• Utilization of agricultural residues including paddy straw, cattle dung and poultry droppings as source of energy through bioconversion and thermal conversion routes
• Slurry handling and value addition of bio-digested slurry by industrial enzymes production
• Lignin-silica solubilization of paddy straw for increasing biogas production
• Bio-fuels generation and nutraceutical production from micro-algae
• Bioenzymes preparation from fruit and vegetable wastes and its characterization
• Solar thermal energy for industrial and agricultural application
• Energy auditing and management in agriculture and agro-industries

1. PAU fixed dome type Family size Biogas Plant having capacity from 1m3/day to 25m3/day

PAU, Ludhiana designed and developed this biogas plant during the year 2005 to cater to the needs of individual’s families. This, essentially, is a mixture of Janta and Deenbandhu design of biogas plants. The gas-holder is hemispherical in shape and is structurally safe & crack-resistant. The construction of this type of plant is easy and is not very difficult from the method for the Deenbandhu Biogas Plant. This plant can be constructed with around 60 – 70% cost as compared to the cost of other conventional floating drum type (KVIC) biogas plant. These plants have been constructing by skilled workers / masons trained by PAU, Ludhiana.The ICAR has approved this design and has recommended for the" Transfer of Technology to the farmers/ end-users. The MNRE has accepted this design for the extensive adoption by end-users for the production of biogas and cogeneration. Till date, 10,000 such biogas plants have been installed in Punjab State. This technology has been commercialized by PAU, Ludhiana on 10.03.2021 and Memorandum of Agreement has been signed with 06 firms.

2. Modified PAU fixed dome Janta model Biogas Plant having capacity from 25m3/day to 500m3/day

PAU, Ludhiana designed and developed this biogas plant during the year 2005 to cater to the needs of dairy farms, poultry farms, pig farms, industries, institutes like gaushalas, educational institutions, religious institutions, NGO’s, societies etc. This, essentially, is a mixture of Janta and Deenbandhu design of biogas plants. The gas-holder is hemispherical in shape and is structurally safe & crack-resistant. The construction of this type of plant is easy and is not very difficult from the method for the Deenbandhu Biogas Plant. This plant can be constructed with around 60 – 70% cost as compared to the cost of other conventional floating drum type (KVIC) biogas plant. These plants have been constructing by skilled workers / masons trained by PAU, Ludhiana. The ICAR has approved this design and has recommended for the" Transfer of Technology to the farmers/ end-users. The MNRE has accepted this design for the extensive adoption by end-users for the production of biogas and cogeneration. Till date, 130 such biogas plants have been installed in Punjab State and 35 biogas plants have been installed in other 13 States of India. This technology has been commercialized by PAU, Ludhiana on 01.02.2023 and Memorandum of Agreement has been signed with 17 firms.

3. Paddy Straw based Biogas Plant made up of Mild Steel (M.S.) Sheet (above the ground)

PAU has designed biogas plant made up of M.S. sheet (digester above the ground and floating drum gas holder) during the year 2017 for anaerobic digestion of paddy straw for biogas production. The life of this structure is around 15 years and the advantage of this structure is that the whole structure will be above the ground due to which the vacating of the plant is very easy. This process of Dry Fermentation is a batch process, once the digester is loaded and activated, would produce sufficient gas for a period of 3 months. The digested material so produced from such anaerobic digestion is good quality manure ready for use in the fields. Till date, 20 such biogas plants have been installed in Punjab State. This technology has been commercialized by PAU, Ludhiana on 19.01.2021 and on 19.01.2021 and Memorandum of Agreement has been signed with 10 firms.

4. PADDY STRAW BALE GEYSER

Paddy straw bale combustor/geyser for heating water has been developed. A paddy straw bale is combusted inside it for heating water in annular space. About 100 litres of water can be heated to 45-500C in 3-4 hours. The water once filled in the geyser remains hot for up to 24 hours or even more. The most convenient use of the paddy straw bale geyser would be starting the geyser at night and hot water can be used in the morning time. The fuel, i.e. paddy straw bales, is not big problem for a moderate level farmer in the state. A farmer can easily stock enough paddy straw bales (about 100), in small shed, for full winter season without much of cost and efforts. A provisional patent has already been filed (Indian Patent Application No. 2038/DEL/2015) in Indian patent office. The paddy straw bale combustor/geyser has been approved by PAU research evaluation committee in its 248th meeting held on 14-12-2015 for commercialization.

Farmer using paddy straw bale geyser at his farms	Rectangular section paddy straw bale geyser.

5. Forced Circulation Solar Dryer

The ‘Forced Circulation Solar Dryer’ is a large capacity solar dryer suitable for commercial drying and has been developed by Department of Renewable Energy Engineering, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana under All India Coordinated Research Project on Energy in Agriculture and Agro-based Industries funded by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). It can be designed for any capacity requirement above 100 kg. It can be used for drying vegetables, spices, fruits etc. in the form of small solid pieces. A few examples are, turmeric (curcuma longa), fenugreek leaves (trigonellafoenum-graecum), amla (phyllanthusemblica), harad (terminalia chebula) chilly (capsicum frutescens), jamun (syzygiumcumini), bittergourd (momordicacharantia), ginger (zingiber officinale), lantil doughnut (wadian) etc. The dryer overcomes the limitation associated with traditional drying method i.e. open sun drying (OSD). The dryer requires electric energy for its operation, which can be met from main grid or solar photovoltaic modules. It has been approved by the University Research Evaluation Committee. For manufacturing and marketing of this technology, the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana has signed a MoA with M/s Vishivkarma Solar Energy Corporation, Phillaur, Distt. Jalandhar.

6. Solar Dryer with Re-circulation

It can be used to dry various products (vegetables, spices etc.) under hygienic conditions for commercial purpose. It has solar air heater, drying chamber, air blower and air dampers operated with humidity controller. It works in controlled re-circulation air loop to use maximum heating capacity of unspent air leaving the dryer. The relative humidity of air in re-circulation air loop is kept below the set value by automatically mixing of ambient air into recirculation air loop by opening and closing of air dampers. When dampers open, some amount of recirculation air is thrown out of the loop and same amount of ambient air mixes with recirculation drying air, thereby reducing its RH and temperature. It has been approved by the University Research Evaluation Committee. For manufacturing and marketing of this technology, the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana has signed a MoA with M/s Vishivkarma Solar Energy Corporation, Phillaur, Distt. Jalandhar.

7. SPV operated evacuated tube solar dryer

It has separate solar collector and dehydration chamber. The solar collector has evacuated tube collector for air heating. The evacuated tubes used in this dryer have both ends open for through flow of air. The dehydration chamber is fixed above the solar collector. At top of dehydration chamber, an electric exhaust fan is provided so as to force air through dehydration chamber and solar collector. The electric fan takes DC electricity input from solar PV module. The air in evacuated tubes gets heated because of collection of solar radiation by evacuated tubes and moves upwards due to suction by electric fan and flows through drying product placed on trays in dehydration chamber. The air after picking moisture from the drying product leaves from the top of dehydration chamber and an equal amount of the ambient air enters from lower end of evacuated tubes. This process continues as long as solar radiation falls on the solar collector. Solar PV powered fan has advantage that the electric fan runs only for the period for which solar radiation is available for heating of air. It has been approved by the University Research Evaluation Committee. For manufacturing and marketing of this technology, the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana has signed a MoA with M/s Raftaar Professional Engineering Company, Ludhiana, and M/s Vishivkarma Solar Energy Corporation, Phillaur, Distt. Jalandhar.

8. Evacuated tube collector solar dryer employing conventional evacuated tubes

It has separate solar collector and dehydration chamber. The solar collector has evacuated tube collector for air heating. The conventional evacuated tubes are used in this dryer. At bottom of dehydration chamber, an electric exhaust fan is provided so as to force air through dehydration chamber and solar collector. The electric fan takes DC electricity input from solar PV module. The air in evacuated tubes gets heated because of collection of solar radiation by evacuated tubes and moves upwards due to suction by electric fan and flows through drying product placed on trays in dehydration chamber. The air after picking moisture from the drying product leaves from the top of dehydration chamber and an equal amount of the ambient air enters from both sides of the tubes header. It has been approved by the University Research Evaluation Committee. For manufacturing and marketing of this technology, the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana has signed a MoA with M/s Vishivkarma Solar Energy Corporation, Phillaur, Distt. Jalandhar.

9. PAU SOLAR ENERGY GADGETS FOR SALE UNDER REVOLVING FUND SCHEME

Advanced Domestic Solar Dryer

Loading capacity = 1-3 kg

• Products that can be dried: turmeric, chilly, methi, palak, ginger, garlic, wadian, vegetables for pickle etc.
• Drying time: 2 - 4 days
• Only solar energy required for drying
• Drying under shade
• Dryer can be easily moved inside when not in use
• No attention required during bad weather/off sunshine hours
• In comparison to open sun dried products, solar dried products are clean, have better quality and take less drying time
• Cost = presently not available.

Solar Cooker

Two models:

• Single-step Rectangular Hot Box Solar Cooker
• Folding Two-step Asymmetric Reflector Solar Cooker

• Three cooking vessels
• Needs less tracking as compared to conventional square hot box solar cooker available in market
• Cooking accomplished by boiling
• Food that can be cooked: dal, rajma, chana, meat, rice, cake, etc.
• Frying and chapati making cannot be done
• Cooking time varies with product (generally 1-3 hours)
• Cooking time less for two step solar cooker as compared to single step solar cooker

10. Binderless Briquettes from Chopped Paddy Straw

Paddy straw can be utilized for production of Binderless Briquettes from Chopped Paddy Strawwhich can be used in various thermal applications for cooking, boiling, heating low temperature furnaces and steam generation in boilers as a substitute of wood preferably in co-firing mode. This will provide energy security, self-reliance in energy, help in creating rural employment and generation of rural income.

11. Bioenzymes From Kinnow Waste: An Organic Cleanser

The kinnow peels, droppings as well as waste from the processing industries can be utilized for the production of bioenzymes. The bioenzymes are fermented organic formulation and also known as an eco-enzyme (natural and eco-friendly), garbage enzyme, kitchen enzyme or fruit enzyme. It can be used as an effective alternative to harsh chemicals such as harpic, phenyl and chemical solutions that are used in households to clean bathrooms, toilets, floors, tiles and other surfaces. The prepared bioenzyme is transparent, light brown in colour with sweet sour odour and its pH ranges between 3.0 to 4.0. No pathogens have been detected in the bioenzymes and heavy metals are either absent or below permissible limits which indicates that it is safe to use for various applications. The shelf-stability of bioenzymes are approximately one year without any contamination. Technology for Preparation of Bioenzyme from Kinnow Waste: A fermented Organic Cleanser has been recommended by 297th REC meeting held on 25.7.23

List of Patents obtained or applied for during last five years

Granted:

All India Coordinated Research Project on Energy in Agriculture and Agro-based industries (AICRP on EAAI)

Component: Solar Energy Component (DRET-SET)

Component: Bio Conversion Technology Component (DRET-BCT)

Component: Demonstration of Renewable Energy System (DRES)

Ph.D Program: The Department offered Ph.D. degree in Energy Science and Technology till session 2022-23 and will offer Ph.D. degree in Renewable Energy Engineering from session 2023-24 the following sub-areas:

• Solar thermal energy for industrial and agricultural applications.
• Solar energy utilization in farm implements.
• Energy auditing of farm machinery implements and processes and agro-industries.
• Bio-gas generation from agricultural bio-mass by bio-conversion route.
• Slurry handling and value addition of bio-digested slurry from bio-gas plants.
• Bio-fuels generation from agricultural bio-mass including micro-algae.
• Thermo-chemical conversion of biomass
• Thermo-chemical conversion of bio-mass.

Post graduate Courses

Minor Courses (Requirement: 06 Credits)

Minor courses may be selected from subjects closely related to student’s major subject. A student can opt any course related to his/her research work of 500 series and above from the following fields of specialization Farm Machinery and Power Engineering , Mechanical Engineering, Processing and Food Engineering, Soil and Water Conservation Engineering , Irrigation and Drainage Engineering

Supporting Courses (Requirement: 05 Credits)

Courses to be added from subject matter fields (other than Minor) related to area of special interest and research problem of student.

List of other Essential Requirements

Ph.D. Students