Speaker shared his hand-on experiences in installation of 100kwp Solar Photovoltaic Power Station. He also explain the details about the stages for research on any specific field. He discussed the research perspective foe the general and in the solar field. He listed out the all the details in the points are:

In General:

• Seeing Different Things is Not a fruitful Research
• Seeing a Thing Differently is called research

Solar Thermal Energy storage:

• Maximum Energy in Minimum Time
• Trying to imitate the Nature
• Sustainable Development
• Utilization in Building or Protection of buildings
• Storing Energy for late use

Heat transfer enhancements in PCM:

&bull Addition of fins

&bull Use of heat pipes

&bull Multiple PCMs (Cascaded PCMs, eutectics)

&bull PCM encapsulation (Macro, micro, nano)

&bull Addition of nanoparticles

&bull Dynamic melting (Mixing, rotating, vibration)

&bull Design of PCM containers (cylindrical, spherical, rectangular etc)

&bull Porous medium (Metal foams)

The entire session given all the required details for the research perspective in solar thermal energy storage and was very informative. The vote of thanks was given by Dr. M. Maniraj , Associate Dean, School of Mechanical Engineering . All the participants including the professors and faculty members were satisfied with our content. Webinar was successfully ended with positive response and the interactive question session with zero left queries. In Zoom, 250+ participants and many of them join on YouTube.  This Webinar was live streamed on YouTube. On the basis of feedback filled by the participants, auto generated e-certificate were issued to them.