Congratulations Emmanuella Buerki Nelson

Emmanuella Buerki Nelson is a graduating MPhil student from the Mechanical Engineering Department at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). Her research interests include thermofluids, renewable energy systems, climate change, design and modelling.

Her study focused on the modelling and simulation of a solar photovoltaic (PV) steam generator with thermal storage, designed to provide a sustainable alternative for small- and medium-scale industrial steam production. Using MATLAB Simulink, she developed and simulated a 14 kg/hr solar PV steam generator integrated with potassium nitrate (KNO₃) as a phase change material (PCM) for thermal energy storage. The system achieved an overall efficiency of 79% and an electrical-to-thermal efficiency of 88.5%, with a Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) of USD 0.126/kWh, lower than LPG- and grid-powered systems. Environmental assessment showed near-zero emissions, emphasising the system’s sustainability.

The KNUST Engineering Education Project (KEEP) has been instrumental in her academic success by providing financial and technical support. Emmanuella plans to continue advancing research in renewable energy technologies, thermal modelling, and sustainable industrial energy systems to support the clean energy transition