Mechanical Engineering Machine Learning
Resume:
CURRICULUM VITAE
MARANGWANDA GARIKAI TAWANDA
PhD Mechanical Engineering, (University of Johannesburg, South Africa) MSc. Mechanical Engineering (USTO-MB, Algeria)
BSc. Mechanical Engineering (USTO-MB, Algeria)
************@*****.***
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garitm
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=OZYXdYUAAAAJ&hl=en SUMMARY
Garikai Marangwanda is a registered engineer who is currently a post-doctoral researcher within the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Johannesburg. He is developing machine learning models that can be employed to facilitate the co-combustion of biomass and coal. Previously he was a lecturer in the Department of Fuels and Energy Engineering at Chinhoyi University of Technology. He was responsible for various core courses related to thermo-fluids, combustion technology, energy auditing as well as turbine technology. His engineering and academic experience spans a period of 8 years. He is passionate about the use of software in solving engineering problems as it offers synergy between keeping abreast with current technologies and scientific theory in an affordable manner for developing countries. As such his research interests range from Computational Fluid Dynamics, combustion systems modelling, pumping and turbine blade systems optimisation, machine learning and renewable energy system design. Through consultancy, he has collaborated with industry whilst conducting research on various societal issues such as development of modelling codes that are being used to increase co-combustion efficiency. His hard work is also evidenced by the 7 research publications which he coined as first author. He has also supervised more than 20 BEng students with their research projects and design based projects leading to the development of various innovative designs.
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BACKGROUND
Date of birth: 26th of September 1989
Nationality: Zimbabwean national born in Gweru
SKILLS
Languages: English (Spoken & Written); French (Spoken & Written); and Shona (Spoken
& Written).
Computer Programmes: Microsoft Office; Programming Languages (Python, Pascal, FORTRAN, C++); SOLIDWORKS; ANSYS FLUENT; HOMER Pro; and Adobe Photoshop. Hands on: Mechanical Workshop activities; and Project Planning. ACADEMIC & INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE
• Post Doctoral Researcher
University of Johannesburg; 09/2024-present; Johannesburg; Republic of South Africa Duties:
To conduct advanced research on the combustion of coal and biomass fuels, focusing on sustainable energy solutions. He is the process of designing and developing a pilot-scale down- fired furnace that can operate at high pressures and temperatures. He is also developing machine learning models to optimise combustion models and predict fuel performance. Key achievements:
1. He is participating in various grant funded department projects: a) Development of an Asset Information Model & Asset Digital Twin for ESKOM boilers. b) Development of biofuel processing plant using Hemp feedstock for PETRO SA 2. Supervision of MSc and PhD research students
3. Lecturing of Undergraduate Fluid Dynamics course
• Lecturer
Chinhoyi University of Technology; 02/2015-12/2024; Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe Duties:
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Have acquired experience in leading Thermodynamics CUPEM201, Heat Transfer CUFEM 208, Fluid Mechanics CUFEM 201, Combustion Technology CUFEM 401, Wind and Hydro Energy CUFEM 312 and Turbine Technology CUFEM 501 courses throughout the years. I am currently supervising 3 BEng working on biogas digester optimisation, solar assisted pyrolysis, and heat storage for tobacco barns. Acquired experience in coordinating several committees within the university system such as being the department attachment coordinator, quality assurance committee coordinator, research project coordinator as well as the school marketing committee coordinator.
Key achievements:
I have participated in various grant funded department projects by Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority, Research Council of Zimbabwe, Chinhoyi University Of Technology & Ministry Of Higher And Tertiary Education, and European Union: 1. Design, built and commissioning of a solar hybrid tobacco curing barn, 2. Design, built and commissioning of a solar powered traffic light robots, 3. Design, built and commissioning of a bio-digester for Caritas foundation, 4. Energy auditing of Schweppes limited
5. Design of research units such as an advanced medium temperature solar thermal technology for a food processing industry, portable milk pasteurisation machine, solar assisted pyrolysis demonstration unit, and a variety of consultancy related placements. 6. Fuels and Energy Engineering department chairperson 01 Jan 2023 to present. 7. EU-ZW: Digital Challenge-Driven Circular Energy Transition Learning Collaboration Between EU and Zimbabwe
• Consultant
Glosolar (Pvt) Ltd; 06/2019-present; Harare, Zimbabwe Duties:
Consultancy work mainly focusing on solar energy projects ranging from household off-grid systems to solar powered irrigation systems. As a consultant, the company supplies the materials whilst design and installation are carried out by my team. Using our background in fluid mechanics, our team has also designed irrigation systems that meet various needs for farmers mainly the overhead sprinkler, drip, and hydroponics irrigation setups. Key achievements:
Amongst a plethora of projects commissioned by our team, the largest system that has been installed by our team is a 5 kVa off-grid system whilst the biggest irrigation system is a 3 HP installation powered by a solar system and pump drive. 4
• Trainee Engineer
Societe de l’Eau et d’Assainissement d’Oran (Society of Water and Waste Treatment of Oran- SEOR); 07/2013-07/2014; Oran, Algeria
Duties:
Undertaking of station’s equipment maintenance which included pumps, Scada systems, piping networks and storage facilities. Performed project planning for routine maintenance procedures. operation and maintenance of hydraulic equipment. Underwent training covering hands-on machining pipes as well as fittings, pump electrical sizing, and connections. I participated in the refurbishment of a 20km pipeline which involved a lot of civil works.
• Trainee Engineer
Entreprise de Reparation Navale (Enterprise for Ship Repairing-ERENAV); 07/2011-07/2012; Oran, Algeria
Duties:
Performed repairs and maintenance of cargo ships docked at the station. This included engine servicing, ship body work as well as planning procedures for keeping the docking time minimal. ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
• PhD Candidate in Mechanical Engineering
University of Johannesburg; 02/2019-02/2024; Johannesburg; Republic of South Africa Thesis:
Optimisation of Hwange Bituminous Coal and Pinus Sawdust co-combustion using CFD analysis.
(Co-combustion of coal and waste biomass fuels within existing boilers offers benefits in terms of energy content and waste reduction when operated at optimum conditions. This study focused on developing CFD models that could be used to predict and optimise the co- combustion of 2 fuels)
• MSc Mechanical Engineering
University of Science and Technology of Oran (Algeria); 09/2012-06/2014; Oran, Algeria Main Courses:
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Applied rheology, Turbomachinery, Gas dynamics, Renewable energy conversion, Heat exchangers, Computational Fluid Dynamics (ANSYS CFX), Numerical Methods of Analysis
(FORTRAN), Applied thermodynamics, Internal combustion engines, Applied heat and mass transfer, Numerical methods of analysis (FORTRAN); Instrumentation; Fluid mechanics and turbulence; Turbulence modelling; Modelling of turbomachinery. Mini Projects:
Shock Tube simulation; Simulating flow over a NACA 0009 profile; Analysis of centrifugal pump performances; Analysis of an industrial gas turbine; Simulating flow behind bodies; Solar energy instrumentation; Analysis of turbine rotors and stators. Thesis:
Study of strong and weak shock waves in a transonic diffuser.
(Turbo machines which work with high speed gases, namely Gas Turbines and Steam Turbines, experience shock waves which greatly influence on their efficiency and performance. My study focused on simulating these flows with ANSYS CFD and validation using NASA experimental data)
• BSc Mechanical Engineering
University of Science and Technology of Oran (Algeria); 09/2009-06/2012; Oran, Algeria Specialisation:
Thermal and Energy Engineering.
Thesis:
Evaluation of Wind Energy potential in Algeria
(The project studied how wind as a renewable resource can be harnessed to produce useful mechanical energy hence electrical energy. Most of the work was field based through use of sophisticated instruments to measure wind properties.) PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
• Certified Energy Auditor (CEA)
Association of Energy Engineers, United States of America; 09/2023
• PostGraduate Diploma in Higher Education (PGDHE) Chinhoyi University of Technology, Zimbabwe; 01/2017-12/2017; Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe
• MOOC Sustainable Mobility 3
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IFP School (France); 2016; Paris, France
PROFESSIONAL BODIES
• Zimbabwe Institute of Engineers, Zimbabwe
Member 07/2019-ongoing
• Association of Energy Engineers, United States of America Member 09/2023-ongoing
AWARDS
2024 Post doctoral fellowship at the University of Johannesburg, 2019 Staff Development Fellowship to study PhD in Mechanical Engineering, 2014 Overall best student in class to obtain MSc in Mechanical Engineering, 2012 Overall best student in class to obtain BSc in Mechanical Engineering, 2008 Government of Algeria-Zimbabwe scholarship to study BSc and MSc in Mechanical Engineering, 2007 Overall best A’ Level Student at Moleli High School. PUBLICATIONS
1. Marangwanda, G.T.; Madyira, D.M.M.; Babarinde, T.O.O. Coal combustion models: A review. J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 2019, 1378, 032070, doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1378/3/032070 2. Marangwanda, G.T.; Madyira, D.M.; Babarinde, T.O. Combustion models for biomass: A review. Energy Reports 2020, 6, 664–672, doi:10.1016/j.egyr.2019.11.135 3. Madyira, D.M.; Marangwanda, G.T.; Ekundayo, F.M.; Babarinde, T.O.; Akinlabi, S.A. Investigation of Household Refrigerator System with Varied Capillary Tube Length. J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 2019, 1378, 042056, doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1378/4/042056
4. Marangwanda, G.T.; Madyira, D.M.; Chihobo, H.C.; Babarinde, T.O. Modelling co-combustion of bituminous coal and pine sawdust: Thermal behaviour. Fuel Commun. 2021, 9, 100035, doi:10.1016/j.jfueco.2021.100035.
5. Marangwanda, G.T.; Madyira, D.M.; Ndungu, P.G.; Chihobo, C.H. Combustion Characterisation of Bituminous Coal and Pinus Sawdust Blends by Use of Thermo-Gravimetric Analysis. Energies 2021, 14, 7547, doi:10.3390/en14227547
6. Marangwanda, G.T.; Madyira, D.M.; Chihobo, H.C. Determination of Cocombustion Kinetic Parameters for Bituminous Coal and Pinus Sawdust Blends. ACS Omega. 2022, doi:10.1021/acsomega.2c03342
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7. Marangwanda, G. T; Madyira, D. M. Experimental investigation on the effect of blending bituminous coal with pinus sawdust on combustion performance parameters. Heliyon. 2024. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27287
TECHNICAL PRESENTATIONS
1. Marangwanda, G.T. Optimisation of co-combustion in biomass-coal fired boilers by use of CFD, Engineering Simulation Conference, 13 September 2022, Pretoria, South Africa. REFEREES
• Prof. Eng. Daniel Madyira, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa, +27-760-***-***, ********@**.**.**
• Dr. Walter Ruziwa, Senior Lecturer, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe,
+263-*********, *******@***.**.**
• Prof. Innocent Musonda, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa, +27-73-076-****, ********@**.**.**
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