Discipline of Physics

Information

Name:  Dr. Ajal Kumar
Position: Senior Lecturer (Discipline Coordinator)
Email: ajal.kumar@usp.ac.fj
Phone: O: (+679) 32 32147 M: (+679)9727706

Detail Information

Research Interest:

  • Renewable Energy (Wind and Biomass and PV)
  • Environmental Radiometry

Members of an organization:

  • MAIP

Awards and Prizes:

  • 21 years unbroken service to USP, Recognised by USP administration through invitation to VC’s dinner and a Gold Medal in 2008.

 

Undergraduate Courses:

  • PH102 – Classical Physics
  • PH103 – Quantum and Electrical Physics
  • PH204 – Modern Physics
  • PH202 – Environmental Physics

Postgraduate Course:

  • PH407 –  Wind Power Theory and Application
  • PH416 – Biomass and Hydropower
1 Nair, Krishnam and Kumar, Ajal (2021) Potential of wind energy resources around Nasawana village in Nabouwalu, Vanua Levu, Fiji. Energy Exploration and Exploitation, 39 (1). pp. 409-425. ISSN 0144-5987
2 Mani, Shavneet and Mani, Francis S. and Kumar, Ajal and Shah, S. and Peltier, R.E. (2020) Traffic related PM2.5 air quality: policy options for developing Pacific Island countries. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 87 . NA. ISSN 1361-9209
3 Talama, Fatonga and Kutty, Saiyad S. and Kumar, Ajal and Khan, Mohammad G.M. and Ahmed, Mohammed R. (2020) Assessment of wind energy potential for Tuvalu with accurate estimation of Weibull parameters. Energy Exploration and Exploitation, 38 (5). pp. 1742-1773. ISSN 0144-5987
4 Kishore, Kaushal and Kumar, Ajal and Tausinga, Sione and Rao, Dinesh K. (2020) A comprehensive wind resource estimation and economic analysis for Rakiraki, Fiji. Resources and Environmental Economics, 2 (2). pp. 143-157. ISSN 2630-4457
5 Kumar, Ajal and Tausinga, Sione and Kishore, Kaushal and Nair, Krishnam (2020) Technical and economic prospect of wind energy at Lapaha, Tonga. Resources and Environmental Economics, 2 (1). pp. 136-142. ISSN 2630-4457
6 Curto, Domenico and Franzitta, Vincenzo and Viola, Alessia and Cirrincione, Maurizio and Mohammadi, Ali and Kumar, Ajal (2019) A renewable energy mix to supply small islands. A comparative study applied to Balearic Islands and Fiji. Journal of Cleaner Production, 241 . NA. ISSN 0959-6526
7 Sharma, Krishneel K. and Deo, Ravin N. and Kumar, Ajal and Mamun, Kabir  (2018) Rebar corrosion due to chlorides in synergy with sodium, potassium, and magnesium. Construction and Building Materials, 165 . pp. 533-540. ISSN 0950-0618
8 Lal, Alvin and Deo, Ravin N. and Kumar, Ajal (2018) Near – surface study of a hot spring site in Fiji. Acta Geophysica, NA . NA. ISSN 1895-6572
9 Kumar, Ajal and Nair, Krishnam (2014) Wind energy potential, resource assessment and economics of wind power around Qamu, Navua, Fiji. International Journal of Wind and Renewable Energy, 3 (1). pp. 1-6. ISSN 2277-3975
10 Kumar, Ajal and Nair, Krishnam (2013) Wind power potential at Benau, Savusavu, Vanua Levu, Fiji. International Journal of Energy, Information and Communications, 4 (1). pp. 51-62. ISSN 2093-9655
11 Kumar, Ajal and Nair, Krishnam (2012) Fiji. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, 23 (3). pp. 300-308. ISSN 1477-7835
12 Kumar, Ajal and Prasad, Shivneel (2010) Examining wind quality and wind power prospects on Fiji Islands. Renewable Energy, 35 (2). pp. 536-540. ISSN 0960-1481
13 Deo, Ravin N. and Kumar, Ajal and Kumar, P. (2006) Effects of UV radiation on human health – levels of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in Suva, Fiji. Fiji Medical Journal, 25 (2). pp. 27-31. ISSN 0301-1089
14 Kumar, A., & Deo, R. (2006). Wind Regime in the proximity of the 20 KW experimental turbines at Nabua, Fiji. The South Pacific Journal of Natural Science, 24.
15 Garimella, Sitaram and Koshy, Kanayathu and Chand, S. and Kumar, Ajal and Jafar, M. and Prasad, Uma W. (1998) Instrumental neutron activation analysis of tropical mangrove sediments of Fiji. The South Pacific Journal of Natural Sciences, 16 . pp. 24-27. ISSN 1013-9877
16 Garimella, Sitaram and Kumar, Ajal (1997) Natural radioactivity levels in soils of South-Eastern Viti Levu, Fiji. South Pacific Journal of Natural Science, 15 . pp. 21-36. ISSN 1013-9877

 

1. Prasad, S.B. and Kumar, A. “Energy audit of the University of the South Pacific”, 2nd European Congress on Economy and Management of Energy in Industry proceedings (Estoril, Portugal), 5-9 April 1994.

2. Garimella,S., Jafar, M., Kumar, A., and Prasad, U. “Natural radioactivity of soils of Viti Levu, Fiji”, VIII Pacific Science Inter-Congress, Suva, Fiji, 13-19 July 1997.

3. Garimella,S., Koshy, K., Chand, S., Kumar, A., Jafar, M., and Prasad, U. “Neutron activation analysis of alluvial gold in tropical mangrove sediments of Fiji”, VIII Pacific Science Inter-Congress, Suva, Fiji, 13-19 July 1997.

4. Garimella,S., Kumar, A., Prasad, U., and Jafar, M., “Natural radioactivity levels in soils of Fiji”, Radioactivity and the Environment, Conference of the South Pacific Environmental Radioactivity Association (SPERA), Christchurch, New Zealand, 16-20 February 1998.

5. Kumar, A., Weir, T., “Wind power in Fiji: (almost) too little or too much”, 3rd Internal solar energy society conference. Asia Pacific Region, Sydney, Australia, 25-28 November, 2008

6. Kumar, A. “University of the South Pacific: Renewable energy initiatives.” Regional Energy Officials Meeting Nuku’alofa, Tonga, 20 -22 April 2009.

7. Kumar, A. “A central data bank on energy resources: demand and supply for the PICTS.” Regional Energy Officials Meeting Nuku’alofa, Tonga, 20 – 22 April 2009

8. Kumar, A. “Central Data Repository (CDR) for renewable energy initiatives of the Pacific Island Countries (PIC’s).” Sustainable Renewable Energy Resources Workshop, USP, Suva, Fiji, 04 Dec, 2009

9. Kumar A. and Nair, K.” Wind energy potential, resource assessment and economics of wind power around Gamu, Navua, Fiji.”Symposium on Renewable energy Technologies, FNU, Raiwai, Suva, 07- 08 Oct, 2010.

10. Kumar, A. and Nair, K. “Wind characteristics and energy potential of Wainiyaku, Taveuni, Fiji”, International Conference on Renewable Energy and Climate Change: Focus on the Pacific. USP, Suva. 06 – 08 Dec, 2010.

11. Prasad, S. and Kumar, A. “Software design of solar-wind hybrid systems”, International Conference on Renewable Energy and Climate Change: Focus on the Pacific. USP, Suva. 06 – 08 Dec, 2010.

12. Chand, D. and Kumar, A. “Status of wind power in Fiji”, International Conference on Renewable Energy and Climate Change: Focus on the Pacific. USP, Suva. 06 – 08 Dec, 2010.

13. Prasad, S., Kumar, A., Raturi, A. “Optimisation of a stand alone system
Renewable energy system: For a small load requirement”, International Conference on Technology Transfer and Renewable Energy. Mauritius. 21–22 June, 2012.

14. Sharma, K. K., Deo, R. N., Mamun, K. A., Kumar, A. (2015). “Rebar Corrosion Due to Chlorides in the Presence of Different Cations”, 227th ECS Meeting in Chicago, Illinois (May 24 – 28).

15. Lal, A., Deo, R. N., Kumar, A., & Raturi, A. (2015). “Case Study of Tavua Hot Spring, Fiji”, 2nd Near Surface Asia Pacific Conference, Waikoloa, Hawaii. (July 7-10)

16. D. Curto, V. Franzitta, A. Viola, M. Cirrincione, A. Mohammadi, and Ajal Kumar, “Greening and sustainable energy approach applied for Balearic Islands and Fiji Islands: a comparative study”, in 13th Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES 2018), September 30-October 4, 2018, Palermo, Ital

17. D. Curto, V. Franzitta, A. Viola, M. Cirrincione, A.Mohammadi, and Ajal Kumar, “Sea wave energy to supply the Aeolian Islands in sustainable way”, in 13th Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES 2018), September 30-October 4, 2018, Palermo, Italy

Books

  1. Essentials of seventh form Physics, 2011  (Lead Author), used as supplementary  Physics Text book for year 13 in Fiji Schools.

BOOK CHAPTER: 

  1. Prasad,S., Ajal Kumar., and Raturi, A. 2013. Optimization of a stand-alone renewable energy system for a small load requirement. In Filho,W. L., etal; (eds.), Climate-Smart Technologies- Integrating Renewable energy and energy efficiency in mitigation and adaptation responses. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. pp.615- 628.
  1. Shamal, S. C., Iqbal, A., Maurizio, C., Islam, F. M. R., Mamun, A. K., & Kumar, A. (2017). Identifying Energy Trends in Fiji Islands. In: Smart Energy Grid Design for Island Countries. Springer, United Kingdom, pp. 259-288. ISBN 978-1-5090-1405-7.

 

BOOK REVIEWS: 

  1. Reviewed chapters 2- 4. Westfall, G.D and Bauer, W. “University Physics with Modern Physics.” McGraw-Hill Higher Education. 2010.

MSc SUPERVISION COMPLETED:

Have successfully supervised the following MSc projects as principal supervisor on renewable energy and environment:

  1. Wind characteristics and resources assessment along Laucala Bay area Dennis Chand (MSc awarded) 2008
  1. Solar-Wind Hybrid System: An Optimal Design for a Small Load Requirement Shivneel Prasad (MSc awarded) 2009
  1. Wind energy potential and electricity generation at Rokavukavu, Rakiraki in Atesh Datt Gosai  (MSc  awarded)2014
  1. Smart wind/Diesel hybrid mini-grid for a remote Fijian Rekha Devi Pratap (MSc awarded)  2016
  1. Geophysical investigation of a hot spring site in Vatukoula, Alvin Lal (MSc awarded) 2016
  1. Investigation of rebar corrosion in saline Krishneel Sharma (MSc awarded) 2017
  1. Wind Resource Assessment over Viti Levu, Fiji Kaushal Kishore (MSc awarded)  2018
  1. Wind Resource Map of Tongatapu, Sione Lui Tausinga. (MSc awarded) 2019
  1. Alternate Energy Supply for Nasawana Village in Nabouwalu, Vanua Krishnam Nair (MSc  awarded) 2020
  1. Wind resource assessment of Vanua Levu using an artificial neural network and geo­ statistical Martin Feussner (MSc awarded) 2022
  2. Biomass power generation Prospects for Nasarowaqa- Nabouwalu grid connected supply on Vanua Abhinay Shandil. Completed 2024

MSc  CO-SUPERVISOR:

  1. Climate and Extreme Events in the Southwest Pacific: A climatological analysis of vulnerability and impacts of El Nifio Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on Rainfall Patterns – Implications of future changes in climate system on sustainable Agriculture. Ravind Kumar   (MSc  awarded) 2015
  1. Assessment of Fine Particulate Matter in Heavy Traffic Areas in Shavneet Mani (MSc awarded) 2020
  • Renewable Energy For Sustainable Development. USP Tonga Campus, September, 17th, 2009@ 6.30 pm.
  • Environmental radioactivity. Awareness lecture on Fukushima nuclear power accident: the cause and concerns. USP Laucala Campus, March, 21, 2011@ 6.00 pm.

Media Reports:

  •  Fiji One (TV) 6 pm. news segment: Effects of radiation from nuclear accident in Fukushima. Sunday 27th March, 2011
  • Fiji Times Friday 25th March, 2011: Academic responds: Natural radioactivity around us and nuclear accident concerns