M.ArunKumar is a citizen of India, born in Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu, India on 19-10-1991. He obtained his Doctoral research in the area of alternative fuels at Anna University Chennai, India. He has about 9 years of teaching experience and presently working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Agriculture Engineering, Sri Shakthi Institute of Engineering and Technology(Autonomous), Coimbatore. His areas of interests are alternative fuels, emission control, Heat Transfer.
EDUCATION
B.E.,M.E.,Ph.D.,
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Thermal EngineeringEngineering ThermodynamicsHeat ExchangersNumerical SimulationRefrigeration & Air ConditioningEnergy EngineeringProduction Of Bio DieselEnergy ConversionEnergy ConservationWaste Heat RecoveryEmissionApplied ThermodynamicsEnergy UtilizationRenewable Energy TechnologiesThermal Manage
71
Scopus Publications
1014
Scholar Citations
18
Scholar h-index
28
Scholar i10-index
Scopus Publications
Experimental analysis on two stage scroll compressor using R32 refrigerant with and without vapour injection in heat pump Arunkumar Munimathan, K. Senthil Kumar, R. Vasanthi, Anwar Khan, Sameer Algburi, Yohanis Dabesa Jelila, Salah J. Mohammed, Ali Majdi International Journal of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, 2026 This research article presents an experimental investigation of a two-stage scroll compressor using R32 refrigerant, focusing on the effects of vapor injection in heat pump applications. The study highlights the performance improvements achieved through vapor injection, with particular emphasis on operation at low ambient temperatures. Key performance indicators—heating capacity, coefficient of performance (COP), and discharge temperature—were selected to evaluate system efficiency. Notably, at an ambient temperature of − 20 °C, the vapor-injected system exhibited a 17.01% increase in COP and a 13.73% reduction in discharge temperature compared to a conventional system without vapor injection. Optimal injection ratios and intermediate pressures were identified as critical parameters for maximizing system performance. Furthermore, the integration of an internal heat exchanger (IHX) demonstrated potential in stabilizing compressor operation and enhancing reliability by limiting the maximum discharge temperature—an essential factor in ensuring safe and effective operation under freezing conditions. The study also observed that vapor injection helps reduce the discharge temperature during prolonged operation, contributing to system longevity. Overall, the findings confirm that vapor injection is a promising strategy for improving the efficiency and performance of heat pumps, particularly in cold climates. This work contributes to a deeper understanding of the operational characteristics of two-stage scroll compressors with vapor injection and provides strong evidence supporting the use of R32 refrigerant in environmentally and energy-efficient heat pump systems.
Machine learning-driven performance and emission optimization of cerium oxide nano-enhanced tobacco biodiesel in CI engines Ahmed Kateb Jumaah Al-Nussairi, Ali.B.M. Ali, Mohammad Aljaidi, Yasser Taha Alzubaidi, Arunkumar Munimathan, Mohammad Khishe Hybrid Advances, 2026 As fossil fuel reserves continue to diminish and environmental concerns intensify, the search for renewable, sustainable, and cleaner alternatives has gained momentum. Biodiesel derived from tobacco seed oil offers an eco-friendly and non-edible option for compression ignition (CI) engines. In this study, tobacco seed oil methyl ester (TSOME) was blended with diesel at B10, B20, B30, and B40 ratios, each supplemented with 0.5 wt.% cerium oxide (CeO 2 ) nanoparticles to enhance combustion efficiency and emission behavior. A combined framework of experimental evaluation, machine learning (ML) prediction, and response surface methodology (RSM) optimization was employed. Performance and emission characteristics were assessed using a single-cylinder, four-stroke, water-cooled Kirloskar CI engine under varying loads (25–100%). Standard instrumentation measured brake thermal efficiency (BTE), brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), smoke opacity, and exhaust gas temperature (EGT). Results showed that B10 and B20 blends achieved efficiencies comparable to diesel at higher loads, with <1% deviation in BTE and BSFC. All biodiesel blends exhibited substantial reductions in CO, HC, and smoke emissions, although NOx emissions increased due to higher in-cylinder temperatures. Among the ML models, artificial neural networks (ANN) outperformed random forest (RF) and support vector regression (SVR), achieving R 2 values above 0.99 in the experimentally studied operational field. RSM optimization identified B20–B30 blends at 75–100% engine load as the optimum operating range, balancing efficiency and emissions. The findings indicate that biodiesel mixtures in which the CeO 2 nano-additive TSOME is used are a feasible and compatible partial diesel replacement in compression-ignition engines that are run under controlled conditions, and hence investments into the real-time combustion diagnostics, adaptive injection sets, and tailored fuel-nanoparticle complexes are justified.
Fabrication and characterization of acacia leucophloea bark fiber-reinforced epoxy composites with lotus seed shell powder as a sustainable bio-filler D․T․ Arunkumar, Binayak Pattanayak, Vinayagam Mohanavel, Sathish Kannan, S․Lakshmi Sankar, Manickam Ravichandran, Arunkumar Munimathan, Manikandan Ayyar, Lalitha Gnanasekaran Results in Engineering, 2026 • This work examines the production and analysis of Acacia leucophloea (AL) fibers reinforced with epoxy resin and Lotus Seed shell powder (LSSP) as a filler. • FTIR spectroscopy verified the existence of C-H bond vibrations associated with cellulose in AL fiber reinforcement, and XRD shows the crystallinity index of 30.44%. • The optimized composite exhibited increases of 24.47% in tensile strength (TS), 16.33% in flexural strength (FS), 36.52% in impact strength (IS) and 19.23% in Shore D hardness. • Thermal conductivity increased by 27.26%, while the coefficient of linear thermal expansion decreased by 54.12, indicating enhanced thermal stability. • The thermal stability of the composites, varied from 235 to 445°C, indicating a notable enhancement compared to unaltered natural fiber composites. The growing global demand for sustainable materials has driven the shift toward bio-based fiber composites to replace synthetic polymers. However, limited studies have addressed the poor thermal stability and interfacial adhesion of natural fibers, particularly the unexplored Acacia leucophloea bark fiber and Lotus Seed Shell Powder combination. This study develops Acacia leucophloea bark fiber (ALF) reinforced epoxy composites with Lotus Seed Shell Powder (LSSP) as a bio-filler, constant fiber content at 30 wt% and LSSP from 1–3 wt% at an interval of 0.5wt%. The fibers were alkali-treated (5% NaOH, 45 min, room temperature), cut to 20 mm, and dried, while LSSP was mechanically and ultrasonically dispersed in the epoxy prior to hand layup casting. Seven composite specimens were fabricated without and with fiber and differing weight ratios of LSSP filler to evaluate their effects on the mechanical and thermal properties of the composite materials. The integration of LSSP fillers markedly enhanced the mechanical and thermal performance. Compared to the control sample (pure epoxy), the optimized composite (A30L3) exhibited significant improvements with increases of 47.29% in tensile strength (TS), 33.66% in flexural strength (FS), 39.71% in impact strength (IS) and 28.28% in Shore D hardness. Thermal conductivity increased by 30.28%, while the coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CLTE) decreased by 35.49, indicating enhanced thermal stability. The thermal stability of the composites, as determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), varied from 235 to 445°C, indicating a notable enhancement compared to unaltered natural fiber composites. Dynamic mechanical analysis demonstrated the improved viscoelastic properties, signifying superior thermal durability and dimensional stability under dynamic heating conditions. One-way ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD test revealed statistically significant differences (p < 0.0001) across all composite groups. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR)spectroscopy verified the existence of C-H bond vibrations associated with cellulose in AL fiber reinforcement, and XRD shows the crystallinity index of 30.44%. These composites demonstrated robust antibacterial characteristics, thereby improving functional value. Surface morphological and elemental analysis demonstrated the strong bonding at the interface between AL fibers and the matrix reinforced with LSSP filler, hence reinforcing the structural integrity of the materials. The A30L3 composites consistently exhibited superior mechanical and thermal properties. This work is novel in demonstrating that the combination of ALF and LSSP produces sustainable, multifunctional composites with enhanced mechanical and thermal properties, highlighting their potential for lightweight structural applications.
Sustainable solar desalination using an inclined solar still: Experimental investigation and hybrid GA-machine learning optimization Manoj Kumar Shanmugam, Arunkumar Munimathan Environmental Progress and Sustainable Energy, 2026 Solar desalination is a technology that demonstrates an environmental innocuous method of freshwater generation in water‐stressed areas; however, the application of the technology is limited by low thermal efficiency and unpredictable performance in different climatic conditions. This paper presents an experimental study of a inclined solar still, which has been complemented with a phase‐change material (PCM) and optimized using a hybrid Genetic Algorithms (GA) and Machine Learning (ML) algorithm. Design and operating variables, such as the angle of the glass cover, the depth of the water in the basin, and the temperature of the glass surface were all optimized to achieve maximum thermal efficiency as well as to achieve maximum distillate yield. It was experimentally shown that the optimized configuration achieved a peak thermal efficiency of about 44%, and the highest freshwater yield of 4.9 L m −2 day −1 . The combined GA‐ML approach, in turn, will optimize the usage of energy and predictability of its operations, which in turn facilitates the evolution of smart and low‐emission solar desalination systems allowing it to be used in decentralized and off‐grid water‐supply systems.
Tribological behaviour analysis of polymer composite materials for sheet metal forming Journal of the Balkan Tribological Association, 2018
A study of reversing valve performance in split type air conditioner International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology, 2018
RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
High purity 4H-SiC grown via PVT for smart solar inverter applications with IoT-based performance monitoring A Munimathan, KS Kumar, M Kannan, R Dhairiyasamy, TMY Khan, ... Energy Reports 15, 109181 , 2026 2026 Citations: 1
Synergistic enhancement of jatropha methyl ester combustion via Fe2O3–SiO2 hybrid nano-additives and staged hydrogen enrichment in CI engines A Munimathan, KS Kumar, R Vasanthi, MM Alam, F Hussain, A Keçebaş International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 231, 154857 , 2026 2026
Experimental evaluation of heat transfer improvement using ceramic nanofluids in a concentric tube heat exchanger A Munimathan, ABM Ali, S Kumar, M Kannan, A Shakir, AS Al-Hiti, ... Discover Materials , 2026 2026
Mechanical, morphological, and vibrational damping analysis of hybrid glass fiber mat-reinforced polyester polymer composites S Satheeshkumar, A Munimathan, V Mohanavel, S Kannan Fibers and Polymers 27 (4), 1995-2006 , 2026 2026
Sustainable solar desalination using an inclined solar still: Experimental investigation and hybrid GA-machine learning optimization AM Manoj Kumar Shanmugam Environmental Progress and Sustainable Energy 2026, 1-12 , 2026 2026
Integrated evaluation of direct-expansion solar-assisted heat pump systems with climate-compatible refrigerants using life cycle impact and cost metrics A Munimathan, KS Kumar, M Kannan, R Dhairiyasamy, M Alwetaishi, ... Energy and Buildings, 117217 , 2026 2026
Machine learning-driven performance and emission optimization of cerium oxide nano-enhanced tobacco biodiesel in CI engines AKJ Al-Nussairi, ABM Ali, M Aljaidi, YT Alzubaidi, A Munimathan, ... Hybrid Advances, 100627 , 2026 2026 Citations: 1
Corrigendum to “Hybrid optimization of phase change material and graphene based solar stills using artificial neural networks and particle swarm tuning for desert climate water … C Sureshkumar, SA Ghorashi, R Karthikeyan, M Alamgeer, MA AlAqil, ... Applied Thermal Engineering, 130197 , 2026 2026
Experimental analysis on two stage scroll compressor using R32 refrigerant with and without vapour injection in heat pump A Munimathan, KS Kumar, R Vasanthi, A Khan, S Algburi, YD Jelila, ... International Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration 34 (1), 1 , 2026 2026
Hybrid optimization of phase change material and graphene based solar stills using artificial neural networks and particle swarm tuning for desert climate water recovery C Sureshkumar, SA Ghorashi, R Karthikeyan, M Alamgeer, MA AlAqil, ... Applied Thermal Engineering, 129697 , 2026 2026 Citations: 1
Structural Optimization and Fatigue Performance Evaluation of a Hybrid Carbon–Glass Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Composite Modular Swing Arm for Lightweight Electric Two‐Wheeler … SK Jayabalan, A Munimathan, MI Iqbal, AOA busaidi, TRA Nasiri Polymer Composites , 2026 2026
Hybrid PCM-embedded concrete for thermal energy storage and energy-efficient smart buildings SD Shri, ABM Ali, A Munimathan, R Dhairiyasamy, M Kannan, MH Abed, ... Innovative Infrastructure Solutions 11 (1), 48 , 2026 2026 Citations: 1
Fabrication and Characterization of Acacia leucophloea Bark Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Composites with Lotus Seed Shell Powder as a Sustainable Bio-Filler DT Arunkumar, B Pattanayak, V Mohanavel, S Kannan, SL Sankar, ... Results in Engineering, 108342 , 2025 2025 Citations: 3
GrCRA PCRTAM net based hybrid approach for intelligent control and optimal power management in renewable integrated power distribution systems S Arulkumar, M Arif, P Patro, MS Ramkumar, M Sivaramkrishnan, ... Scientific Reports 15 (1), 39976 , 2025 2025 Citations: 2
Plasmon-Induced Photoconductivity in Perovskite–Metal Hybrid LEDs Using MAPbI₃ and Metal Nanoparticle Architectures PM Venugopal, KS Manickam, R Dhairiyasamy, A Munimathan Plasmonics 20 (11), 10559-10572 , 2025 2025 Citations: 2
Nanostructured coatings for enhanced photothermal conversion in solar desalination systems MEM Soudagar, A Munimathan, KS Kumar, A Sharma, M Chahar, ... Applied Thermal Engineering 278, 127316 , 2025 2025 Citations: 7
Oxidative stability and storage behavior of soybean–macauba biodiesel blends: Experimental evaluation using GC-MS and FTIR analysis A Munimathan, S Rajendran, J Jayabalan, EP Venkatesan, CK Chan, ... Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of … , 2025 2025
Performance, Combustion, and Emission Analysis of CeO2 Enriched Tobacco Seed Oil Biodiesel in CI Engines A Munimathan, KS Kumar, S Singh, R Dhairiyasamy, M Kareemullah, ... Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, 107261 , 2025 2025 Citations: 5
Enhancing solar energy efficiency through comparative analysis of photovoltaic and hybrid photovoltaic-thermal systems PM Venugopal, KS Manickam, A Munimathan, R Dhairiyasamy Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 292, 113806 , 2025 2025 Citations: 9
Effect of graphene coating thickness on thermal performance of microwave assisted solar thermal hybrid system MEM Soudagar, PK Singh, V Mohanavel, TM Nithya, N Nagarajan, ... Applied Thermal Engineering 277, 127079 , 2025 2025 Citations: 5
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Experimental studies on engine performance and emission characteristics using castor biodiesel as fuel in CI engine M Arunkumar, M Kannan, G Murali Renewable Energy 131, 737-744 , 2019 2019 Citations: 149
Optimal energy management for multi-energy microgrids using hybrid solutions to address renewable energy source uncertainty MS Ramkumar, J Subramani, M Sivaramkrishnan, A Munimathan, ... Scientific Reports 15 (1), 7755 , 2025 2025 Citations: 72
Utilization of Azadirachta indica biodiesel, ethanol and diesel blends for diesel engine applications with engine emission profile T Sathish, V Mohanavel, M Arunkumar, K Rajan, MEM Soudagar, ... Fuel 319, 123798 , 2022 2022 Citations: 58
Micro-Grid Renewable Energy Integration and Operational Optimization for Smart Grid Applications Using a Deep Learning H Gangwar, SM Parambil Gangadharan, L Daniel, B Srinivasa Kumar, ... Electric Power Components and Systems, 1-16 , 2024 2024 Citations: 49
Comparative study of mechanical properties and thermal stability on Banyan/Ramie fiber‐reinforced hybrid polymer composite T Raja, S Ravi, A Karthick, A Afzal, B Saleh, M Arunkumar, R Subbiah, ... Advances in Materials Science and Engineering 2021 (1), 5835867 , 2021 2021 Citations: 42
A Study on Performance and Emission Characteristics of Diesel Engine Using Ricinus Communis (Castor Oil) Ethyl Esters MA Munimathan Arunkumar ,Vinayagam Mohanavel ,Asif Afzal ,Thanikodi Sathish ... Energies 14 (14), 1-17 , 2021 2021 Citations: 41
Investigation on the mitigation of environmental harmful emissions by incorporating nanoparticles to biofuel water nano emulsion in low heat rejection engine PV Elumalai, C Sivakandhan, M Parthasarathy, S Mohamed Iqbal, ... Heat and Mass Transfer 57 (8), 1235-1250 , 2021 2021 Citations: 35
Performance study on phase change material integrated solar still coupled with solar collector T Maridurai, S Rajkumar, M Arunkumar, V Mohanavel, K Arul, D Madhesh, ... Materials Today: Proceedings 59, 1319-1323 , 2022 2022 Citations: 34
Environmental behaviour of synthetic and natural fibre reinforced composites: A review A Munimathan, K Muthu, S Subramani, S Rajendran Advances in Mechanical Engineering 16 (10), 16878132241286020 , 2024 2024 Citations: 33
Study on Compaction and machinability of silicon nitride (Si3N4) reinforced copper alloy composite through P/M route T Sathish, V Mohanavel, A Karthick, M Arunkumar, M Ravichandran, ... International Journal of Polymer Science 2021 (1), 7491679 , 2021 2021 Citations: 27
Modeling and stress analysis of aluminium alloy based composite pressure vessel through ANSYS software V Mohanavel, S Prasath, M Arunkumar, GM Pradeep, SS Babu Materials Today: Proceedings 37, 1911-1916 , 2021 2021 Citations: 26
Advancement of steam generation process in water tube boiler using Taguchi design of experiments T Sathish, V Mohanavel, A Afzal, M Arunkumar, M Ravichandran, ... Case Studies in Thermal Engineering 27, 101247 , 2021 2021 Citations: 25
Investigation on Heat Transfer Enhancement in Microchannel Using Al 2 O 3 /Water Nanofluids A Munimathan, T Sathish, V Mohanavel, A Karthick, R Madavan, ... International Journal of Photoenergy 2021 (1), 6680627 , 2021 2021 Citations: 25
Cooling performance of a Li-ion cylindrical battery pack with liquid circulating pipes embedded in phase change material R Jilte, A Afzal, SA Khan, M Asif, EP Venkatesan, A Munimathan Journal of Energy Storage 87, 111335 , 2024 2024 Citations: 24
A Novel Visible Light-Driven p-Type BiFeO 3 /n-Type SnS 2 Heterojunction Photocatalyst for Efficient Charge Separation and Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity M Arunkumar, S Veerakumar, V Mohanavel, J Vairamuthu, V Vijayan, ... Journal of Cluster Science 32 (5), 1431-1439 , 2021 2021 Citations: 22
An integrated approach using active power loss sensitivity index and modified ant lion optimization algorithm for DG placement in radial power distribution network P Rajakumar, PM Balasubramaniam, MH Aldulaimi, A M, S Ramesh, ... Scientific reports 15 (1), 10481 , 2025 2025 Citations: 21
Evaluation of RCCI engine combustion, performance, and emissions using spirulina micro-algae biodiesel with methane-enriched hydrogen A Munimathan, J Jayabalan, MK Shanmugam, HS Majdi, M Asif, ... International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 77, 712-723 , 2024 2024 Citations: 21
WITHDRAWN: Non-destructive fruit maturity detection methodology-A review M Arunkumar, A Rajendran, S Gunasri, M Kowsalya, CK Krithika Materials Today: Proceedings , 2021 2021 Citations: 19
Performance study of a single cylinder diesel engine using diesel with Pongamia pinnata and Camelina sativa seed oil blends G Murali, M Anusha, M Arunkumar Materials Today: Proceedings 21, 206-211 , 2020 2020 Citations: 16
Effect of continuous fiber reinforcement on mechanical and tribological characteristics of cellulose and human hair fiber polymer composites S Ravi, V Mohanavel, M Ayyar, S Kathiresan, S Kannan, A Munimathan, ... Results in Engineering 25, 104480 , 2025 2025 Citations: 15