IIT Delhi researchers design AC to slash power bills from 1200W to 800W

IIT Delhi researchers have developed an innovative add-on module for conventional air conditioners that reduces electricity consumption by nearly 33 percent. By separating cooling and dehumidification using a membrane–liquid desiccant system and recycling waste heat, the technology cuts power use from 1200W to 800W while maintaining indoor comfort.

As temperatures soar and power demand reaches seasonal highs across India, a breakthrough from the Indian Institute of Technology, IIT Delhi, could offer major relief to households and the national power grid.

Researchers led by Professor Anurag Goyal from the Department of Mechanical Engineering have developed an innovative add-on module for conventional air conditioners that can cut electricity consumption by nearly one-third, without compromising indoor comfort.

Most air conditioners used today rely on a vapour-compression system that performs two functions at the same time: cooling indoor air and removing humidity (dehumidification). To extract moisture, the system must overcool the air below the desired room temperature so that water vapour condenses into liquid on the cooling coils.

Although this method effectively controls humidity, it is highly energy-intensive because the AC works harder than necessary simply to manage moisture levels. As a result, users often lower thermostat settings to maintain comfort, electricity bills increase, and peak power demand surges during extreme summer months.

On average, a standard room AC consumes about 1200 watts during operation.

Prof. Anurag Goyal's research group has developed a compact add-on module that directly tackles moisture, instead of forcing the AC to overcool the air.