Dr Ahmed Salih Shaker Al-Akaishi

Solar-driven absorption refrigeration technology has the potential to reduce the peak electricity demand and global warming. Optimization of this technology can change the future energy economy of the world. Herein, the straightforward and inexpensive preparation of new stable aqueous solution for direct solar absorption refrigeration systems is reported. Standard copper solution can be added to the aqueous lithium bromide solution used in absorption refrigeration systems in a simple one-step process under ambient conditions. The resulting solution is multifunctional as it improves the steam absorption in the absorber, absorbs the solar energy and converts it directly to heat, enhancing the efficiency of steam generation in the generator. Experiments to measure the viscosity, thermal conductivity, transmittance, photo-thermal conversion and steam absorption are demonstrated. The results show an enhancement of ~32.5% in the direct photo-thermal conversion and ~10.5% in the steam absorption rate, and negligible change in the viscosity and thermal conductivity of the new aqueous solution comparing to the conventional one. Thus, this stable new solution might be considered as an alternative of nano solutions and it has the potential to improve the solar absorption refrigeration technology, reducing the size and cost and saving Earth.

The hydrodynamic behaviour of gas-solid mixtures inside Bed Fluidised Beds (BFB) gasifiers has a major impact on the gasification process due to particles - gas and particle - particle contact mechanisms. The Discrete Phase Model DPM with Multiphase Particle-in-Cell method MPPIC was used as a CFD approach to study the hydrodynamic behaviour of an 800 height x 83 mm φ prototype fluidised bed gasifier with 4 different perforated plate distributors. In terms of bubble forming, pressure drop and superficial velocity, the type D distributor, i.e. triangular, had the best performance among the other types and in turn better bed height and bed movement, thus allowing best fluidisation performance as a consequence of better flow distribution.

Under the auspices of the Dean of the College of Engineering, Professor Dr. Hassan Mahdi Al-Khatib, the College of Engineering at the University of Kufa and under the supervision of the Rehabilitation and Employment Unit Officer, Dr. Hazim Jassim Al-Talqani, held a seminar on how to write research and dissertations using the (LATEX) program in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, the hall of the late Dr. Munir Al-Muzaffar (may God have mercy on him). The symposium was moderated by Assistant Professor Dr. Ahmed Salih Al-Akaishi and Dr. Ali Muhammad Hussein from the Department of Mechanical Engineering. In this symposium, they discussed (working on the program, how to enter text, images and equations, and modify them, and the method of quoting and entering tables).