Dean Profile
Professor E.Natarajan secured his B.E. degree in Mechanical Engineering (1988) from Madras University with a Gold Medal for University First Rank and M.Tech in Thermodynamics, Combustion and Propulsion (1990) from the Mechanical Engineering department of Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. He obtained his Ph.D in Renewable Energy from Anna University (1998)on Biomass Gasification through a sponsored project by Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), Stockholm, Sweden.
During his doctoral research programme, he visited and conducted research studies in the laboratories of
- Royal Institute of Technology (Kungl Techniska Hoshkolan), Stockholm, Sweden,
- Energy Technology Centre, Pitea, Sweden,
- Lulea University, Lulea, Sweden, and
- Umea University, Umea, Sweden.
He was also selected and trained by Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), as early as 1996, on Design and Applications of Solar Systems by the experts of National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE, erstwhile Solar Energy Centre), Gurgaon, New Delhi and Siemens' Solar Industries, Los Angeles, USA under a World Bank sponsored Programme.
Under this programme, he has visited and undergone training at
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) - Golden, Colorado, USA (on research and module performance evaluation and most recent developments in thin-film processing).
- Siemens Solar Industries – Camarillo, California, USA (on the manufacturing process and marketing developments)
- Hollister Ranch Developments – Santa Barbara, California, USA (on National Electric code compliant home installations and commissioning issues related to solar installer/electrical contractors).
- Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) - Sacramento, California, USA (on utility scale grid support facilities (400 kW) and residential grid connected homes (4 kW) operated by SMUD utility, and performance evaluations).
- Photovolatics for Utility Scale Applications (PVUSA) - Davis, California, USA (on a utility scale testing facility with varied module technologies, and performance evaluations).
He has also been trained on Design, Operation and Applications of Nuclear Energy in the College of Nuclear Science, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan in 2012 under the South East Asia International Joint research and Training Program- Energy and Environmental impact in 21st century.
He has more than 30 years of teaching and research experience in the field of Thermal and Energy engineering and successfully guided many doctoral research candidates. He has published many peer-reviewed articles in journals and conferences and made large number of presentations. He has also conducted a number of national and international conferences and workshops. He worked in number of technical committees and societies.
He is a life member/fellow of Indian Society for Technical Education; Indian Society for Mechanical Engineers; Combustion Institute, Solar Energy Society of India and Institution of Engineers. The team guided by him won the prestigious international Second Prize from NASA in the year 2008 for a technical paper on “Design of Transport Aircraft for the Future”.
He is a winner of active Consultant award by CTDT, Anna University (2019); Distinguished Alumnus Award (1999) from VIT, Vellore and Winner of the Sir Gabriel Stokes Prize (Mechanical Branch) 1988 and the Dr.A.L.Mudaliar Prize (1988) for academic excellence.
He is currently (2018-2020) involved in the installation and performance testing of a pilot plant for solar drying of lignite at the Centre for Applied Research and Development (CARD), in NLC India Limited, Neyveli (Project cost 80.00 Lakhs). He is also officiating as the Director of Institute for Energy Studies (IES), and Coordinator of AU-NLCIL Innovation Hub for Energy, Environment and Sustainability” (ANIHEES), established at IES with the seed fund of (Rs.495.67 Lakhs) by NLCIL for innovative product development through interested entities / companies / MSMES / start-ups.
He has authored a book on Engineering Thermodynamics and compiled Steam Tables for UG and PG students of Engineering Curriculum. He has also edited a book on Sustainable development.
His area of interest include Biomass Gasification, Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic Systems, Modeling and Thermodynamic Analysis of Engineering Systems, Renewable Energy Based Thermal and Electrical Plants and Energy Efficient Buildings.