Dr L K Nkhonjera

Qualifications

1. PhD Mechanical Engineering (2016), Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Tanzania
2. MSc Mechanical Engineering (2009), National Central University, Taiwan
3. BSc Mechanical Engineering (2002), University of Malawi

Currently teaching

Dr Nkhonjera is currently a postdoctral fellow with the Institute for Development of Energy for African Sustainability (IDEAS). His research is on the thermochemical conversion of solid biomass to synthetic gases.

Fields of academic interests

1. Numerical modelling and simulations of sustainable energy systems (solar and biomass)
2. Energy and climate change
3. Energy efficiency
4. Energy policy

Field of Specialisation

A passionate researcher, teacher and advocate of sustainable energy science and engineering for sustainable development. Has proven ability to develop and manage collaborative projects as well as consultancies. In addition, possesses on one hand a good working knowledge of laboratory measuring equipment for characterization of thermal properties of materials and on the other profound computational skills for numerical analyses/simulations of energy systems. Now in the pursuit of significant contributions to the innovations in sustainable energy systems for social-economic development.

Books

1. Nkhonjera L. and P. Chaponda (2013). Effects of Installing Thermosiphon Solar Water Heating System on Total Energy Bill at Mzuzu University. In Dhungel, S.K. and Krishnakumar, G (Ed.), Energy Audit for Professional/NAM S&T Centre (pp. 28-38). Mumbai: Daya Publishing house. ISBN-978-81-7035-805-3

Journal articles

1. Li, Y.C., Melenbrink, E.L., Cordonier, G.J., Boggs, C., Khan, A., Isaac, M.K., Nkhonjera, L.K., Bahati, D., Billinge, S.J., Haile, S.M. and Kreuter, R.A. (2018). An Easily Fabricated Low-Cost Potentiostat Coupled with User-Friendly Software for Introducing Students to Electrochemical Reactions and Electroanalytical Techniques. Journal of Chemical Education 95 (9), 1658-1661
2. Nkhonjera, L.K., Bello-Ochende, T., John, G., & King’ondu, C. K. (2016). A review of thermal energy storage designs, heat storage materials and cooking performance of solar cookers with heat storage. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 75, 157-167.
3. John, G., König-Haagen, A., King’ondu, C. K., Brüggemann, D., & Nkhonjera, L. (2015). Galactitol as phase change material for latent heat storage of solar cookers: Investigating thermal behavior in bulk cycling. Solar Energy, 119, 415-421.
4. Nkhonjera, L., & Wu, J.-C. (2013). Performance Analysis of Battery Based Stand-Alone Solar Home Systems in Malawi. Journal of Energy and Power Engineering, 7(5), 866-875.
5. Nkhonjera, L. K., Hameer, S., & Kosamu, I. B. M. (2013). Towards sustainable energy utilization: An analysis of various cooking fuel options in Malawi. Journal of Mechanical Engineering Research, 5(3), 68-75.
6. Nkhonjera, L. and Jiunn-Chi Wu. (2008). Energy Market Analysis: A Case Study of Malawi. Journal of International Cooperation, 3(1), 38-53.

Paper presentations

1. Nkhonjera, L., Kuboth, M., König-Haagen, A., John, G.R., King’ondu, C.K., Dieter Brüggemann, D., Bello-Ochende, T. (2016) Experimental investigation of a finned pentaerythritol based thermal energy storage unit for cooking application. Energy Procedia, 93, 160-167.
2. Nkhonjera, L. (2010). Reducing carbon with clean energy technologies: Lessons from Malawi. In M. Rodi (Ed.), The Paradigm Shift towards Energy Sustainability: Climate Change, Innovation, and the Optimal Instrument Mix (pp. 173-184). Berlin: Lexxion Verlag.

Other conferences and seminars

1. EU-Africa symposium on renewable energy research and innovation, 8-10 March, 2016, Tlemcen, Algeria
2. Summer school on Renewable Energies for Africa: Solar Energy and its Application, 11-18 July 2015, Arusha, Tanzania.
3. Southern Africa Region AFRETEP Workshop on rural electrification and renewable energy development in Africa, 20-24 February 2012, Cape Town South Africa.
4. International Hands-on Training on Energy Audit for Energy Professionals in Developing Countries, 4-14 May 2011, Mumbai India.
5. International Academy Summer School on Energy and the Environment, Greifswald, Germany 21 July – 2 August 2008.

Professional positions, fellowships & awards

1. 2012-2016: Scholarships from Germany Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and Intra-ACP ARISE Mobility Scheme for the PhD studies in Tanzania, Germany and South Africa
2. 2009: ICDF Award for Academic Excellence
3. 2007-2009: Scholarship from Taiwan International Cooperation Development Fund (ICDF) for Master of Science studies in Taiwan
4. 2001-2002: Mobil Trust Award for Academic Excellence
5. 1997-2002: Old Mutual scholarship for undergraduate studies in Malawi
6. 1997: Surf Science Award for Academic Excellence at secondary (high) school level
7. 1995: Old Mutual Maths Olympiad Award

Other

I am competent in using specialized software like ANSYS FLUENT, TRNSYS, MatLab, SolidWorks and AutoCAD. Besides I can use office packages like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Project and Publisher. Further, I am competent in internet surfing and emailing as well as coding in C language.