Mohamad I Al-Widyan

Amman Arab University · Presidency

This paper examines experimentally the effect of jet vortex technology on enhancing the heat transfer rate within a double pipe heat exchanger by supplying the heat exchanger with water at different vortex strengths. A vortex generator with special inclined holes with different inlet angles was designed, manufactured, and integrated within the heat...

Like most other similar institutions in Jordan, Jordan University of Science and Technology relies on a diesel-fired boiler that supplies a district heating system for space heating on campus. Different solar collector area scenarios were considered for both evacuated tube collector and parabolic trough collector technologies. The MATLAB package wa...

In this work, floating photovoltaic systems were experimentally studied under Jordan’s weather conditions to determine their effects on energy output, water quality and supply. A limited number of studies have addressed the effect of floating photovoltaic systems on water quality and evaporation reduction especially in a semi-arid region like Jorda...

The higher demand and limited availability of honey led to different forms of honey adulteration. Honey adulteration is either direct by addition of various syrups to natural honey or indirect by feeding honey bees with sugar syrups. Therefore, a need has emerged for reliable and cost-effective quality control methods to detect honey adulteration i...

In this work, a hybrid thermoelectric generator/thermal radiator unit is examined with the aim of producing electricity while heating a cold space. A mathematical model was constructed for the thermoelectric generator, TEG, under steady-state conditions linked with a hydronic heating system. The TEGs were installed on the two sides of the aluminum...

The high strength-to- weight ratio of titanium alloys allows their use in jet engines. However, their use is restricted by susceptibility to oxidation at high temperatures. In this study, the possibility of increasing the operating temperature of titanium alloys through using Yttrium Aluminum Oxide (YAG) as a thermal barrier coating material for Ti...

Purpose The purpose of this study is to describe the efforts undertaken to convert the large university campus of Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) into a green, resource-efficient and low-carbon campus by following an action-oriented strategy. Sustainability features of the campus were discussed and benchmarked. Challenges were id...

This work assessed the energy performance of a non-residential service building in Jordan. A comprehensive energy audit was conducted through which building systems were investigated including the building envelope, HVAC, and lighting systems. Multiple site surveys were conducted using standard audit instruments to record different operating condit...

Building a system that consists of a combination of geothermal component (water well (pit)) and heat recovery from aerobic biological fermentation of olive cake for hot water production at an olive mill is examined in this work. Hot water is essential for mill operation and constitutes a main operational cost, and in many countries, including Jorda...

In light of the significant developments in higher education in recent years such as globalization, and the resulting survival challenges including but not limited to unprecedented expansion and ensuing intense competition, higher education institutions across the world had to implement international quality standards. Realizing the challenge, JUST...

This article presents a numerical analysis of multi-phase flow with powerful swirling streams in a cylindrical separator equipped with two vortex generators in an attempt to predict the separation efficiency of an air-water mixture. New design of a cylindrical separator is introduced for air-water mixture. The mixture multiphase and large eddy simu...

PurposeAgro-industrial wastes are posing serious challenges for the agro-industries. Composting and co-composting of such wastes will lead to converting such wastes into a useful product that will serve as a soil conditioner. The present research investigated the kinetics of composting and co-composting of several agro-industrial wastes. Methods Se...

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are a promising low-cost alternative to silicon-based photovoltaic solar cells. Thus, this study was initiated with the aim of combining the unique physical and chemical properties of both SWCNTs and metal oxide nanostructures (such as ZnO-NR) for assembling novel building blocks for solar cells and light energy h...

Energy consumption, especially by the A/C load, represents a major concern particularly in hot arid regions. Selecting the best energy saving option under these conditions is a function of many various variables and thus represents a multi-criteria decision making problem. This study involved building a decision-making model to specify the most imp...

This study reports on the synthesis and fabrication of hybrid nanocomposite based on single-walled carbon nanotubes–ZnO nanorods (SWCNT-ZnONR) as resistive gas sensors for NO2 detection. The sensor was prepared using the standard simple and cost-effective hydrothermal process. The sensor was characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning ele...

In hot arid regions where long hot summers are common place, energy consumption represents an aspect of particular concern especially as related to peak load. The selection of the best energy option is a complex function of many various variables and thus represents a multi-criteria decision-making problem. This study involved building a decision-m...

This study considered two important aspects of dental solid waste (DSW), which is a waste stream of increasing significance due to the substantial increase in its amounts and the potential grave consequences of its mismanagement. The work examined the composition and energy content (EC) of DSW, which are of utmost importance when it comes to DSW po...

Biomass is a potential source of energy that can reduce our dependency on oil as the main source of energy. In addition to municipal solid waste, animal and olive wastes are the main sources of organic waste in Jordan. In 2005, there were more than 2.4 million heads of sheep, about 72 thousand cows, and 40 million hens being raised in farms distrib...

This work examined jojoba (oil and cake) as possible alternative fuel sources. Jojoba is a shrub that grows very well in deserts and its cake is the solid part produced upon processing of the jojoba seeds for oil extraction. In this study, pure jojoba oil and 50/50 blends with diesel fuel were tested as fuels in a single cylinder diesel engine. The...

In Mediterranean countries, olive trees play a significant economical role. Knowledge of olive fruits properties is essential for the efficient handling of the product and optimizing oil yield. The lack of such knowledge at the local level triggered this study in an attempt to report the fruit's chemical composition and some major engineering prope...

The chapter mainly addresses institutional aspects of regional renewable energy systems and cooperation in MENA (Middle East and North Africa) countries. The material presented here draws heavily on the deliberations of regional workshops on energy efficiency and renewable energy held at the American University of Beirut (AUB) in 2004 and 2005. In...

Jordan has a substantial dependence on foreign energy sources with 96% of its needs served by imports of oil products, natural gas and electricity. The US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 exposed the oil supply vulnerability of Jordan and provoked official efforts to diversify energy imports and develop domestic energy resources. Political support for...

In Jordan, large proportions of both the NGP and hard currency go for imported energy. Meanwhile, large quantities of grain dust are continuously produced locally and dumped uselessly. Thus, this study was set out to examine the opportunities of heat energy recovery from a composting pile of grain dust. Amounts of the material were arranged in pile...

Grain dust is a by-product produced in large quantities from grain storage and milling facilities but as of yet is treated as waste locally and regionally. Based on the conviction that material properties determination is a necessary first step for the efficient handling, processing, and use of materials, this work was initiated with the purpose of...

This work investigated the feasibility of collecting ambient air moisture. A dehumidifying unit of 215 watts was used to condense and collect moisture. A rain gage recorded the collected moisture. Dry bulb temperature and relative humidity (RH) were recorded plus the instantaneous voltage and current. A data logger recorded data on an hourly basis....

In this study, several bio-source-fuels like fresh and waste vegetable oil and waste animal fat were tested at different injector pressures (120, 140, 190, 210 bar) in a direct-injection, naturally aspirated, single-cylinder diesel engine with a design injection pressure of 190 bar. Using 2k factorial analysis, the effect of injection pressure (Pi)...

Solar energy in Jordan is abundant and is available over much of the year. In addition, commercial dryers that utilize fuel or electricity are too expensive for most Jordanian farmers. This work primarily involved the design of a solar dryer. A prototype solar heater was fabricated, fitted to the drying bin and tested. Under average ambient conditi...

The annual production of olive fruits in Jordan is about 105,000 tons producing more than 80,000 tons of solid waste annually. Olive mills solid waste (OMW) contains 94% organic matter and, therefore, can be highly beneficial to agricultural soil. However, olive waste contains oil that may increase soil hydrophobicity and decrease water retention a...

A fruit picker with adjustable height for picking tree-top and high-to-reach fruits was designed and fabricated. It can pick high fruits of most common tree varieties and weighs about 5 kg. Limited field trials indicated that the picker satisfactorily controlled the height, yet was made of simple components. Its low cost of about US$ 100 makes it e...

In Jordan, energy resources are almost nonexistent, and the country imports most of its energy. The unstable imported supply consumes a significant proportion of the GNP. Consequently, research in the renewable energy sector has emerged. Jordan produces a large volume of olive cake (OC) annually, which has a high potential as an energy source. This...

Wide areas of Jordan soils are expansive; this poses a threat to light weight structures necessitating expensive remedial measures. In Jordan, olive mills solid by-product is produced in large amounts annually and causes environmental problems. This work examines the effect of composted olive mill solid by-product (COMSB) on the swelling properties...

Large areas in Jordan are planted with olive trees, resulting in the production of large amounts of olive cake (OC) and annually imposing a disposal and pollution burden. This research examined the use of OC compost as a soil amendment and its effect on soil physical properties such as soil water retention and infiltration in terms of depth of pene...

As in many other developing countries, the generation of regulated medical waste (RMW) in Jordan has increased significantly over the last few decades. Despite the serious impacts of RMW on humans and the environment, only minor attention has been directed to its proper handling and disposal. This study was conducted in the form of a case study at...

This study was initiated to evaluate and optimize the conversion of waste animal fat (WAF) into ethyl and methyl ester called biodiesel. The physical and chemical characteristics of these esters were much closer to those of Diesel fuel than those of fresh vegetable oil or fat, which makes them a good substitute for Diesel fuel. Experiments have bee...

Food consumption around the world produces large amounts of waste vegetable oils and fats that, in many world regions, are disposed of in harmful ways. Consequently, this study intended to investigate the feasibility of utilizing this renewable and low cost fuel raw material as a diesel fuel replacement in small-scale applications such as in reside...

Transesterified vegetable oils (VOs) are promising alternative diesel fuel. Waste VOs are cheap and renewable but currently disposed of inadequately. In this work, waste palm oil was transesterified under various conditions. H2SO4 and different concentrations of HCl and ethanol at different excess levels were used. Higher catalyst concentrations (1...

Jordan relies heavily on expensive and unreliable imported oil. Therefore, this study was initiated to investigate the potential of ethyl ester used as vegetable oil (VO; biodiesel) to substitute oil-based diesel fuel. The fuels tested were several ester/diesel blends including 100% ester in addition to diesel fuel, which served as the baseline fue...

Mediterranean countries produce annually large amounts of olive cake that impose disposal and environmental problems. This study involved an assessment of the potential of olive cake cylindrical briquettes as an energy source. Batches of the briquettes were burned in a lab-size metal, refractory-lined stove. The assessment was based on monitoring t...

Jordan possesses vast reserves of unused high quality oil shale, yet imports almost all its energy needs. This study addressed the evaluation of a non-petroleum liquid fuel derived from oil shale, namely shale oil, relative to the reference petroleum based Diesel fuel. Tests were conducted in a single cylinder, direct injection Diesel engine to com...

Olive pressing in Jordan generates large amounts of olive cake that impose disposal and environmental problems. The full benefits of densifying olive cake for energy or other uses are realized only if the physical quality of densified units is secured. Thus, this work involved evaluating the physical quality of olive cake briquettes made by compres...

Large amounts of olive cake (OC) are produced in Jordan annually and impose disposal and environmental problems. Therefore, this study was an attempt to utilize OC by realizing the benefits of biomass densification for energy. The study addressed the compaction of OC in terms of gains in density, stress-density relationship, and compaction energy r...

The effects of tillage treatment, tire inflation pressure, and vehicle axle load resulting from wheeled traffic on soil tilled in the fall were evaluated by measuring the changes in soil physical properties (bulk density, air porosity, and infiltration rate) and by measuring changes in crop yield in comparison with controlled plots. Results include...

Changes in soil physical properties (bulk density, cone penetration resistance, and infiltration rate) were used to investigate the effect of three different vehicle parameters. These parameters include tillage treatments (no-till, rotary tillage, and moldboard plowing), axle load (loaded and unloaded grain cart), and tire inflation pressure (high...

This work considered a rectangular fin with a uniform cross section embedded with circular perforations attached to a surface at a constant temperature. The perforated fin was analyzed under natural convection using FLUENT ANSYS for heat transfer enhancement relative to its solid counterpart considering different levels of Grashof numbers and two g...