Computational Fluid Dynamics Modelling of Solid Fuel Co-Combustion (Africa Circular Economy Series)

The growing need for sustainable energy solutions has driven research into co-combustion processes, where coal is blended with biomass to reduce emissions and enhance combustion efficiency. This book overviews best practices to optimise the combustion processes through the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, focusing particularly on solid fuel combustion modelling. It equips the reader with an understanding of combustion parameter optimisation and modelling from a thermodynamic-fluid dynamic-mass transfer perspective.

Key features

1. Offers a specialised approach to solid fuel co-combustion, using CFD to model and optimise combustion processes for sustainable energy solutions
2. Combines theoretical and practical applications, with a focus on energy optimisation and emissions reduction
3. Includes modelling of complex phenomena such as multiphase and reaction modelling
4. Gives insights into important sub-models required during combustion modelling, forming the basis of reliable models
5. Contains detailed case studies and real-world applications

This book is aimed at graduate students and researchers in thermodynamics, combustion, energy engineering, fluid dynamics, and clean energy processes.

Garikai Tawanda Marangwanda is a registered mechanical engineer with more than eight years of combined academic and industry experience. He holds a PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, and MSc and BSc degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Science and Technology of Oran-Mohammed Boudiaf, Algeria. He is currently a postdoctoral researcher in the Centre for Applied Research and Innovation in the Built Environment (CARINBE) at the University of Johannesburg. He has taught core mechanical engineering courses related to thermo-fluid-energetic principles, and his speciality lies in combustion modelling, computational fluid dynamics, thermal systems analysis, and the integration of machine learning in energy engineering applications. He has contributed to several funded research and industry-linked projects such as the development of a digital twin for a utility boiler, a feasibility study for a biofuel processing plant, and experimental research related to glass fibre reinforced polymers. He has also led and participated in applied engineering projects such as designing solar off-grid and irrigation systems, commissioning bio digesters, developing pyrolysis units, and conducting industrial energy audits. As an active researcher, he has published journal papers and refereed conference papers in the areas of combustion modelling and experimental thermal analysis, supervised undergraduate and postgraduate research projects, and actively engages in industryoriented engineering activities to ensure that his academic work remains practically relevant.

Daniel Makundwaneyi Madyira is a registered professional engineer who is currently an associate professor of mechanical engineering in the Department of Mechanical Engineering Science, Faculty of Engineering, and the Built Environment at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. He has taught a wide range of core mechanical engineering courses, including machine design, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and strength of materials. He is a highly experienced mechanical engineer and academic with more than 26 years of academic and industrial experience. He is passionate about engineering design with special expertise in machine component stress analysis and thermal systems analysis. He has developed several mechanical designs addressing a range of contemporary societal problems, such as biomass briquetting and solar crop drying, to advanced mechanical systems such as rotating bending fatigue testing machines. His research interests range from high-speed machining of titanium, fatigue of titanium and composites, natural composites, biomass briquetting and biomass combustion modelling, fracture behaviour of materials produced using modern manufacturing techniques such as additive manufacturing, and post-weld heat treatment of steels using weld beads. He is also involved in several industry-based activities, solving industry-based problems. This makes his academic work relevant to industry and fruitful to his students. He is a very hardworking engineer, as evidenced by the range of his research publications. He has edited multiple conference proceedings, published book chapters, journal papers, and refereed conference papers, registered one patent, graduated multiple PhD students as supervisors and co-supervisors, and graduated multiple MSc, MPhil, and MTech students, and supervised multiple international MSc interns. As a registered professional engineer, he is active in ECSA activities, including assessment and professional review interviews of professional engineer applicants.

Innocent Musonda is a registered civil engineer and professional construction manager, currently serving as a full professor in Construction Management and Quantity Surveying in the Department of Construction & Management–Quantity Surveying at the University of Johannesburg (UJ). He is also the director of the Centre for Applied Research and Innovation in the Built Environment (CARINBE). He has taught a broad spectrum of courses in construction project management, engineering management, and digital built-environment technologies. As an experienced academic and practitioner, he combines more than two decades of industrial experience across Botswana, Zambia, and South Africa with deep scholarly engagement. Prof Musonda is particularly passionate about advancing engineering design for sustainable, safe, and digitally enabled infrastructure. His expertise spans building information modelling (BIM), digital twins, digital transformation in the built environment, sustainable infrastructure, and construction of health and safety. He has made substantial contributions to both academia and practice, serving as a thought leader in digitalisation and transformation in infrastructure. His applied work addresses societal and industry challenges, including infrastructure safety, sustainability, and the integration of 4IR technologies in construction. On the research side, Prof Musonda has published extensively and supervised numerous postgraduate students. At his inauguration, it was noted that he has supervised 8 PhD students and over 20 master’s students, and has authored more than 60 journal articles, 4 book chapters, and over 50 conference papers. He is rated by the National Research Foundation (NRF) in South Africa (C2). His work is strongly aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly around sustainable infrastructure and digital innovation. Beyond research and teaching, Prof Musonda is deeply engaged with professional bodies. He is a full member of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB-UK) and the International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB). He also contributes to national and international peer review processes, acting as an assessor for bodies such as the Australian Research Council (ARC) and the NRF. He has chaired and co-edited influential conferences, most notably the Development and Investments in Infrastructure (DII) series, helping drive discourse on infrastructure development, sustainability, and investment across Africa. Prof Musonda is a very hard-working scholar-practitioner, committed to bridging the gap between academic research and real-world infrastructure transformation. His leadership at CARINBE helps make his academic work industry-relevant, and his mentorship of students drives capacity-building in the built environment in Africa.