I will never give up attempting to make a better, safer, and cleaner world by conducting scientific studies on sustainable energy conversion technologies.
PhD
Currently, being a member of the FAST (Free Appropriate Sustainability Technology) group directed by Dr. Joshua Pearce, I am doing my PhD in Electrical Engineering at Western University. My specialty is thermal designing and optimizing renewable energy systems, and right now, I am working on PV-powered greenhouses heated by waste heat sources and/or sustainable energy provision systems such as heat pumps. I actively contribute to various side projects, both within FAST and in collaboration with fellow researchers.
MSc
I obtained my MSc in Mechanical Engineering, and as my thesis, I conducted a comprehensive thermodynamic and thermo-economic study on a novel practical trigeneration system of power, seasonal heating/cooling, and domestic hot water. Also, the exergo-economic optimization of the system under the climatic limitations of the considered city was done in Energy and Combustion Engines Lab at Sahand University of Technology. The main purpose of this step was to offer the initial design of a power plant utilizing the gasification of solid wastes produced in the city understudy, to motivate designers and local decision-makers to seek possible ways of establishing a renewable CCHP power plant for the first time in the city.
BSc
As my BSc final project at the University of Tabriz, I also came up with a novel idea about optimizing a cogeneration system based on a steam-assisted turbocharged marine diesel engine, through which I could have my own first experience in article preparation, submission, and publishing. In the last semester of my undergraduate studies, I attended Tabriz Steam and Gas Power Plant as an intern, which provided me with a valuable and practical view of thermal power plants.
During the years of my academic studies, I also had other social experiences, making me well-experienced in teamwork and managing scientific programs. I was the head of the Scientific Association of Mechanical Engineering, and I managed to lead the members to accomplish many social-scientific activities for the first time at the University of Tabriz. In addition, collaborating with my friends, I established an engineering and consulting company, in which I am the chairman of the board of directors and also an instructor.
I saw it as a great obligation to address some challenges in the field of Energy and Environment, and this encouraged me to work on designing, modeling, evaluating, optimizing, and developing novel large-scale energy conversion systems, including power plants, district heating/cooling systems, and buildings' heating/cooling systems. Therefore, numerous experiences in these fields helped me to publish several papers and book chapters, along with working on various projects whose first ideas and concepts have been provided by myself.
During my seven years of study, I was also a private tutor of high school Physics, instructor of Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, and CATIA and EES Softwares in some private institutes, and the teaching assistant of Internal Combustion Engines and Engineering Drawing courses at the University of Tabriz. Being a student and a teacher simultaneously helped me to monitor my teaching tactics and employ novel methods in order to enhance students' learning progress while they enjoy the class.
Life and Career[edit | edit source]
I was born on May 29th, 1992, in Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
While choosing mathematics and physics, I entered high school. Fortunately, I could always get good grades in school, and I was a first-ranked student. Since childhood, I have been interested in creating novel and manageable things. My passion for making crafts, solving mathematical problems, and building various personal stuff led me to choose Mechanical Engineering.
Having ranked among the 1 percent of about 260000 participants in the nationwide universities’ entrance exam, I was rewarded the B.Sc. Fellowship by the Ministry of Science, and I got admitted to the University of Tabriz in Mechanical Engineering. During the last two years of my bachelor’s study, I was the head of the Scientific Association of Mechanical Engineering, and I have managed to lead the members to accomplish many social-scientific activities, most of which have been done for the first time in the history of the Mechanical Engineering Department.
Since I always had an enthusiasm to obtain more knowledge about power plants, I took elective courses of Internal Combustion Engines, Power Plants, Heat Exchangers Design, Water Transmission Systems, and Air Conditioning Principles, and I could earn good grades. As a result, while undertaking various scientific, social, and executive activities, I was able to complete the undergraduate period. As my undergraduate project, I came up with a novel idea about the optimization of a cogeneration system based on a marine diesel engine, through which I could have my first experience in article preparation, submission, and publishing. My great attitude toward thermodynamic cycles made me collaborate with a PhD student to present a paper at the International Conference of Mechanical Engineering and be the consultant for the project of a fruit cold storage design.
Due to my great interest in power plants and thermal engineering, I passed my internship at Tabriz Steam and Gas Power Plant, during which I experienced the overhaul of the power plant boiler.
Ambitiously following my interests, I managed to be admitted as a master’s student at Sahand University of Technology in the field of Energy Conversion. I worked on my thesis with ambition and perseverance. Due to my great interest in the investigation of cogeneration systems, as my master's thesis, I conducted the thermodynamic and thermo-economic analyses of a trigeneration cycle of power and space heating/cooling employing biomass gasification, and I applied multi-objective optimization on my proposed system, through which I could publish one paper and have the other one under-review. I worked on my thesis with perseverance, and all my experiences during this period helped me to excel in modeling, programming, optimization, and presentation softwares. All experiences during this period helped me excel in some modeling, programming, optimization, and presentation softwares. Moreover, being well-experienced in the detection of deficiencies in energy and power systems with the aim of optimizing their performance and capacities, I became familiar with the principles of some chemical processes (combustion, gasification, and water desalination). My tendency to eliminate the current world crises, including lack of water and global warming, and my strong desire to work in the fields of renewable energy sources, sustainable waste heat recovery technologies, sustainable combined power/heating/cooling/freshwater/fuel systems, and optimization of energy conversion systems encouraged me to consult on more than five Master's and PhD theses regarding the heat transfer, thermodynamic and thermo-economic assessment and optimization of CHP, hydrogen production, desalination, waste heat recovery, and refrigeration systems.
Since high school, I have had a strong tendency to be a mentor, teacher, or consultant. I was a private tutor of physics for high school students for a year and a half. Furthermore, being a teaching assistant for the Internal Combustion Engines and Engineering Drawing courses at the University of Tabriz, I have five years of experience in teaching thermodynamics and heat transfer.
I was enthusiastic about producing knowledge to pave other students’ and researchers’ way toward the science frontiers. Accordingly, in 2015, collaborating with my friends, I established an engineering and consulting company, in which I am the chairman of the board of directors and also an instructor.
After defending my MSc thesis in 2018, I have been working as a part-time research assistant at Sahand University of Technology and the University of Tabriz while being involved in various scientific projects with the students and professors of other universities, as well.
After 2022
Ultimately, after much effort and perseverance over a two-year period, I could get admitted to a fully-funded Electrical Engineering PhD program at Western University. So, I left my country, Iran, with the purpose of adventuring into the scientific world of Canada. I started my PhD in September 2022 as a member of FAST Research Group, and I'm working in the subgroup of Agrivoltaics on the sustainable heat and power provision systems in greenhouses.
Instantly after starting my PhD, with the support of my supervisor, Professor Joshua Pearce, I got admitted to a Mitacs Internship position in Heliolytics, one of the most experienced global providers of PV aerial infrared inspections and advanced site data analytics services for the industry. I had a chance to experience a scanning flight with the aim of detecting any possible faults and deficiencies in the PV farms.
My Scientific Bank[edit | edit source]
- Agrivoltaicsː To familiarize yourself with a summary of the highlights from the 2nd Agrivoltaics Canada Conference at Western University, simply click on the link to access and download the insightful notes.
Academic Interests/Background[edit | edit source]
Research Interests[edit | edit source]
Applied Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer
District and Space Heating and Cooling
Buildings Energy Systems
Solar Systems
Sustainable and Renewable Energy Systems
Geothermal Energy
Biomass and Alternative Fuels (Thermochemical and Electrochemical Conversion)
Desalination
Multigeneration systems
Optimization
Education[edit | edit source]
M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering-Energy Conversion at Sahand University of Technology (2015-2018)
M.Sc. Thesis: "Thermodynamic and Thermo-economic Analysis and Multi-Objective Optimization of a Trigeneration Combined Cycle Fueled by Biomass and Natural Gas", Supervised by Professor Rahim Khoshbakhti Saray
Total GPA: 17.43/20 (3.77/4)
B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering at University of Tabriz (2010-2014)
B.Sc. Project: "Investigation of the Thermodynamic Effects of Water Injection to Exhaust Gases of a Marine Turbocharged Diesel Engine", Supervised by Professor Faramarz Ranjbar
Total GPA: 15.40/20 (3/4)
University Elective Courses[edit | edit source]
Undergraduate: Power Plants-Internal Combustion Engines-Heat Exchangers Design-Air Conditioning Principles-Water Transmission Systems
Graduate: Machine Learning-Power Systems Modeling-Principles of Combustion-Advanced Thermodynamics-Advanced Heat Transfer (Convection)-Advanced CFD
Courses and Workshops[edit | edit source]
- In progress: Energy Plus software, Private online course.
- 2022: Solar Energy and Photovoltaic Systems, Private course, Tabriz, Iran.
- 2020: Optimization of Energy Systems (GA and ANN), Private online course, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
- 2020: Smart Energy Systems, Public online workshop, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
- 2014: CATIA Drawing (Complex Surfaces), Iran Technical & Vocational Training Organization, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
- 2013: CATIA Drawing (Preliminary), Iran Technical & Vocational Training Organization, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
- 2013: Water Distribution and Sewage Disposal Systems Design, Private workshop, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
Skills[edit | edit source]
- Language skills: English (TOEFL IBTː102)-Persian (Native)-Azeri (Native)-Turkish
- Teaching skills: Thermodynamics-EES software-Heat Transfer-Internal Combustion Engines
- Programming software: MATLAB-Python
- Engineering software: EES-CATIA
- Office, Graphical and Data Analyzing software: Microsoft Office-Adobe Photoshop-Origin Pro-EDrawMax
- Managerial skills: Managing team and group activities in scientific contexts
Journal Publications[edit | edit source]
- A. Sohrabi, N. Asgari, M. Imran, M. Wakil Shahzad, "Comparative energy, exergy, economic, and environmental (4E) analysis and optimization of two high-temperature Kalina cycles integrated with thermoelectric generators for waste heat recovery from a diesel engine", Energy Conversion and Management, 2023.
- N. Asgari, M. T. McDonald, Joshua M. Pearce, "Energy Modeling and Techno-Economic Feasibility Analysis of Greenhouses for Tomato Cultivation Utilizing the Waste Heat of Cryptocurrency Miners", Energies, 2023.
- N. Asgari, R. Khoshbakhti Saray, S. Mirmasoumi, “Seasonal exergoeconomic assessment and optimization of a dual-fuel trigeneration system of power, cooling, heating, and domestic hot water, proposed for Tabriz, Iran”, Renewable Energy, 2023.
- A. Jafarzad, N. Asgari, F. Ranjbar, F. Mohammadkhani, “Thermodynamic Assessment and Optimization of the Influences of the Steam-Assisted Turbocharging and Organic Rankine Cycle on the Overall Performance of a Diesel Engine-Based Cogeneration Integrated with a Reverse Osmosis Desalination Unit”, Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessment, 2021.
- H. Ghiasirad, N. Asgari, R. Khoshbakhti Saray, S. Mirmasoumi, “Thermoeconomic assessment of a geothermal based combined cooling, heating, and power system, integrated with a humidification-dehumidification desalination unit and an absorption heat transformer”, Energy Conversion and Management, 2021.
- N. Asgari, R. Khoshbakhti Saray, S. Mirmasoumi, “Energy and exergy analyses of a novel seasonal CCHP system driven by a gas turbine integrated with a biomass gasification unit and a LiBr-water absorption chiller”, Energy Conversion and Management, 2020.
Conference Proceeding Papers[edit | edit source]
- H. Ghiasirad, N. Asgari, R. Khoshbakhti Saray, S. Mirmasoumi, “Geothermal-based freshwater production by humidification-dehumidification and evaporating desalination units integrated with a CCHP system: Energy and exergy analysis”, International Conference on Desalination and Water Purification (ICDWP2021), 16-18 Feb 2021, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.
- F. Mohammadkhani, F. Ranjbar, N. Asgari, “Utilization of Waste Heat from Condenser of Steam Power Plant Using Organic Rankine Cycle”, The 25th Annual International Conference on Mechanical Engineering ISME2017, 2-4 May 2017, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
Book Chapters[edit | edit source]
Reviewing Experiences[edit | edit source]
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Chemosphere | Journal of Cleaner Production | Applied Thermal Engineering | Scientia Iranica |
Events[edit | edit source]
Internships[edit | edit source]
- Heliolytics Company, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (2022)
- Tabriz Steam Power Plant, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran (2014)
Appropedia Contributions[edit | edit source]
- Solar Energy Harvest: Addressing its challenges
- Waste heat recovery for greenhouses literature review
- Greenhouse thermal model
- Heat pumps integrated with greenhouses literature review
- Solar Photovoltaics for Electric Vehicle Charging (Application of Machine Learning Techniques) - Literature Review
Honors and Awards[edit | edit source]
- 2022ː Mitacs Internship Award, Heliolytics Ltd., Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- 2018ː Top Ranked Student, Mechanical Engineering Department, Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
- 2015ː M.Sc. Fellowship, Mechanical Engineering Department, Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
- 2010ː B.Sc. Fellowship, Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
Research Experiences[edit | edit source]
- 2022-Present: Full-time Research Assistant, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
- 2018-2022: Part-time Research Assistant, Mechanical Engineering Department, Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
- 2020-2021: Consultant for a PhD thesis, "Thermodynamic Equilibrium Modeling of Municipal Solid Waste Gasification in a Downdraft Gasifier with Modifying Coefficients”, Azad University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
- 2020: Consultant for a project, "Thermodynamic evaluation of a power and hydrogen cogeneration system employing a biomass-fueled gas turbine cycle and PEM electrolyzer integrated with a TCO2 cycle”, Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
- 2015-2020: Part-time Research Assistant, Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
- 2019-2020: Consultant for an MSc thesis, “Energy and Exergy Analysis of a CHP System with Desalination of Seawater Using Waste Heat of Marine Diesel Engine”, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
- 2016-2018: Research Assistant, Mechanical Engineering Department, Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
- 2016: Consultant for an MSc thesis, "Investigating the Effect of Using the Organic Rankine Cycle with Different Working Fluids for Regeneration of Lost Heat in Steam Power Plant Condenser”, Azad University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
- 2015: Consultant for an MSc thesis, "Design of Compressed Heat Exchanger for Gas Transfer Station by MATLAB Programming Software", Azad University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
- 2015: Consultant for a BSc final project, "Design of 500 Tons Refrigerator for Apple and Orange Preservation", University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
- 2014: B.Sc. Student, Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
Teaching Experiences[edit | edit source]
- 2020-Present: Trainer of EES software, Online courses, Self-employed.
- 2015-2022: Lecturer for Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer courses, “Hamgaman Shayan Tose'e Engineering and Technical Co.”, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
- 2015-2017: Trainer of CATIA design software, “Hamgaman Shayan Tose'e Engineering and Technical Co.”, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
- 2016: Teaching Assistant for Internal Combustion Engines course (Prof. Faramarz Ranjbar), University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
- 2015: Teaching Assistant for Engineering Drawing course (Mr. Hamid Poorziaei), University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
- 2012-2013: Private Tutor for Physics course, “Dana Educational Group (Teaching center of high school courses)”, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
Executive and Social-Scientific Experiences[edit | edit source]
- 2022ː Senior editor of the 18th volume of “Gashtavar” journal, Scientific Association of Mechanical Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
- 2021-2022ː Senior advisor of Scientific Association of Mechanical Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
- 2018-2021: Chairman of the board of directors, “Hamgaman Shayan Tose'e Engineering and Technical Co.”, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
- 2015-2021: Head of the advertisement and public relations department, “Hamgaman Shayan Tose'e Engineering and Technical Co.”, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
- 2016: Senior advisor of Scientific Association of Mechanical Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
- 2014: Head of Scientific Association of Mechanical Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
- 2014: Executive director of the first state competition for glider drones, Scientific Association of Mechanical Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
- 2013: Executive coordinator of software training courses, Scientific Association of Mechanical Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
- 2012: Scientific editor of the 4th volume of “Gashtavar” journal, Scientific Association of Mechanical Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
Other Experiences[edit | edit source]
- Graphic designer, “Hamgaman Shayan Tose'e Engineering and Technical Co.”, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
- Assistant for technical and engineering drawer by CATIA software, “Hydroomid Co. (Producer of hydraulic valves and couplings)”, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
- Secretary for one of the faculty members, Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
- Graphic designer, Scientific Association of Mechanical Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
- Assistant in auto repair shop, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
- Assistant for a plumber of water distribution and sewage disposal systems, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.