This website is currently undergoing final updates. Some information may change as updates are completed.
This website is currently undergoing final updates. Some information may change as updates are completed.
Kirthi has worked on a Renewable Energy Project in her Final year BSc. Mech. Eng Degree. The project involved Research and Design of a Hybrid PVT double-pass system for drying agricultural products. She worked on the solar thermal drying subsystem.
Her Master’s Research and Design involves optimization of the parabolic trough thermal collector efficiency by implementing a solar tracking system. In addition, she is designing a urine evaporation system which will be integrated with the parabolic trough for an optimized solar thermal evaporation process
Kirthi has graduated as a WomEng fellow in which 80 females from 3 Southern African countries were chosen to be a part of the WomEng Innovation & Leadership team. She is a former SAIMechE Student Chapter Member (GirlCAD & Industry visits portfolio). Her academic achievements involve: 82% Final Year (UKZN) Weighted Academic Average, Certificate of merit for Design & Research (ENME4PD), & Certificate of merit for Strength of Materials (ENME2SM)
Project title: Research & Development of a Urine evaporator & Solar tracking Parabolic Trough for Urine Evaporation & Faecal Sludge Drying
Project description: The research aims to optimize solar thermal energy absorption by using a solar tracking parabolic trough, which will be applied to a solar dryer. The parabolic trough is a concentrated solar collector that focuses solar irradiation to a receiver, to utilise solar thermal energy. Implementing a solar tracker to the parabolic trough ensures optimum heat absorption throughout the day, by automatically positioning the collector as the sun moves along its trajectory. The thermal energy focused on the receiver of the parabolic trough will heat the fluid (air) within the tube. The heated air will be driven to a solar dryer for faecal sludge (fs) drying, and urine evaporation, via a ducting system. The conjunction of the tracked parabolic trough to the solar dryer intends on accelerating the drying and evaporation process. Utilising optimum thermal energy per day results in elevated temperatures within the chamber to accentuate the rate of absorptivity, thereby providing an efficient solar drying process. The thermal energy provided kills pathogens, decreases the mass and volume of the waste, and thus reduces costs associated with transportation and storage. The significance of the overall system is to aid treatment of faecal waste in underdeveloped areas relying on-site sanitation, due to no sewage access for waste removal. This significance is also extended to the importance of urine evaporation & treatment; thus, focus will also be placed on the design of a urine evaporator.
Starting date: March 2022
Supervisor: Dr S. Septien
Co-Supervisor: Dr J Pocock, Dr F Inambao
Publication:
Published article in the International Journal of Mechanical and Production Engineering Research and Development (IJMPERD) Journal. “International Journal of Mechanical and Production Engineering Research and Development (IJMPERD) Journal with ISSN (Print): 2249-6890; (Online): http://paper.researchbib.com/view/paper/330752
