EST&P students selected for the 2017 Energy Sustainability conference

Several EST&P students were selected by a conference committee to particiapate in the Engineering Sustainability 2017 in Pittsburgh, PA at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center from April 9-11, 2017. 

Ashwin Kumar Balaji and Akshay Sanjeev Patil gave an oral presentation for their selected abstract titled, “Shared Wireless Charging Infrastructure Model for Electric Vehicles”.  The project focused on designing an affordable wireless charger that can be used with current and future versions of electric vehicles while also implementing a service program that allows owners to list their chargers for rent. A business model was also prepared for the same and this project was presented in front of an audience filled with professionals and academics familiar with the transportation industry. The project garnered a lot of attention and the pair have since presented this idea at the MIT energy conference and at the 2017 Energy Week at Carnegie Mellon.  

Additionally, Vasudevan Nambeesan (M.S. EST&P) and Jacqueline Gibbons (M.S. Mech E) showcased a research poster titled, "Design of Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Power Plant for a Delhi Landfill".  This project explored the potential for the usage of a MCFC power plant system fed by the landfill gas generated by the Okhla Landfill in Delhi, India. A complete, closed-loop thermodynamic model of a 500 kW power plant system was constructed and the required fuel stack area was calculated based on the power requirement as well as the landfill gas potential available at the site. Additionally, a basic cost analysis was performed based on the major equipment of the power plant and the Levelized Cost of Electricity for the power plant was calculated.

Many EST&P students and faculty attended this conference which takes place in Pittsburgh every two years.  We hope future EST&P students take advantage of this opportunity to participate.