A Student Who Seeks to Build His Own Legend in the Soil of His Homeland and at the University of Tehran!

Ehsan Shirkhanlo reporting from the Vice-Presidency for Research and Technology News Desk of the University of Tehran:

Hossein Shojamanesh, a master’s student at the School of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Tehran, in an exclusive interview unveiled his innovative invention: a device which, despite its similarity to existing models, has succeeded, through significant improvement in energy consumption and extension of filter lifespan, to take a step beyond foreign counterparts. He says:

“We failed many times, but we continued again. Our goal was to improve efficiency and to create a product that would truly be useful in daily life.”

Beginning of the Project
This project started in 2020 at the Surface Nano engineering Laboratory of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Tehran. Shojamanesh, together with his team, decided to redesign personal air conditioners (Personal AC) in order to achieve a more portable and efficient device—a device that would be most effective in hot and dry cities.

Technical Features of the Device

• Portable and low-consumption: Maximum power usage at the highest fan speed is only 7.5 watts.
• Flexible power supply: The device does not need main electricity and can be connected via Type-C cable to a power bank, laptop, or car charger.
• Energy endurance: A 10,000 mAh power bank can keep it running for 5 to 6 hours.
• Innovative mechanism: Instead of a mist-spraying system, it is inspired by the capillary mechanism of tree roots. Water is absorbed by super-hydrophilic filters and, through evaporative cooling, produces fresh and pleasant air.
• Superiority over foreign counterparts: Special antibacterial filters have a lifespan of up to 2 years, while similar foreign models require replacement every 6 months.

Support from the University of Tehran and Settlement in the Science and Technology Park
Shojamanesh, emphasizing the role of the university, said:
“This invention would not have been possible without the support of the University of Tehran. Our company is now based in the Science and Technology Park of the University, and this backing has smoothed our development path.”

In response to a question about future plans, he stated:
“We believe that if we do not anticipate the next versions of the product, we are doomed to fail. We have three new products under development: one is an air purifier version, another is a specialized version for automobiles, and the third, for now, cannot be disclosed due to confidentiality considerations.”

Shojamanesh concluded, inspired by The Alchemist, with a message for students:

“Everyone must pursue their own personal legend and avoid blind imitation. I tell you: have your own legend and make it a reality on the soil of your homeland.”

Conclusion
The improved personal air conditioner invented by Engineer Hossein Shojamanesh demonstrates that student innovations can transform the course of industry. This achievement is not only a response to the climatic needs of Iran, but also an example of turning an idea into a product with the support of the University of Tehran.

Watch the interview clip with English subtitles below.