Ghalib Kahwaji

Professor of Mechanical Engineering

RIT Dubai

Director of the RIT Dubai Sustainability and Energy Center

gykcad@rit.edu

Office Mailing Address

RIT Dubai, Dubai Silicon Oasis - UAE

Ghalib Kahwaji

Professor of Mechanical Engineering

RIT Dubai

Director of the RIT Dubai Sustainability and Energy Center

Education

Ph.D. from Colorado State University, U.S.A.; M.Sc. from University of Mosul, Iraq

Bio

Dr. Ghalib holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Colorado State University (CSU) and M.Sc. and B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Mosul, Iraq. Dr. Kahwaji joined RIT-Dubai as a professor of thermo-fluids, air conditioning and renewable energy systems. Prior to joining RIT, he spent five years in industry and engineering consulting as the head of MEP design department and engineering manager at Al-Gurg Consultants - Dubai and TRANSCO - Abu Dhabi where his work involved large-scale water transmission systems, energy systems for high rise and industrial buildings in the UAE. He also leads in the design of many green buildings in Dubai.

Prior to moving to the UAE, Dr. Kahwaji served as the assistant dean for research and graduate programs and chairman of the department of mechanical engineering at the college of engineering, University of Mosul from 2003 till 2006 and as a faculty of mechanical engineering since 1987. During his work at the mechanical engineering department, Dr. Kahwaji participated in reviewing undergraduate and graduate programs, developed and started the PhD program in 1992 and saw its progress till 2006. Dr. Kahwaji has more than 40 publications, supervised 23 MSc and PhD students and was deeply involved with the industrial sector in Iraq through the Engineering Consulting Bureau of the University.

Synergistic Activities

Active member in ASHRAE Falcon chapter, UAE.
Founder/Member of the UAE-EDC, Engineering Deans Council.
Member, EGBC, Emirates Green Buildings Council.
Judge, EGBC sustainability awards.
Provided technical expertise to many local industries in the cement, power production and oil fields.
Serving on the editorial board of the International Journal of Sustainable Energy.
Serving on the editorial board of the Journal of Advanced Engineering Research.
Served on local society committees.
Technical Reviewer for, Energy- The International Journal, Elsevier, Science and Energy Journal and many others.
Developed joint Ph.D. program between Colorado State University and the University of Mosul.
Developed Ph.D. program at the department of Mechanical Engineering Dept., University of Mosul and taught many courses and supervised students research.
Developed and participated in many Engineers development continuing education courses.
Developed and applied a new method in mechanical engineering laboratories teaching.

Personal Links

Areas of Expertise

Thermo-fluids, CFD simulations

Convective heat transfer

Energy systems optimization

Sustainability

Renewable energy systems

Air conditioning

Environment research

Select Scholarship

Journal Paper

Kahwaji, Ghalib Y. and Omar M. Ali. "Numerical Investigation Of Natural Convection Heat Transfer from Square Cylinder In An Enclosed Enclosure Filled With Nanofluids." IJMECH 4. Nov (2015): 1 - 17. Print.

Invited Keynote/Presentation

Kahwaji, Ghalib. "The Performance Of A Hydrocarbon Mixture Refrigerant As A Substitute For R22." Non-HFC cold chain food and energy security. United Nations OEWG Meeting of the parties to the Montreal Protocol. Dubai, Dubai. 4 Nov. 2015. Conference Presentation.

Kahwaji, Ghalib and Omar M Ali. "Numerical Investigation Of Natural Convection Heat Transfer from Square Cylinder In An Enclosed Enclosure Filled With Nanofluids." Third International Conference on Mechanical Engineering. ICAITA. Dubai, Dubai. 6 Nov. 2015. Conference Presentation.

Currently Teaching

ISEE-786

Lifecycle Assessment

3 Credits

This course introduces students to the challenges posed when trying to determine the total lifecycle impacts associated with a product or a process design. Various costing models and their inherent assumptions will be reviewed and critiqued. The inability of traditional costing models to account for important environmental and social externalities will be highlighted. The Lifecycle Assessment approach for quantifying environmental and social externalities will be reviewed and specific LCA techniques (Streamlined Lifecycle Assessment, SimaPro) will be covered.

MECE-301

Engineering Applications Laboratory

2 Credits

As a modification of the more “traditional” lab approach, students work in teams to complete an open-ended project involving theoretical and empirical analyses of an assigned system, applying engineering concepts and skills learned throughout prior courses. After successfully completing this course, students will have achieved a higher level of understanding of, and proficiency in, the tasks of qualitative treatment of real systems, development and implementation of analytical models, design and implementation of experimental investigations, and validation of results.

MECE-529

Renewable Energy Systems

3 Credits

This course provides an overview of renewable energy system design. Energy resource assessment, system components, and feasibility analysis will be covered. Possible topics to be covered include photovoltaics, wind turbines, solar thermal, hydropower, biomass, and geothermal. Students will be responsible for a final design project.

MECE-629

Renewable Energy Systems

3 Credits

MECE-790

Thesis

0 - 6 Credits

Thesis In conference with an adviser, a topic is chosen. Periodic progress reports and a final written document with an oral examination are required.