Mohanad Al-Murish

Biography:

Mohanad applied to the CP3 CDT as he aspires to contribute in solving daily life challenges and help in engineering a better world. He also believes the CP3 CDT will help his development as an independent researcher.

PhD: Engineered Quantum dot Structures in Glass for Solar Energy Harvesting to Heat Water

The shortage of drinking water is a global crisis, recognized by the WHO, which is growing unabated due to increasing population, and climate change causing unpredictable weather! In the areas of low and middle income countries (LMIC), the shortage of water is acutely felt in hot and unpredictable weather conditions. Consumption of unpotable water is harbinger of disease, many of which are fatal for the vulnerable children and women, managing the domestic water resources in the LMIC households. LMIC, in geographical locations between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, has abundant sunlight and access to natural water. Inspired by the natural abundance of sunlight and water, the proposed research aims to design a new affordable PYREX-glass water purifier, based on solar radiation harvesting. The new approach is NOT based on solar-energy concentrators for water heating and on PV-energy conversion for electrical heating. Since both the commercialized technologies remain inaccessible in LMIC, there is a need for a low-cost affordable solution for Water Evaporator/Boiler for guaranteeing for pathogen- and chemicals-free boiling hot water. Our goal is to re-engineer the PYREX-glass vessel inner surface using the quantum (Q)-dots for radiation capture and efficient energy transfer into the contaminated water for boiling.

Research Project(s) during degree:

• Final year project (Detergent Powder Production Plant) - Designing a full-scale plant producing 90,000 tons annually of laundry powder detergent in India. The powder has specific characteristics and based on that a process route evaluation and selection was performed through extensive research. Dry-neutralisation agglomeration was selected as the process. After that a detailed process flow diagram was created using AutoCAD to facilitate process description and mass & energy balances across different unit operations. All group members worked cohesively throughout the duration to provide an excellent piece of work. Group members worked together to complete 55% of the project. 45% was designing one-unit operation per person and giving a presentation on it. Mohanad’s designed unit was a fluidised bed cooler with its auxiliary units such as a heat exchanger and fans to cool the agglomerates prior to their blending with the thermally sensitive additives.

Industrial experience/placements:

• Jul 2017 – Sept 2018 with Professor Animesh Jha, Chemical & Process Engineering
  Sustainable Water Purification System Harvesting Solar Radiation
  This project is aims to develop a cheap technology that purifies water using solar radiation. Mohanad’s role is in researching the topic, designing and conducting experiments along with analysing the results. We are aiming to produce an engineered glass that can be used as a black body attracting sunlight to heat up contaminated water to the boiling point in order to inhibit bacterial action and purify water.
• Mineralogy Project
  In this project, Mohanad supported research in titaniferous mineral processing and metal oxide extraction by mineral process engineering and heat and energy transfer analysis. This involved mineral reaction analysis, phase characterisation using X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence and mass and energy balance using reaction models.

Masters research project in year 1 of CDT:

• ‘Synthesis of high molecular weight polymer for hydrodynamic drag reduction’ with Dr David Harbottle, Chemical & Process Engineering