IIT Delhi develops AC for 50°C heat with startup Optimist, pilot tests successful
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has developed a next-generation air conditioning system capable of operating efficiently in extreme ambient temperatures of up to 50°C, following years of research. The project has been developed in collaboration with climate-tech startup Optimist.
The new air conditioning system has been tested and certified to perform beyond laboratory conditions, maintaining effective cooling even in extreme heat of 50°C. The pilot phase has now been completed, ahead of a planned market launch.
The AC is ready to hit the market at a time when heat is increasingly becoming a major issue. And Delhi is in the thick of it.
The national capital is reeling under an intense heatwave, with temperatures hovering between 43°C and 45°C across large parts of Delhi-NCR. Delhi's temperatures breached 40°C as early as April 21-22, weeks ahead of what was once considered peak heat season.
By April 23, the IMD had issued a yellow alert covering every district of Delhi-NCR, with temperatures running nearly 6°C above normal for late April. The heat has only intensified since.
As of Monday, April 27, Delhi is in its fourth consecutive day of heatwave conditions, with temperatures hovering near 45°C.
The collaboration between IIT Delhi and Optimist, spanning approximately 18 months, is therefore a need of the hour.
Professor Anurag Goyal from the Department of Mechanical Engineering serves as a technical advisor to the startup. Several students from his research group have also contributed to joint product development.
Pranav Chopra, co-founder and CTO of Optimist, highlighted the importance of the collaboration, stating that India's extreme heat conditions combined with its demographic and economic structure present a complex engineering challenge.
"The combination of India's severe heat (up to 50°C), low per capita GDP, and high population density creates a uniquely difficult problem. The technical expertise of IIT Delhi researchers and their understanding of Indian conditions have been critical to our R&D efforts," Chopra said. "The talent level of both faculty and students has been a major asset. We expect this partnership to continue for the next decade."
The industry-academia partnership has involved extensive engineering work, including the development of HVAC simulation tools, digital twin systems, heat exchanger design, and validation of performance under extreme environmental conditions.
The company conducted tests at their facility where extreme heat conditions were simulated in rooms where the AC had been installed to see if it could function adequately. And it did.
Early results from pilot testing indicate that Optimist's air conditioners are capable of delivering the expected cooling performance even at ambient temperatures of 50°C, while maintaining high energy efficiency. Researchers say this reflects the precision engineering approach adopted in the collaboration.
Professor Anurag Goyal noted that India's climate presents unique challenges for cooling systems, especially under extreme heat conditions. He explained that the joint work with Optimist involved detailed simulations and thermal analysis, leading to the development of a highly efficient air conditioning system tailored for Indian conditions.
"This collaboration highlights the impact of industry-academia partnerships and our combined ability to address some of the most challenging engineering problems," he said.
Founded in 2024 by Ashish Goyal and Pranav Chopra, Optimist recently raised $12 million to scale manufacturing, strengthen R&D, expand its service network, and accelerate development of its aluminum-enabled cooling platform.
The startup is currently conducting pilot tests and plans to launch its product in the coming weeks. Its collaboration with IIT Delhi will remain a key component of its engineering and product development efforts going forward.
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