Hooman Azad

  • Doctoral Researcher

Research groups and centres

Publications
ORCiD Google Scholar
Hooman Azad

Research and expertise

Before starting my PhD, I was researching the applications of solar energy (both solar thermal collectors and PV panels) in meeting heating/cooling energy demands in locations with high levels of solar radiation.

After starting my PhD, I entered the world of probabilities, statistics and data science. I am using statistical modelling techniques in building energy modelling and investigating the applicability of the grey-box modelling techniques to predict the indoor air temperature in buildings with low space heating demand (low energy buildings) in the UK climate.

My expertise and research interests include:

  • Building physics
  • Building energy modelling
  • Statistical modelling in building energy
  • Time series analysis
  • Data driven modelling
  • HVAC systems and equipment

Recent publications

  • Gilani HA, Hoseinzadeh S. Techno-economic study of compound parabolic collector in solar water heating system in the northern hemisphere. Applied Thermal Engineering. 2021 May 25;190:116756. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2021.116756 
  • Gilani HA, Hoseinzadeh S, Karimi H, Karimi A, Hassanzadeh A, Garcia DA. Performance analysis of integrated solar heat pump VRF system for the low energy building in Mediterranean island. Renewable Energy. 2021 Aug 1;174:1006-19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2021.04.081
  • Gilani HA, Hoseinzadeh S, Esmaeilion F, Memon S, Garcia DA, Assad ME. A solar thermal driven ORC-VFR system employed in the subtropical Mediterranean climatic building. Energy. 2022 Jul 1;250:123819. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2022.123819 
All publications

Teaching

I contribute to learning and teaching activities across the Schools programmes including:

Undergraduate

  • Heat transfer
  • Thermodynamics
  • Solar thermal engineering

Engineering tools

  • TRNSYS
  • Design Builder

Profile

I completed my undergraduate studies in applied physics. After starting my career in the HVAC industry and working as a sales support engineer and product manager with world-renowned Variable Refrigerant Volume (VRF) heat pump manufacturers, I became passionate about the field and earned my Master of Science in mechanical engineering. During my master’s studies, I was interested in modelling solar collectors. Later I tried to investigate the technical feasibility of integrating solar energy (both solar thermal collectors and PV panels) with advanced cooling/heating systems in locations with high levels of solar radiation to devise solar cooling (and heating) systems.

I joined the ERBE CDT program in October 2021. I am a member of the Building Energy Research Group (BERG), which aims to transform the performance of buildings for a healthy, sustainable, and zero-carbon future. I am an expert in building energy modelling (BEM), with a special interest in low-energy buildings such as Passivhus buildings.

My software skills include:

  • Python
  • R
  • MATLAB
  • EnergyPlus
  • Design Builder

I am also an ASHRAE member and won second place in the 2022 ASHRAE Doctoral Researcher Student Competition, hosted by Loughborough University in May 2022.