Anna University Regional Campus in Coimbatore has been awarded Rs 1.29 crore from the Chief Minister's Research Fund (CMRG) for four science-driven projects focusing on cleaner mobility, greener power grids, inclusive AI learning, and smarter water safety. The faculty-led initiatives include a low-cost hydrogen vehicle and pump-station alternative, natural-oil transformer insulation to reduce pollution, an AI website for disabled learners, and real-time wastewater treatment monitoring.
Green Hydrogen Production Project
Dr K Rajasekar's project, titled “Development of a Robust Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM)-Based Electrolyzer with Cost-Effective Catalysts for Green Hydrogen Production,” has received Rs 35.54 lakh under the CMRG Scheme for 36 months. It aims to develop efficient, durable, and affordable AEM electrolyzers using low-cost catalysts to reduce reliance on precious metals and enable renewable-powered hydrogen. The project supports clean energy, fuel-cell mobility, grid storage, green ammonia, industrial decarbonisation, and fertilizers. It also explores ammonia-based storage and hydrogen refuelling stations, targeting a 30% reduction in vehicle cost. Dr Alagunambi Ramasubbu serves as the co-principal investigator.
Natural-Oil Transformer Insulation
A project to replace mineral transformer oil with renewable vegetable oils has been sanctioned Rs 25 lakh under the CMRF scheme. Dr S Sumathi, an assistant professor in the EEE department, leads the project. The study tests dielectric strength, thermal performance, and aging under Indian grid conditions, aligned with International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standards. Biodegradable, non-toxic oils with higher flash and fire points can reduce pollution, improve safety, and support a circular economy.
Inclusive AI Learning Platform
A 24-month project, “Adaptive Learning Platform for Fair and Inclusive Exam Preparation,” led by Dr S N Mahalakshmi, an assistant professor in English and head of science and humanities department, will build an AI-NLP adaptive platform for disabled, economically disadvantaged, and socially marginalised exam aspirants. It has been sanctioned Rs 19.28 lakh for Braille displays, Daisy players, smart pens, audio devices, transcription tablets, JAWS, ZoomText, and Articulate 360, enabling a low-bandwidth bilingual Tamil-English system with teacher dashboards.
Wastewater Treatment Monitoring
Dr M Yuvaraj, an assistant professor in the computer science department, has developed a digital twin technology for wastewater treatment enabling round-the-clock monitoring. The project has received a Rs 24 lakh sanction under the CMRF scheme.
Impact and Future Plans
Dr M Saravanakumar, dean of Anna University Regional Campus, stated that the state scheme sanctioned three projects last year and four this year, bringing ongoing projects to seven. These projects strengthen labs, expand research scope, and motivate students through internships. The four domains target urgent societal problems, scaling impact in energy, education, and public health.
