The Water – Energy Research Lab (WERL) is an experimental research group directed by Prof. Akanksha Menon in the Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech. We apply thermal science and functional materials to develop sustainable energy and water technologies. Of particular interest are engineered systems that mitigate the effects of climate change and promote decarbonization, including solar desalination (hybrid membrane-thermal processes and thermal brine concentrators), thermal energy storage across a range of temperatures (thermochemical reactions), and low carbon buildings (natural fiber-based insulation and zero GWP dehumidification/refrigeration technologies). Our research also aims to provide a fundamental understanding of the thermodynamic properties and transport processes in dynamic materials applied to the aforementioned systems.
