Prof. Mehdi Nazarinia

Dr Nazarinia is a Professor of Fluid Mechanics and Renewable Energy at Heriot-Watt University (HWU), Dubai. He is specialised in experimental fluid dynamics and aerodynamics of vehicles such as ground transportation systems, vehicles, airplane wing and winglets, and wind turbines.

He has finished his PhD in Fluid Mechanics in 2010. He is a Fellow of IMechE (FIMechE) and Chartered Engineer (CEng) and has SFHEA. He is the Director of Academic Quality for the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences and has already served as Associate Director of Learning and Teaching, Mechanical Engineering Programme Director of Studies, and IMechE Student Chapter Academic Liaison Officer. He has published in more than 70 reputable journals and peer reviewed conferences.

Professor Nazarinia’s renewable research expands over a wider range of topics, he has for example worked on design of solar tracking control mechanism, design of solar concentrated photovoltaic receiver, wind turbine siting over a forward-facing step, design of a solar waste compactor, design of solar pumping for irrigation lines and swimming pools, and helical coil solar thermal receiver for low-cost solar collection rig.

He also has supervised master and undergraduate research students in projects in HVAC and building services in collaboration with Industrial companies such as Daikin, Trox, Burohappold, Desert Group, Wilo, Green Solutions and many more. Some of the project titles are: Effective U-value of wall assemblies, Experimental investigation of building air tightness, Post construction testing of building envelope: Significance of in-situ U-value measurements for wall assemblies, Indoor/Outdoor Air Exchange – Balancing Energy, Building Comfort and Health Issues in Extreme Climate, Sustainable Master Planning of Communities, Zero Energy Villa, District Cooling Studies, Earth based Construction, and recently assessing the power consumption data of inverter and non-inverter air conditioners.

Dr Mehdi's research interests are experimental fluids mechanics, aerodynamics, wind turbine performance, solar energy, solar collectors and renewable energy in general.

His specialisations are particle image velocimetry (PIV), aerodynamics, renewable energy, wind energy, building airtightness and gas dynamics.