Faculty of Engineering
 

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Mark Worall

Senior Research Fellow, Faculty of Engineering

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Teaching Summary

Natural ventilation design

Sustainable energy technologies

Building services engineering

Research Summary

I am currently working on a cross-disciplinary project "implimentation of bio-rural energy scheme for Ghana (IBRES). The consortium is led by the University of Nottingham in partnership with Kwame… read more

Selected Publications

Current Research

I am currently working on a cross-disciplinary project "implimentation of bio-rural energy scheme for Ghana (IBRES). The consortium is led by the University of Nottingham in partnership with Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Ghana, Centre for Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development (CEESD) Ghana and Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).

The objectives are to carry out materials characterisation of the CPH in the six regions in which they are grown, design, build and evaluate a small scale bio-power electricity generation system, develop guidelines for implementing and demonstrating full scale bio-energy schemes and their integration into rural communities, investigate stakeholders perceptions of the bio-energy scheme and develop community co-operatives and governance structures suitable for local communities in cocoa producing regions.

Ghana is the second highest producer of cocoa in the world and a major revenue source for local farmers and the Ghanaian government. For every tonne of cocoa harvested around 10 tonnes of cocoa pod husks (CPH) are produced. On completion of the project later on this year, CPH of the four different types and from the six different regions will be characterised for their use as bio-fuels. A gasification system, which includes a gasifier, a 5kWe diesel generator set, a solar drier and pelletiser will be installed on the KNUST campus and monitored by researchers. Surveys have been developed to engage with local communities in the cocoa farming regions and co-operative structures will be developed appropriate for the local communities. Results from the bio-energy scheme and engagement with the local communities will be used to develop a roll-out framework for the bio-energy system.

Past Research

My main research interests are in novel use of low-grade heat such as solar thermal or waste from industrial processes. This includes jet-pump refrigeration, absorption/adsorption cooling and dehumidification, ORC and thermoelectric power generation.

A recently completed project involved developing a vehicle cooling system based on indirect evaporation, that could provide over 1kW of cooling and a temperature reduction of over 10K, for a unit that could be installed on the roof of a truck cabin.

A recently complete project involving the development of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) trigenration system that used the waste heat for domestic cooling and dehumidification.

I recently concluded a research project involving a theoretical and experimental investigation of an indirect evaporative cooling system integrated with a wind driven natural ventilation system.

I developed a variable buoyancy system for underwater vehicles at the University of Aberdeen. The system used a small hydraulic circuit and a pressure intensifier housed in a water tight enclosure to fill and empty a buoyancy tank. The system was capable of operating at full ocean depth (6000m). A second system was developed for operation at shallow depths (<300m).

Future Research

I have research interests in biomimetics and so in future will be investigating properties and functions of silks for thermoelectric and thermophotovoltaic effects and termite mount air conditioning and water cycling.

I have research interests in intelligent buildings and am a member of the CIBSE Intelligent Buildings Group. Intelligent buildings encompass environmental, socal and technical interactions to provide sustainable solutions for the built environment.

Faculty of Engineering

The University of Nottingham
University Park
Nottingham, NG7 2RD



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