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Navin Kumar

Technical Staff

Innovative energy researcher and engineer specializing in thermal energy technologies, including storage systems, heat pumps, and energy-efficient appliances. Recognized for effectively bridging research and practical applications through collaborations with universities, national laboratories, and industry partners. A prolific author and engaged member of professional organizations such as ASHRAE and ACEEE, with a strong commitment to advancing sustainable energy solutions

GTI Energy — Des Plaines, IL
Residential Building Efficiency Group
Principal Engineer (March 2021 – May 2024)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Oak Ridge, TN
Multifunctional Equipment Integration Group
Postdoctoral Researcher (Feb 2019 – March 2021)

Viking Cold Solutions — Houston, TX
Research and Product Development Engineer (April 2018 – Feb 2019)

Texas A&M University (College Station, TX) -  Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach, FL) - Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering 

ASHRAE TC 6.9 Thermal Storage - Handbook Chair

ASHRAE SPC 233 - Co-Chair

Corresponding Member: ASHRAE TC 6.9

ACEEE Hot Water and Hot Air Forum - Session Chair and Organizer (2023 & 2024)

Journal article reviewer: Applied Energy (Elsevier), Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews (Elsevier), ASME Heat Transfer Journal, Energies, Materials, Journal of Cleaner Production (Elsevier), Chemical Engineering Journal (Elsevier), Journal of Energy Storage (Elsevier).
 

Li, Yuzhan, Kyle R. Gluesenkamp, Monojoy Goswami, Navin Kumar, Timothy J LaClair, Orlando Rios. Stable salt hydrate-based thermal energy storage materials. US Patent 11,560,503, granted January 24, 2023. https://patents.google.com/patent/US20210340423A1/en 

Odukomaiya, Adewale; Jason Woods, Nelson James, Sumanjeet Kaur, Kyle Gluesenkamp, Navin Kumar, Sven Mumme, Roderick Jackson, Ravi Prasher (2021). “Addressing Energy Storage Needs at Lower Cost via On-Site Thermal Energy Storage in Buildings,” Energy & Environmental Science, 2021, 14, 5315-5329.  

Kumar, Navin; Jason Hirschey, Tim J. LaClair, Kyle R. Gluesenkamp, Samuel Graham (2019). “Review of Stability and Thermal Conductivity Enhancements for Salt Hydrates,” Journal of Energy Storage, v. 24, 100794. 

Damilola O Akamo, Kai Li, Tugba Turnaoglu, Navin Kumar, Yuzhan Li, Collin Pekol, Nitish Bibhanshu, Monojoy Goswami, Jason Hirschey, Tim J LaClair, David J Keffer, Orlando Rios, Kyle R Gluesenkamp (2024). "Enhanced thermal reliability and performance of calcium chloride hexahydrate phase change material using cellulose nanofibril and graphene nanoplatelet," Journal of Energy Storage, v. 75, 109560

Damilola O Akamo, Navin Kumar, Yuzhan Li, Collin Pekol, Kai Li, Monojoy Goswami, Jason Hirschey, Tim J LaClair, David J Keffer, Orlando Rios, Kyle R Gluesenkamp (2023). “Stabilization of low-cost phase change materials for thermal energy storage applications,” iScience, v. 26

Tugba Turnaoglu, Navin Kumar, Jason Hirschey, Yuzhan Li, Damilola O Akamo, Tim J LaClair, Orlando Rios, Kyle R Gluesenkamp, Samuel Graham (2023). “Phase Change Material for Thermal Energy Storage in Buildings Based on Sodium Sulfate Decahydrate and Disodium Hydrogen Phosphate Dodecahydrate,” Conference Energy Sustainability. 

Hanlong Wan, Kyle R Gluesenkamp, Bo Shen, Zhenning Li, Viral K Patel, Navin Kumar (2023). “A thermodynamic model of integrated liquid-to-liquid thermoelectric heat pump systems,” International Journal of Refrigeration, v. 150, 338-348

S Kannan, N Kumar, MA Jog, RM Manglik (2022). “Phase-Transition Efficacy and Material Compatibility with Thermal Cycling of Lithium Nitrate Trihydrate as a Phase-Change Material,” Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, v. 61, 16431-16351

Jason Hirschey, Monojoy Goswami, Damilola O Akamo, Navin Kumar, Yuzhan Li, Tim J LaClair, Kyle R Gluesenkamp, Samuel Graham (2022). “Effect of expanded graphite on the thermal conductivity of sodium sulfate decahydrate (Na2SO4· 10H2O) phase change composites,” Journal of Energy Storage, v. 53, 104949