NIDAL H. ABU-HAMDEH

Mechanical Engineering Department

King Abdulaziz University

P.O. Box 80204 Jeddah 21589

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

/

Phone (work) +966-2-6402000 Ext. 68252

(mobile) +966545993930

Fax +966-2-6952181

URL: http://www.researcherid.com/rid/I-1491-2012

EDUCATION

Ph. D. / · Doctorate of Philosophy, Power and Machinery, August 1995, The Ohio State
University, Columbus-USA
M.S. / · Master of Science, Power and Machinery, December 1993, The Ohio State
University, Columbus-USA
B.S. / · Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering , June 1987, Yarmouk
University, Irbid-Jordan

QUALIFICATION SUMMARY

I work currently as a professor in the mechanical engineering department at Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST). I teach courses and conduct scientific research. The courses I have taught are listed in my CV. The areas of interest of my research are; utilizability of solar energy, thermal conductivity in porous media, emissions and pollutants from ICE, machine design and vibrations, and others.

I was awarded the Abdul Hameed Shoman Award for Engineering Sciences for Young Arab Researchers (2003) and I was awarded the Hisham Hijawi Award for Applied Sciences in the Field of Engineering (2004). During my integrated experience I have several researches, awards and publications on several areas; also I am an associate editor and reviewer for some technical journals on these areas.

Some of my activities in energy and development are; the design of new prototype of a solar adsorption refrigeration unit with certain specifications and requirements to be used as an air conditioning and refrigeration unit suitable to be used in remote areas, the development of a mathematical model for predicting thermal efficiency, heat gain, and outlet air temperature of a covered plate attic solar collector under steady conditions, the design of a spiral-fin exhaust pipes to study the effect of cooling the recirculated exhaust gases (EGR) of diesel engines on chemical composition of exhaust gases and the reduction in percentages of pollutant emissions, the design of soil working machine that is directed toward optimal manipulation of soil conditions in order to attain optimum soil conditions with minimum energy input, designing a hydraulic core sampler (Patent no. 2141 registered at the Jordanian Ministry of Trade and Industry in 1999) and other activities as shown in my CV.

ACADEMIC RECORD AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Professor. Mechanical Engineering Department, King Abdulaziz University. Starting

September 2011.

· Teaching Engineering Courses

· Performing Scientific Research (Areas of Interest: machine design and vibrations, finite element

modeling of mechanical engineering systems, stress distribution in porous media, utilizability of

solar energy, thermal conductivity in porous media, emissions and pollutants from internal

combustion engines)

· Supervising Graduating Seniors Projects

Professor. Mechanical Engineering Department, Jordan University of Science & Technology

(J.U.S.T.). Starting June 2006.

· Teaching Engineering Courses

· Performing Scientific Research (Areas of Interest: machine design and vibrations, finite element

modeling of mechanical engineering systems, stress distribution in porous media, utilizability of

solar energy, thermal conductivity in porous media, emissions and pollutants from internal

combustion engines)

· Supervising Graduating Seniors Projects

· Supervising Undergraduate Students

Associate Professor. Mechanical Engineering Department, Jordan University of Science &

Technology (J.U.S.T.). February 2001 to June 2006.

· Teaching Engineering Courses

· Performing Scientific Research (Areas of Interest: machine design and vibrations, finite element

modeling of mechanical engineering systems, stress distribution in porous media, utilizability of

solar energy, thermal conductivity in porous media, emissions and pollutants from internal

combustion engines)

· Supervising Graduating Seniors Projects

· Supervising Undergraduate Students

Associate Professor. Mechanical Engineering Department, Philadelphia University, September

2002 to September 2003 (Sabbatical Leave)

· Teaching Mechatronics and Mechanical Engineering Courses

· Performing Scientific Research

· Supervising Graduating Seniors Projects

· Supervising Undergraduate Students

Assistant Professor. Mechanical Engineering Department, Jordan University of Science &

Technology (J.U.S.T.). January 1996 to February 2001

· Teaching Engineering Courses

· Performing Scientific Research (Areas of Interest: machine design and vibrations, finite element

modeling of mechanical engineering systems, stress distribution in porous media, utilizability of

solar energy, thermal conductivity in porous media, emissions and pollutants from internal

combustion engines)

· Supervising Graduating Seniors Projects

· Supervising Undergraduate Students

Assistant Dean. Faculty of Engineering, Jordan University of Science & Technology (J.U.S.T.),

September 2000 to September 2001.

Chairman of the Biosystems Engineering Department. Jordan University of Science &

Technology (J.U.S.T.), September 2003 to May 2006.

Research Associate. The Ohio State University, October 1991 to November 1995

· Conducting Laboratory and Field Experiments

· Data Collection and Analysis

· Supervising Undergraduate Students

Site Engineer. March 1990 - September 1991. Joint Venture Engineering Consortium and

Dangroup International, Jordan University of Science & Technology, Medical

Sciences Project, Irbid-Jordan

· Supervising Engineering Works; Central Heating, Air Conditioning, Piping Layout.

· Equipment Installations such as Air Handling Units, Compressors, Condensing Units, Chillers,

Pumps

Workshop Engineer. Royal Jordanian Air force. Zarka-Jordan. January 1988 - January 1990

· Heavy Equipment Maintenance

Trainee Engineer. United Electromechanical Group (UEG), Amman-Jordan. June 1986 –

September 1986

· Mechanical Installations and Dealing with Engineering Drawings

TEACHING EXPERIENCES

· Vibrations Jordan University of Science and Technology, Philadelphia University

· Automatic Control - Jordan University of Science and Technology, Philadelphia University

· Theory of Machines Jordan University of Science and Technology, Philadelphia University

· Machine Design (I & II) - Jordan University of Science and Technology, Philadelphia University

· Solid Mechanics - Jordan University of Science and Technology, Philadelphia University

· Static - Jordan University of Science and Technology, Philadelphia University

· Thermodynamics (I & II) Jordan University of Science and Technology

· Principles of Electricity Jordan University of Science and Technology

· Internal Combustion Engines Jordan University of Science and Technology

· Manufacturing Processes - Philadelphia University

· Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning - Jordan University of Science and Technology,

Philadelphia University

· Heat and Mass Transfer (I & II) - Jordan University of Science and Technology

· Fluid Mechanics (I & II) - Jordan University of Science and Technology

· Applied Math for Engineers Jordan University of Science and Technology

· Dynamics Jordan University of Science and Technology, Philadelphia University

· Strength of Materials Lab Jordan University of Science and Technology

· Instrumentation Lab - Jordan University of Science and Technology

· Vibrations Lab Jordan University of Science and Technology, Philadelphia University

· Instrumentation Lab - Jordan University of Science and Technology

· Engineering Drawing Jordan University of Science and Technology

· Soil-Machine Relations Jordan University of Science and Technology

· Power and Field Machinery Jordan University of Science and Technology

· Off-Road Vehicles Jordan University of Science and Technology

· Machinery Management Jordan University of Science and Technology

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE AND CREATIVE ACTIVITIES

1.  Photovoltaics (PV) is a conversion system producing electricity directly from the electromagnetic energy of sun. A Photovoltaics (PV) system was designed for a typical village in Jordan Badia, 100 km (62 miles) east of the capital city, Amman. The energy requirements were based on existing government programs to improve the delivery of essential government services and upgrade the quality of life in the remote regions of the country. Among these services were: the provision of an adequate drinking water, health centers for immunization purposes, and learning centers. The system was designed to power the most essential loads of the village.

2.  The design of new prototype of a solar adsorption refrigeration unit with certain specifications and requirements to be used as an air conditioning and refrigeration unit suitable to be used in remote areas. The new device uses activated carbon (used as adsorbents) with methanol (as adsorbate) forming an adsorbent-adsorbate pairs. An experimental database was obtained from specific tests carried out on an adsorptive solar-powered refrigerator using adsorbate/adsorbent pair.

3.  The development of a mathematical model for predicting thermal efficiency, heat gain, and outlet air temperature of a covered plate attic solar collector under steady conditions. The model utilizes the basic principles and relationships of heat transfer to simulate the dynamic behavior of the solar air heaters under various conditions. The model was validated by comparing the predicted outlet air temperatures and collector efficiencies to those measured during drying operation of an attic solar collector.

4.  The design of a spiral-fin exhaust pipes to study the effect of cooling the recirculated exhaust gases (EGR) of diesel engines on chemical composition of exhaust gases and the reduction in percentages of pollutant emissions. Gases examined in this study were; oxides of nitrogen (NOx), carbon dioxides (CO2), and carbon monoxide (CO). In addition, O2 concentration in the exhaust was measured. The two designs adopted in this study were exhaust pipes with solid and hollow fins around them. The first type uses airflow around the fins to cool the exhaust gases. The second type consists of hollow fins around the exhaust pipe to allow cooling water to flow in the hollow passage. Different combinations and arrangements of solid and hollow fins exhaust pipes were used. It was found that decreasing the temperature of the recirculated exhaust gases resulted in reductions in the oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and carbon dioxide (CO2) but increased carbon monoxide (CO) in the exhaust gases. In addition, oxygen (O2) concentration in the exhaust was decreased. As a general trend, the percentages of reduction in NOx gas concentrations were lower than the percentages of increase in CO emissions as a result of cooling the recirculated exhaust gases of a diesel engine by a heat exchanger. Using water as a cooling medium decreased the exhaust gases temperature and then the amount of pollutants more than did air as a cooling medium. In a separate series of tests, increasing the cooled EGR ratios decreased the exhaust NOx but increased the particulate matter concentrations in the exhaust gases.

5.  The analytical solutions of equations describing the dynamics of distributed parameter systems are usually complicated in form and derivations and inconvenient to use for simulation and control system design. The liquid-liquid counter flow heat exchanger is an example of these disturbed parameter systems. A model was built from an analytical solution of the dynamics of a symmetrically operated counter flow heat exchanger in the form of transfer function matrix is investigated in open-loop and close-loop conditions. The principle is to linearized a non-linear model using perturbation approach. A feed-forward path controller to counteract at any disturbances in the boundary temperature and a non-interactive controller to decouple the outputs were implemented.

6.  Designing a Methane Digester for Al-Hassan Industrial Estate Waste Water Treatment Plant. Various methods of methane production were explored. Specifically, the use of water hyacinth as a feedstock for methane digester was examined. The main idea behind this work was how to make use of a resource (water hyacinth) that might otherwise have gone to waste. Biogas was produced from this digester which is a burnable fuel. In addition, the digester sludge was used as fertilizer.

7.  The design of soil working machine that is directed toward optimal manipulation of soil conditions in order to attain optimum soil conditions with minimum energy input. A new idea to control soil compaction and use lower powered tractors for soil tillage was designed. It is based on using ultrasonic waves to disturb the soil profile to a depth of 15-25 cm. Ultrasonic waves are vibrational waves which oscillate orderly through a medium. When ultrasonic frequency reaches the natural frequency of soil, a resonance will occur and soil particles will vibrate. The maximum amplitude of the oscillating particles will cause disturbance in the soil profile resulting in a more loosened condition Ultrasonic frequencies range from 20 kHz to 2 GHz, and the natural frequency of most soil types lie in this range. The device consists of a rigid wheel with the two sides made of stainless steel plates and the peripheral thickness made of aluminum sheet. The wheel is filled with gel which is capable of transmitting the waves. A probe is used as the antenna generating these waves. The wheel disturbs a strip of soil whose width is equal to the width of the wheel. This seems to be the first demonstration of using ultrasonic waves technique to loosen the topsoil for agricultural purposes in the field.

8.  Designing a Hydraulic Core Sampler. Patent no. 2141 registered at the Jordanian Ministry of Trade and Industry in 1999.

9.  The effect of salt concentration, organic matter, bulk density, and moisture content on the thermal conductivity of some sieved and repacked soils was investigated through laboratory studies. These laboratory experiments used the single probe method to determine thermal conductivity. The thermal conductivity observed in this study under varying water content, soil density, and soil texture was compared with independent estimates made using standard procedures. The differences between the observed and predicted results were very small. Fundamental information on how salts, water, and organic matter affect thermal conductivity of soil would be useful in modeling water and energy movement in systems containing salt-affected soils. The soils used were classified as sand, sandy loam, loam, and clay loam. The three salts used were Sodium Chloride (NaCl), Magnesium Chloride (MgCl2), and Calcium Chloride (CaCl2) while addition of peat moss was to increase the organic matter content. For the type of soils studied, thermal conductivity increased with increased soil density and moisture content. Thermal conductivity ranged from 0.43 to 0.98 for sand, from 0.35 to 0.55 for sandy loam, from 0.34 to 0.50 for loam, and from 0.29 to 0.44 W / m K for clay loam at densities from 1.30 to 1.50 g/cm3 and water contents from 0.06 to 0.10 cm3 / cm3. The results also showed that thermal conductivity decreased with an increase in the amount of added salts. Thermal conductivity for sand ranged from 1.17 to 0.56 W / m K at concentrations of NaCl from 0.02 to 0.10 kg/kg, from 1.13 to 0.52 W / m K at concentrations of CaCl2 from 0.01 to 0.05 kg/kg, and from 1.05 to 0.45 W / m K at concentrations of MgCl2 from 0.01 to 0.05 kg/kg. Thermal conductivity for clay loam ranged from 0.61 to 0.16 W / m K at concentrations of NaCl from 0.02 to 0.10 kg/kg, from 0.58 to 0.10 W / m K at concentrations of CaCl2 from 0.01 to 0.05 kg/kg, and from 0.55 to 0.08 W / m K at concentrations of MgCl2 from 0.01 to 0.05 kg/kg. At a given moisture content, increasing the percentage of soil organic matter decreased thermal conductivity. Finally, thermal conductivity values were higher for sand than for clay loam for the same salt type and concentration. The measurements concerning salts and organic matter are an important contribution to an important and little studied field.