Research Title: Modeling and analysis of unsteady state thermal performance of a single slope tilted solar still

Author: Munzer Ebaid, Published Year: 2015

Renewables: Wind, Water, and solar , 2

Faculty: Engineering and Technology

Abstract: Jordan lies in high solar insolation band and the vast solar potential can be exploited to convert saline water to potable water. The most economical and easy way to accomplish this objective is using solar still. Modeling and performance analysis of a single slope tilted solar still were investigated in this paper A computer simulation of the still is carried out to examine and predict its unsteady-state thermal performance. Runge-Kutta method of the fifth order was used to solve the developed partial differential equations numerically for the theoretical model of the solar still, and with the transient effects accounted for. Prediction of the time dependent temperature distribution along the absorber plate for the brine water, the absorber and glass cover was achieved. The thermal efficiency of the solar still over a day was predicted at different operating conditions (Solar input, ambient temperature, dust and wind velocity). The results of the simulation mathematical model were validated by comparison with experimental data obtained from an experimental tilted solar still system that has been built for comparison purposes. The performance of both systems, theoretical and experimental, is assessed under the same conditions. Numerical and experimental results showed reasonable agreement, and the best performance was obtained at flow rate of of 0.348 kg/hr for both the experimental and numerical results. Also, the work indicates that the theoretical model can be employed in the design of solar stills.

Keywords: Solar energy; Tilted solar still; Water distillation; Mathematical model

Research Title: Design, Build, and Test a Formula Student Racing Car: An Educational Engineering Exercise at Philadelphia University (PU)

Author: Munzer Ebaid, Published Year: 2016

International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education, 44

Faculty: Engineering and Technology

Abstract: This current project is carried out at Philadelphia University (PU), and describes the work associated with the design, build, and test a Formula Student racing car in order to compete at Formula Student competition at UK 2014. Following the Formula SAE regulations 2014 [1], this car must be a single seat car with an engine displacement not exceeding 610 cc. It is important to recognize that the design of a formula student racing car must involve the study of material structure, aerodynamics, suspension dynamics, internal combustion engine, selection of materials and the requirements for manufacturing. All of these procedures must be followed to reach an optimum design. The challenge to teams is to develop a vehicle that can successfully compete in all the events (static and dynamic) described in the FSAE Rules. This project is considered as an educational, practical, and training exercise on Mechanical Engineering principles for the undergraduate and graduate students. Also, it is a high performance engineering project for engineering students to acquire design concepts in automotive, engineering skills, and the freedom to express their creativity and imaginations. Finally, this project will develop experience, skills and professionalism as “hands on engineers", and hopefully to enhance automotive industry in Jordan.

Keywords: Formula student, design, hands on enineers, automotive inductry

Research Title: GENERAL AWARENESS OF ROBOT ETHICS: A CASE STUDY OF JORDANIAN MECHATRONICS ENGINEERING STUDENTS

Author: Mustafa Awwad Al Khawaldeh, Published Year: 2019

168th ISERD International Conference, London, United Kingdom,7th-8thJune2019, London, United Kingdom

Faculty: Engineering and Technology

Abstract: Robots have recently invaded our lives. Despite being indispensable tools, weaved into the fabric of our daily lives, they have introduced many ethical and social aspects. Nonetheless, the literature review shows that the awareness of robot ethics amongst engineering students has not been sufficiently investigated. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the awareness of engineering students to robot ethical issues and elicit their responses to ethically related problems. A semi-structured interview, showing some scenarios that involve a risk of robots interfering into people„s lives in an unrestrained way was conducted on 50 Mechatronics engineering students at Philadelphia University, in Jordan. Results revealed students„ lack of sufficient knowledge about robot ethics; their responses did not indicate a clear conceptualization of robot ethics. After been provided with detailed information about robot ethics, the participants reveal some concerns and offer some suggestions on how to embody ethics in robotic design considering issues relating to privacy, safety and the security of humankind. The present study opens up new avenues for future research to be conducted to further assess students„ ethical awareness and behavior.

Keywords: Ethical Applications, Mechatronics Engineering Students Robots, Robot Ethics

Research Title: Design of fuel control system using fuzzy logic for a pre-designed radial gas turbine driving directly high speed permanent magnet alternator

Author: Munzer Ebaid, Published Year: 2016

International Journal of Modelling and Simulation, 36

Faculty: Engineering and Technology

Abstract: Radial gas turbine of 50 kW power output coupled directly to a high speed permanent magnet alternator could be a favourable option as an emergency power plant at areas suffering from severe disasters, such as earthquakes, floods, volcanoes, etc. This study aims to use the results of the subtractive clustering algorithm and the least square estimation LSE method to generate a fuzzy model of the predesigned radial gas turbine system whereby the fuzzy model takes the fuel mass flow rate as an input, and gives the value of the gas turbine net work as an output. Also, to design and analyze a suitable controller of the fuel mass flow rate so that the speed of the gas turbine and the alternator is maintained at 42000 rpm. PD controller was built and tested. Results illustrate that the proposed controller achieves the desired performance and stability, and showed the effectiveness of the approach. Conclusions of this study will constitute a base for further studies that could be made to enhance the performance of the proposed emergency power plant system.

Keywords: Radial gas turbine, fuzzy logic, fuel control, high speed alternator.

Research Title: Measurements of the laminar burning velocity for propane - air mixtures

Author: Munzer Ebaid, Published Year: 2016

Advances in Mechanical Engineering Journal, 8

Faculty: Engineering and Technology

Abstract: In this research, an experimental setup was built based on using K- type thermocouples inserted in a cylindrical vessel and coupled with a computer system to enable on-line reading of flame speed for propane air mixtures. The work undertaken here has generated data for laminar burning velocity of the propane air mixtures based on three initial temperatures , , and , three initial pressures , 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 bar over a range of equivalence ratios between 0.6 to 1.5. The results obtained gave a reasonable agreement with experimental data reported in the literature. It was noticed that the laminar burning velocity increases at low initial pressures and decreases at high pressures, while the opposite occurs to the temperatures. The maximum values of the laminar burning velocity occur at , respectively, while the minimum values of the laminar burning velocity occur at . Also, the influence of flame stretching on laminar burning velocity was investigated and it was found that Lewis number was below unity for all cases considered. Based on experimental results, an empirical equation has been derived to calculate the laminar burning velocity. The values of the laminar burning velocity calculated from this equation show great compatibility with the published results. Therefore, the derived empirical equation can be used to calculate the burning velocities of any gas of paraffin gases fuels in the range of mixture temperature and pressure considered .

Keywords: propane-air mixture, burning velocity, equivalence ratio, initial pressure, initial temperature.

Research Title: Eccentricity effect on heat transfer in an annular square filled with saturated porous medium

Author: Munzer Ebaid, Published Year: 2016

Journal of Porous Media, 20

Faculty: Engineering and Technology

Abstract: In this current work eccentricity effect on heat transfer in an annular square filled with saturated porous medium has been investigated. Numerical solution based on Galerkin finite element was found for three different considered cases; (1) positive and negative diagonal eccentricity , (2) positive and negative horizontal eccentricity , and (3) positive and negative vertical eccentricity . In this study, the outer walls of the annuli were kept isothermally at hot temperature while the inner walls were kept isothermally at cold temperature . The analysis is carried out to find the influence of eccentricity for three selected none dimensional values on Rayleigh number , without and with the effect of radiation , and for different width ratios , respectively. Numerical results of fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics inside the porous medium for the three cases considered show that the increase of eccentricity and radiation increase the heat transfer in the direction of eccentricity, and decrease the maximum positive and negative fluid stream functions . Also, the numerical results reveal that for any selected value of width ratio , Rayleigh number ( ) has no effect on average Nusselt number for all values of eccentricity. However, eccentricity effect on start to appear at eccentricity values larger than . However, small effect on is noticed at low values of width ratios , and large increase on at . It was observed that for, , was higher for diagonal eccentricity compared with the horizontal and vertical cases. Furthermore, results of the average Nusselt number of each outer wall show an increase as eccentricity increases, in particular, at higher values of width ratios . However, large increase was noticed for the right and left outer walls for the diagonal and horizontal eccentricity cases while top and bottom outer walls for the vertical case.

Keywords: annular square; porous medium; heat transfer; Nusselt number; Rayleigh number

Research Title: Design of a single stage centrifugal compressor for power generation

Author: Munzer Ebaid, Published Year: 2017

American Journal of Aerospace Engineering , 4

Faculty: Engineering and Technology

Abstract: In this current work, the design of a single stage centrifugal compressor as part of a complete small gas turbine for electrical power generation of 60kW power output is presented. The choice of a radial impeller was considered and the design was based on using a non-linear optimisation code to determine the geometric dimensions of the impeller. Also, the optimum axial length and the flow passage of the impeller were found based on prescribed mean stream velocity. The proposed code was verified and showed quite good agreement with the published data in the open literature. The design of a vaneless diffuser and a volute were considered based on satisfying the governing equations of conservation of mass, momentum, and energy conservation simultaneously. Results showed good agreement with the CFD analysis found in the open literature. This work was motivated by the growing interest in micro-gas turbines for electrical power generation, transport and other applications.

Keywords: Centrifugal compressor, Vaneless diffuser, Impeller, Mean stream velocity, Optimization

Research Title: A New Approach of Gas Turbine Component Matching for Electrical Power Generation

Author: Munzer Ebaid, Published Year: 2017

international Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Applications, 5

Faculty: Engineering and Technology

Abstract: Gas turbines are often required to operate at different power levels and under varying environmental conditions. But by the nature of the thermodynamic processes in the engine, it is not possible to obtain the same level of efficiency within the entire range of operation. Therefore, depending on the particular application, for example for power generation, the rotational speed would be constant and dictated by the electrical generating machine. Gas turbine engine consists of various components which are linked together in such a way that there exists a mechanical and thermodynamic interdependence among some components. This means that some operational compatibility (matching) between components will be required for a steady state or equilibrium operation. The steady state of gas turbine engine for power generation can be achieved by the matching of its compressor and turbine. The usual approach of matching the compressor and the turbine is usually based on using an iterative procedure to determine the turbine operating points which are then plotted on the compressor characteristics. The draw back of this process is being laborious and time consuming. The new approach developed overcomes this by superimposing the turbine performance characteristics on the compressor performance characteristics while meeting the components matching conditions. This can be done by introducing a new mass flow dimensionless parameter. Superimposing the turbine map on the compressor map cannot be totally accepted until both maps axes (the abscissa and the ordinate) are identical. This paper explains the new approach adopted to a single shaft gas turbine engine. Theoretically, the developed techniques can be applied to other gas turbine engines.

Keywords: gas turbine off-design, gas turbine performance, component matching.

Research Title: Experimental Investigation of cooling Photovoltaic (PV) Panels Using (TiO2) Nanofluid in Water -Polyethylene Glycol Mixture and (Al2O3) Nanofluid in Water- Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide Mixture

Author: Munzer Ebaid, Published Year: 2018

Energy Conversion and Management, 155

Faculty: Engineering and Technology

Abstract: Cooling of photovoltaic (PV) panels was investigated experimentally outdoors using two nanofluids and water as a cooling medium for volume flow rate ranging from 500-5000 at concentrations (0.01%wt, 0.05%wt, and 0.1% wt) under different radiation intensity. Two types of nanofluids were used, namely Al2O3 in water -polyethylene glycol mixture at pH 5.7, and TiO2 in water- cetyltrimethylammonium bromide mixture at pH 9.7, respectively. The cooling of PV panel required incorporating a heat exchanger of aluminium rectangular cross section at its back surface to accommodate different volume flow rate of the cooling medium aforementioned. The system was tested under climate conditions of Jerash-Jordan. Determination of flow characteristics; friction factor, and product of friction factor Reynolds number, of TiO2, Al2O3 nanofluids and water as a cooling medium were investigated. Also, a comparison of the temperature between the cooled PV cell and without cooling for volume flow rate ranging from 500-5000 was presented. Results showed that the nanofluid cooled PV cell in both types caused higher decrease in the average PV cell temperature compared with the cooled cell with water and without cooling. In addition, Al2O3 nanofluid showed better performance than TiO2 nanofluid. Furthermore, experimental results showed that higher concentration of nanofluid produces a better cooling effect of the PV cell for all the studied range of volume flow rate. Also, electrical analysis of power and efficiency showed that TiO2 nanofluid gives better performance for the studied range of volume flow rate and concentrations compared with water cooling and without cooling.

Keywords: Nanofluid (Al2O3–water), nanofluid (Ti O2–water), concentration, efficiency, power

Research Title: Design, Build, and Test a Hybrid Cooling System for Crash Helmet

Author: Munzer Ebaid, Published Year: 2019

Faculty: Engineering and Technology

Abstract: In this current work, a designed hybrid cooling system is proposed which combines a phase change material (PCM) aimed to absorb the excess heat from the user’s head and thermoelectric technology (TEC) amid to cool the PCM in order to compensate the cold temperature lost when cooling the users head. This combination solved a major problem found in previous research studies, the limited usage time for the PCM pouch. The simulation in stand-still condition predicted a heatsink temperature of about 80°C and a cooling temperature for the head around 24°C. For moving conditions, the heat sink temperature reached 50°C and the cooling temperature for the head reached 24°C. The simulation showed the need of cooling the heat sink to obtain maximum performance. Experimentally, the system has been built and it was guided by the predictions, and tested with an infrared (IR) camera. Testing outcomes showed good results and no overheating in any part of the system by recording a temperature of 25°C for the heat sink in stand-still condition and 19.5°C in moving conditions as designed. Therefore, it can be concluded that the designed system has worked successfully and improves the comfortability while wearing a crash helmet.

Keywords: Phase change material, Peltier module, crash helmet, heat sink, hybrid system