DEEPAK PRASAD

Masters – I currently have one student whose research topic is “Experimental and Numerical Studies on the Effects of Blade Geometry and Upstream Deflector Plate on the Performance of Savonius Rotors”. The work involves experimentation, numerical studies using ANSYS-CFX and finally predicting the rotor performance using machine learning.

PhD – I currently have one student whose research topic is “Design and Performance Analysis of a Novel Dual-Chamber Oscillating Water Column (DC-OWC) Device”. The work involves experimentation and numerical studies using ANSYS-CFX.

Undergraduate - Supervised over 50 undergraduate engineering projects which involved experimental and numerical investigations in the following areas:

• Resilient Building Design.
• Design and performance testing of renewable energy devices.
• Applications of biomimicry in Engineering.

• Experimental and Numerical Studies on Savonius Rotors, The use of renewable sources of energy for power generation has become important now than ever to mitigate the effects of global warning. Wind energy is one such alternative. It is clean, non-emitting, sustainable and environmentally friendly. This energy can be extracted using a Savonius rotor which is a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT. There is no consensus on best rotor parameters. These are all unique to the design. Therefore, the research focuses on the design of Savonius rotor which can be manufactured locally to meet Fiji’s energy demand. The work involves experimentation, numerical studies using ANSYS-CFX and finally predicting the rotor performance using machine learning.
• Design and Performance Analysis of Savonius Rotors in Oscillating Water Columns and as Direct Drive Devices for Wave Energy Conversion - (Extension of Masters and PhD Thesis), Climate change as a consequence of increased greenhouse gas emissions due to the use of fossil fuels for power generation has caused global warming and rising sea-levels. This possesses direct threat to people in many countries, especially those living in the Pacific Island Countries like Fiji. The use of renewable sources such as wave energy for power generation has become important now than ever. Wave energy is one of the promising sources of renewable energy, which is more persistent and has a high-power density compared to wind and solar energies. The ongoing work in this area focusses on the design and performance analysis of Savonius rotor employed in an oscillating water column (OWC) for wave energy extraction. The performance of the Savonius rotor is dependent on factors such as; rotor geometry, rotor orientation and OWC chamber configuration. Therefore, the research includes both experimental work, and numerical simulations to study the flow phenomena and performance in detail. The numerical work is conducted using commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code ANSYS-CFX.
• Innovations in Learning and Teaching Strategies in STEM, The higher education institutions are beginning to examine learning and teaching practices more and more. This has given rise to reviewing learning and teaching strategies with the aim to promote a learner-centred classroom. The emphasis is on what the learner will do and how do we ensure that the learner is ‘learning’. As a result, classrooms around the world are experimenting and innovating their pedagogical practices. The research focuses on a pedagogical approach, which is a fairly new concept in Pacific classrooms, that is the ‘flipped classroom’ (FC) model and how it can be applied in higher education institutions. The FC focuses on learner and instructions that are learner-centred. The FC is a pedagogical approach whereby the conventional notion of teaching in the classroom is flipped such that the learning material is provided to the learners before coming to the class and the classroom time is utilised in problem solving and discussions. The research presents a FC design for a mechanical engineering course at the University of the South Pacific.
• Wind Loads on Low-Rise Building Models, Testing of low-rise building models with different roof configurations were conducted in a boundary layer wind tunnel to obtain vital information that can be used to design houses which are safer and more resistant to adverse weather conditions such as cyclones and hurricanes. The next step forward in the research is to study the effects of building orientation, upstream boundary wall configuration and natural obstructions on wind loading. The initial work involves extensive wind tunnel testing. This will be followed by numerical simulations using ANSYS – CFX and finally predicting the wind loading on house models using machine learning.

• Journal Articles
  1. Samitha Weerakoon, A. H. Kim, B-H., Cho. Y-J., Prasad, D. D., Ahmed, M. R. and Lee, Y-H. (2021). Design Optimization of a Novel Vertical Augmentation Channel Housing a Cross-flow Turbine and Performance Evaluation as a Wave Energy Converter. Renewable Energy, 180, pp. 1300-1314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2021.08.092
  2. Prasad, D. D., Ahmed, M. R. and Lee, Y-H. (2020). Effect of Oscillating Water Column Chamber Inclination on the Performance of a Savonius Rotor. Journal of Offshore and Artic Engineering, 142(4): 042002. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4046284
  3. Prasad, D. D., Ahmed, M. R. and Lee, Y-H. (2018). Performance Improvement of an Oscillating Water Column Wave Energy Converter by Geometry Modifications. Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 32, pp. 5729-5736. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-018-1120-x
  4. Prasad, D. D., Ahmed, M. R., Lee, Y-H. and Sharma, R. N. (2018). On the Simulation of Regular Waves in a Numerical Wave Tank. Advances and Applications in Fluid Mechanics, 21(3), pp. 325-341.
  5. Prasad, D. D., Ahmed, M. R. and Lee, Y-H. (2018). Studies on the Performance of Savonius Rotors in a Numerical Wave Tank. Ocean Engineering, 158, pp. 29-37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2018.03.084
  6. Prasad, D. D., Kim, C-G., Kang, H-G., Ahmed, M. R. and Lee, Y-H. (2017). Performance and Flow Characteristics of Single and a Novel Double Oscillating Water Column Devices. Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 31(12), pp. 5879-5886. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-017-1131-z
  7. Prasad, D. D., Ahmed, M. R., Lee, Y-H. and Sharma, R. N. (2017). Validation of a Piston Type Wave-maker Using Numerical Wave Tank. Ocean Engineering, 131, pp. 57-67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2016.12.031
  8. Goundar, J.N., Chettiar, N., Narayan, S., Deo, A. and Prasad, D. (2015). Design of a Ducted Cross Flow Turbine for Fiji. Applied Mechanics and Materials, 772, pp. 561-565. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.772.561
  9. Prasad, D. D., Ahmed, M. R. and Lee, Y-H. (2014). Flow and Performance Characteristics of a Direct Drive Turbine for Wave Power Generation. Ocean Engineering, 81, pp. 39-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2014.02.019
  10. Patel. S., Prasad, D. and Ahmed, M. R. (2014). Computational Studies on the Effect of Geometric Parameters on the Performance of a Solar Chimney Power Plant. Energy Conversion and Management, 77, pp. 424-431. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2013.09.056
  11. Prasad, D. D. and Lee, Y-H. (2012). Maximizing Primary Energy Conversion in a Direct Drive Turbine for Wave Power Extraction. International Journal of Mechanic Systems Engineering, 2(4), pp. 132-140.
  12. Prasad, D. D., Zullah, M. A., Ahmed, M. R. and Lee, Y-H. (2010). Effects of Front Guide Nozzle Shape on the Flow Characteristics in an Augmentation Channel of a Direct Drive Turbine for Wave Power Generation. Science China-Technological Sciences, 53(1), pp. 46-51. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-010-0020-9
  13. Zullah, M. A., Prasad, D. D., Ahmed, M. R. and Lee, Y-H. (2010). Performance Analysis of a Wave Energy Converter Using Numerical Simulation Technique. Science China-Technological Sciences, 53(1), pp. 13-18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-010-0026-3
  14. Prasad, D., Uliate, T. and Ahmed, M. R. (2009). Wind Loads on Low-Rise Building Models with Different Roof Configuration. International Journal of Fluid Mechanics Research, 36(3), pp. 231-243
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  Selected Conference Papers
  1. Prasad, D.D., Pesamino, M., Cavilati, A., Ram, K. and Ahmed, M. R. (2023). Effect of Upstream Deflector Plate Position on the Performance of Savonius Rotors. In: Proceedings of the ASME 2023 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition. Vol. 87646, p. V007T08A036. New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. October 29-November 2. V06BT08A031. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/IMECE2023-113989
  2. Prasad, D.D., Ahmed, M. R. and Lee, Y-H. (2018). Effect of Oscillating Water Column Chamber Inclination on the Performance of a Savonius Rotor. In: Proceedings of the ASME 2018 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition. Volume 6B: Energy. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. November 9–15. V06BT08A031. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/IMECE2018-87313
  3. Prasad, D.D., Taika, N., Tekieta, K., Ahmed, M.R. and Lee, Y-H. (2018). Experimental Investigation on the Performance of Savonius Rotors for Wave Energy Conversion. In: Proceedings of the 5th Asia-Pacific World Congress on Computer Science and Engineering, APWC on CSE, 2018, pp. 190-196, 8853682. https://doi.org/10.1109/APWConCSE.2018.00038
  4. Goundar, J. N., Prasad, D.D. and Ahmed, M. R. (2018). Design of a Ducted Cross-flow Turbine for Marine Current Energy Extraction. In: Proceedings of the ASME 2018 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition. Volume 6A: Energy. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. November 9–15. V06AT08A016. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/IMECE2018-87324
  5. Goundar, J. N., Prasad, D. and Ahmed, M. R. (2013). Design and Performance Testing of a Ducted Savonius Turbine for Marine Current Energy Extraction. In: Proceedings of the ASME 2013 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition. Volume 6B: Energy. San Diego, California, USA. November 15–21. V06BT07A093. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/IMECE2013-66417
  6. Ram, K. R., Goundar, J. N., Prasad, D., Lal, S. and Ahmed, M. R. (2013). Optimization of Hydrofoils for Horizontal Axis Marine Current Turbines Using Genetic Algorithm. In: Proceedings of the ASME 2013 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition. Volume 6B: Energy. San Diego, California, USA. November 15–21. V06BT07A092. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/IMECE2013-66416
  7. Prasad. D., Ahmed, M. R. and Lee, Y-H. (2012). Performance Studies on a Direct Drive Turbine for Wave Power Generation in a Numerical Wave Tank. In: Proceedings of the 1st Asian Wave and Tidal Energy Conference Series. Jeju Island, South Korea. 27th – 30th November. http://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/5427
  8. Prasad, D., Zullah, M. A., Choi, Y-D. and Lee, Y-H. (2010). Flow Characteristics in an Augmentation Channel of a Direct Drive Turbine for Wave Power Generation. In: American Institute of Physics Conference Series. American Institute of Physics, 1225(1), pp. 619-627. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3464909
  9. Prasad, D., Zullah, M. A., Choi, Y-D. and Lee, Y-H. (2010). Study on the Performance of Savonius Helical Rotor for Wave Energy Conversion. In: American Institute of Physics Conference Series. American Institute of Physics, 1225(1), pp. 641-649. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3464913
  
  Book Chapters
  1. Raturi, S., Bogitini, L., Chand, S., Goundar, P. R., Prasad, D. and Vaike, L. (2021). Open Educational Resources Part I: From Basics to the Big Picture. In S. Raturi (eds.). Learning Technologies and Higher Education: A Pacific Perspective. Suva: USP Press, pp. 5-36.
  2. Raturi, S., Bogitini, L., Chand, S., Goundar, P. R., Mati, J. M., Prasad, D. and Vaike, L. (2021). Open Educational Resources Part II: Experiences and Perspectives of New OER Users. In S. Raturi (eds.). Learning Technologies and Higher Education: A Pacific Perspective. Suva: USP Press, pp. 37-65.
  3. Prasad, D. and Raturi, S. (2021). Innovating Learning and Teaching Strategies in STEM – An Argument for Flipping the Classroom in Pacific. In S. Raturi (eds.). Learning Technologies and Higher Education: A Pacific Perspective. Suva: USP Press, pp. 98-117.