Interview with Ilango Thiagalingam, energy researcher at VEDECOM and project manager for reducing the energy consumption of the auxiliaries in the electric vehicle and optimising the thermal comfort of occupants.
Living the adventure of energy transition
After a master’s degree in fundamental physics, I obtained a PhD in energy on the thermal optimisation of the hydrogen manufacturing process by methane reforming at Air Liquide. I then spent two years at the CNRS, before joining VEDECOM to continue living the adventure of energy transition applied to the field of mobility. I guess you could say I found my true calling!
Reducing energy consumption of electric vehicles
My team works on reducing the energy consumption of auxiliary systems in electric vehicles, while ensuring a high level of comfort for occupants. The idea is to reduce the energy cost required for “comfort on demand” in an electric vehicle. This reduction makes the vehicles more appealing by increasing their autonomy and acceptability.
Disruptive solutions to optimise thermal comfort
I’m in charge of developing and maintaining a digital multiphysics platform that was created in-house. This tool is used to model the interaction between the human body and its complex thermal environment. The aim is both to predict the subjective comfort felt by an individual and to join the comfort demanded to its energy cost. In so doing, we are giving our partners the tools and know-how they need to test and assess the performance of their solutions, which in turn helps them address any challenges they face. I must also provide them with disruptive, high added-value technical and technological solutions to help them both make the energy transition and stay competitive in the field at the international level.
Bringing real added value to the industry through applied research
One of the main things I love about VEDECOM is its very specialised scientific position. When research is too basic, there’s little chance you will ever see the fruits of your labour. At the Institute, however, research is aimed at finding disruptive solutions in response to a very concrete and precise problem, with the aim of putting the proposed innovations into place quickly.
An unforgettable project for me was developing and validating a decision-making tool that can be used to quickly model a passenger compartment in an extremely simple way. This software is used evaluate an idea or a product in the design phase at very early on, to justify further evaluation and/or a proof of concept. The advantage of this solver is its ability to produce results quickly in a way that’s very similar to what you can get from more complicated tools. Our partners are super interested in this tool and we are constantly improving it. I think that’s an incredible success and it perfectly demonstrates the added value that can be brought to a manufacturer.
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