Summary Of My Research And Experimental Experiences

My previous master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering (With Distinction) was done by research with the title of “Conceptual Design and Performance Analysis of A Biomimetic Wind Turbine Inspired by the Dryobalanops Aromatica Seed” which is related to a research project. I have about 4 years of work experience as research assistant at the University of Malaya (UM). The following shows the 6 research projects that I have participated, “Design Optimization, Fabrication and Testing of a Biomimetic Wind Turbine Inspired by Dryobalanops Aromatica Seed. ”I was assigned in all the research works including the design, fabrication, testing and report writing of a small scale biomimetic wind turbine inspired by the Dryobalanops aromatica seed. I designed the geometry of the turbine by extracting the edges and camber profile of the wings of Dryobalanops aromatica seed and import it into the CAD software, SALOME to design the mold for vacuum forming. 1 mm thick polypropylene sheets were the material used for the wind turbine blades. The fabricated biomimetic wind turbine was then tested in a 3 x 3 array of ventilation blower fans setup with a dynamometer to measure the RPM and torque while the wind speed was measured with a hot-wire anemometer. I was the team leader representing this project that won a Silver award in the IIDEX 2017 competition. “Cross Axis Wind Turbine”I assisted in fabricating a hexagonal wind shroud which can deflect horizontal winds upwards and interact with the cross axis wind turbine (CAWT).

A field test on the power augmented CAWT was conducted where the CAWT and the hexagonal wind shroud were brought to capture wind at the top of a four storey high building. The test results were included in the progress report. I also assisted in writing a research article titled “Cross axis wind turbine: Pushing the limit of wind turbine technology with complementary design” which was published in a distinguished journal Applied Energy. “Design, Fabrication and Testing of the Novel Cross Axis Wind Turbine. ”A cross axis wind turbine (CAWT) was proposed by replacing the horizontal support arms with airfoils. I was assigned to help the group members in prototyping the CAWT by using 3D printing technology. I also assisted in the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of the CAWT in comparison with conventional vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT). I contributed in the progress report writing where the results of the testing were highlighted. “The Design and Investigation of a Novel Ecological Air Cleaning and Cooling System Using the Concept of a Living Green Wall. ”I was participated in designing, fabricating and exhibiting the concept of the living green wall in UM. I was in a team winning a Gold award in IIDEX 2016 competition for this project. “The Design and Testing of an Outdoor Lighting System Powered by Shrouded Vertical-Axis-Wind-Turbine and Solar PV Panel. ”The proposed novel lamp post consists of an omni-directional shroud which speeds up the approaching wind to turn the savonius turbine efficiently.

The Photovoltaics (PV) panels on top of the lamp post also gives additional power for lighting at night. I assisted in installing a novel lamp post powered by solar and wind besides the Model Low Cost House (MLCH) located at the faculty of engineering, University of malaya. I helped the research team in preparing the progress and final reports of this project. “Sustainable Ocean Energy and Waterway Developments in the Straits of Malacca. ”This project emphasized on developing the ocean energy technology mainly the tidal turbines in the Straits of Malacca. I was assigned to use Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in the investigation of tidal turbine wake and propeller jet scour to shipping ports. I was trained to use the CFD software namely the OpenFOAM to predict the wake of tidal turbines and propeller jets. It is during this time that I had my first exposure to CFD, renewable energy, turbomachinery and also research article writing. I assisted my colleague in conducting the CFD prediction on tidal turbine wake and also deducing new wake equations. I was acknowledged in the research articles titled “Slipstream between marine current turbine and seabed” and “Equations used to predict the velocity distribution within a wake from a horizontal-axis tidal-current turbine”. During my master’s degree study and research assistantships, I had acquired the skills which made me a better researcher. This includes the critical and innovative thinking skills where the research title and research plan for my previous master’s degree study were proposed by me without major changes by the supervisor.

My research idea was adopted to secure a grant to fund the first research project as mentioned above. This shows that I am a creative and a practical person who is able to propose new and workable ideas independently. For writing and management skills, I am the sole author of 1 and the first author of 2 SCI-Indexed published journal articles. I was trained to write research proposal for grant application and technical reports for project progress. I have assisted the principal investigator in research grant management which includes the tasks of e-procurement for research materials and also taking care of the research group assets. For presentation and demonstrating skills, I had presented wind turbine prototypes in competitions and exhibitions. I managed to explain its usage to the guests both in layman’s terms as well as in technical terms. I was appointed as a demonstrator for the fluid mechanics laboratory experimental session of the first year undergraduate students where the subjects include hydrostatic pressure, bernoulli’s principle, impact of jet and weirs. For computing skills, I was trained to use various computer application software for research.

For fabrication skills, I have used mechanical tools such as cutting, clamping, measuring, writing, hammering, screwing, fastening, tying and power tools for prototype fabrications. As an example, I manage to improvise a vacuum forming device using wooden box, halogen lamps, vacuum cleaner and extruded aluminium profiles for the biomimetic wind turbine blades fabrication of my previous master’s degree study. I also have experience in 3D printing the wind turbine blades. For photography and videography skills, I have taken photographs and videos of the prototypes and lab equipments for documentation purposes. The photographs and videos were used in journal manuscript writings, posters and presentations.