Dr.-Ing. Mbũrũ Ngũgĩ

Designation: Lecturer
School/Institute: Engineering
Department: Mechanical
Email: john.mburu@dkut.ac.ke

Academic Background

Qualification Institution Year
 PhD Mechanical Engineering  Uni. STUTTGART  2023
 MSc. Mechanical Engineering  JKUAT  2015
 BSc. Mechanical Engineering  JKUAT  2011

Professional Qualifications

Qualification Institution Year
Graduate Engineer (B6900) EBK  2011

Areas of Expertise

  • Mechanical engineering – Chemical kinetics, combustion, shock tube experiments

Work Experience

  • May 2023 – To date: Lecturer – DeKUT
  • June 2015 – May 2023: Assistant Lecturer – DeKUT
  • August 2011 – June 2015: Teaching Assistant – DeKUT

Social Responsibilities

  • Member – Board of Management of Kĩrũngũru Secondary School (2016 – 2018)

Publications

Journal publications

  1. J.M. Ngũgĩ, S. Richter, M. Braun-Unkhoff, C. Naumann, U. Riedel, “A study on fundamental combustion properties of oxymethylene ether-1 and 2 / Primary reference fuel 90 blend: Experiments and modeling approach”, Combustion and flame 2022: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2022.111996
  2. J.M. Ngũgĩ, S. Richter, M. Braun-Unkhoff, C. Naumann, M. Köhler, U. Riedel, “A Study on Fundamental Combustion Properties of Oxymethylene Ether-2.” ASME. J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. 2022, 144(1):  https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4052097
  3. J.K. Tanui, P.N. Kioni, P.N. Kariuki and J.M. Ngũgĩ, “Influence of processing conditions on the quality of briquettes produced by recycling charcoal dust”, International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Vol. 9, pp. 341-350, 2018.
  4. J. M. Ngũgĩ, P. N. Kioni, and J. K. Tanui, “Numerical Study of Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Formation in Homogenous System of Methane, Methanol and Methyl Formate at High Pressures”, Journal of Clean Energy Technologies, Vol. 6, No. 1, January 2018.
  5. J. M. Ngũgĩ, P. N. Kioni, and J. K. Tanui, “Numerical Study of Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Formation in High-Pressure Diffusion Flames of Methane, Methanol and Methyl Formate”, Journal of Clean Energy Technologies, Vol. 6, No. 1, January 2018.
  6. F.M. Mwema, S.M. Kimayu, J. M. Ngũgĩ, ” Performance Assessment of Local Biomass Powered Cereal Drier Used by Small-Scale Kenyan Farmers,” International Journal of Scientific and Technology Research Volume 4, Issue 05, May 2015.
  7. F. M. Mwema, J. M. Ngũgĩ, N.  B. Mutunga, F. C. Kalama, ” Development of Wood-Plastic Composite at Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Kenya,” Int. Journal of Engineering Research and Applications, ISSN: 2248-9622, Vol. 5, Issue 12, (Part – 4) December 2015, pp.11-17.
  8. Ngugi, J. M., Richter, S., Braun-Unkhoff, M., Naumann, C., and Köhler, M., “An Investigation on Fundamental Combustion Properties of Oxymethylene ether-2.” Energy and fuels:Under review.

    9. Conferences Proceedings

  9. J.M. Ngũgĩ, S. Richter, M. Braun-Unkhoff, C. Naumann, U. Riedel, U., “An Investigation of Fundamental Combustion Properties of the Oxygenated Fuels DME and OME1.” Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo 2020: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition. Volume 3: Ceramics; Coal, Biomass, Hydrogen, and Alternative Fuels”. September 21–25, 2020:  https://doi.org/10.1115/GT2020-14702.
  10. J.M. Ngũgĩ, S. Richter, M. Braun-Unkhoff, C. Naumann, M. Köhler, U. Riedel, “A Study on Fundamental Combustion Properties of Oxymethylene Ether-2.” Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo 2021: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition. Volume 6: Ceramics and Ceramic Composites; Coal, Biomass, Hydrogen, and Alternative Fuels; June 7–11, 2021:  https://doi.org/10.1115/GT2021-60078.
  11. J.M. Ngũgĩ, S. Richter, M. Braun-Unkhoff, C. Naumann, M. Köhler, U. Riedel “a study on fundamental combustion properties of trimethyl orthoformate: experiments and modeling.”  Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo 2021: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition. Volume 6: Ceramics and Ceramic Composites; Coal, Biomass, Hydrogen, and Alternative Fuels; June 13–17, 2022. Accepted.
  12. J.M. Ngũgĩ, P.N. Kioni, A. Gitahi, S.K Musau “Effect of pressure and equivalence ratio on Nitric oxide formation in Methane/air, methanol/air and Methyl Formate/air homogenous ignition,” Proceedings of the Kseee-Jsaem International Engineering Conference, 2013.
  13. J.M. Ngũgĩ, S. Richter, M. Braun-Unkhoff, C. Naumann, M. Köhler, U. Riedel, “Ignition delay time measurements of DME, OME1, Primary reference fuels (PRF90) and OME1 / PRF90”, Seminar presentation at German Aerospace Center (DLR), Stuttgart, 8th June, 2020.

Awards, Scholarships and Recognitions

  1. Best ASME conference paper award – GT2020-14702: J.M. Ngũgĩ, S. Richter, M. Braun-Unkhoff, C. Naumann, U. Riedel, U., “An Investigation of Fundamental Combustion Properties of the Oxygenated Fuels DME and OME1.” Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo 2020: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition. Volume 3: Ceramics; Coal, Biomass, Hydrogen, and Alternative Fuels.
  2. DAAD scholarship award – PhD studies at the Uni. of Stuttgart, 2018.
  3. DAAD in-country scholarship award – Msc studies at JKUAT, 2012-2014.
  4. Babaroa Trust Awards – Best student, 4th year BSc. mechanical engineering class (2009).
  5. Babaroa Trust Awards – Best student, 3rd year BSc. mechanical engineering class (2008).
  6. Babaroa Trust Awards – Best student, 2nd year BSc. mechanical engineering class (2007).
  7. Babaroa Trust Awards – Best student, 1st year BSc. mechanical engineering class (2006).

Research

a)Ongoing/Completed Researches

  1. Formation of nitrogen oxides in oxygenated fuels.
  2. Combustion characterization of oxymethylene ethers (1-4).
  3. Investigation of combustion properties of multicomponent diesel surrogate fuel.

Research Interests

  • Combustion and emission characteristics of biofuel.
  • Computational of solid, liquid and gas fuel flames.

Affiliation/Membership to Professional Bodies

  • Graduate engineer – EBK
  • Graduate engineer – IEK Central Kenya