Kathmandu University

Sailesh Chitrakar

Assistant Professor,

Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering

Lagankhel, Lalitpur -06 Office: Turbine Testing Lab, Block -08, School of Engineering, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, Kavre

+9779843386214

sailesh@ku.edu.np

Bio

Honors and Awards

Research

Other Position

Publication

Biography

Professional Experience

July 2021 - Present: Assistant Professor of Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kathmandu University

November 2019 - July 2021: Lecturer of Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kathmandu University

July 2018 - November 2019: Senior Researcher at Turbine Testing Lab, Kathmandu University

March 2015 - July 2018: PhD Researcher at Norwegian University of Science and Technology

August 2013 - March 2015: Research Fellow at Turbine Testing Lab, Kathmandu University

Academic qualification

PhD in Mechanical Engineering, 2018, Joint Degree between Norwegian University of Science and Technology and Kathmandu University

Masters in Turbomachineries and Aeromechanics, Erasmus Mundus Program, THRUST, 2013 from Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden and University of Liege, Belgium

Bachelors of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering and Production Technology, 2011 from HAMK University of Applied Sciences, Finland

Other Position

Faculty In Charge of Turbine Testing Lab - Kathmandu University since September 2021
Department Co-ordinator (Hydropower subdivision) of Mechanical Engineering Department, Kathmandu University since July 2022
Co-Principal Investigator for a project under University Grant Commission (UGC) - Nepal called 'Introducing predictive maintenance of hydro-turbines through real-time condition monitoring and signature investigations of faults'. (July 2023 - July 2026)
Project Leader for a project under EnergizeNepal (KU) called ‘Early stage fault detection and diagnosis of hydro-turbines through real-time condition monitoring: An approach for extending turbine’s lifespan with optimum maintenance cost’. (February 2023 – December 2024)
Activity Leader for a project under EnergizeNepal (KU) called ‘Upgrading the testing facilities of TTL to satisfy the IEC standards by supplementing the ongoing activities of EnergizeNepal project’. (January 2022 – December 2024)
Visiting Faculty for State Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering, Wuhan University (2022)
Principal Investigator in a project for Mountain Energy Pvt. Ltd. entitled, 'Pelton turbine erosion study.' (2021-2022)
Co-Principal Investigator in a project under Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) entitled, 'Condition monitoring of hydropower plants in Nepal owned by NEA.' (September 2020 - December 2023)
Design Expert in a project under EnergizeNepal (KU) entitled, 'Enhancement of design and manufacturing capacity of Francis Turbine in Nepal.' (2019-2021)
Coordinator in a project under The Research Council of Norway called FranSed (Variable Speed Francis turbines for sediment affected hydropower plants). (September 2018 –December 2022)
Co-Principal Investigator in a project under Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) called KU-IRDP (Integrated Rural Development Project). (December 2018 – December 2022)
Senior Researcher in a project under University Grant Commission, Nepal for Experimental investigation of sediment erosion in Francis and cross-flow turbines. (February 2018 – December 2021)
PhD Candidate in a project under The Research Council of Norway called SediPass (Sustainable design and operation of hydro power plants exposed to high sediment yield). (March 2015 – August 2018)
Coordinator in a project under Alternative Energy Promotion Center (AEPC) funded by Government of Nepal entitled, ‘Development of micro-hydro turbine test rigs at Turbine Testing Lab’ and ‘Development of Francis turbine for a micro-hydro site in Nepal.’ (April 2014-December 2014)
Activity Leader and Acting Project Leader in a project under RenewableNepal (KU) entitled, ‘Capacity Development for Utilization of Reversible Pump Turbines in the context of Nepalese Hydropower.’ (August 2013-August 2014)