Modeling of the Formation of Combustion Generated Particulates
Advancing our understanding of the formation and oxidation of combustion generated particles (i.e. soot) by fundamental and detailed modeling:
o Development of detailed models of soot formation including detailed aerosol dynamics and soot internal nanostructure;
o Development of soot models for engines (esp. gas turbine engines);
o Integration of radiation heat transfer into turbulent combustion models;
o Applications include gas turbine engines and diesel engines.
Experimental Study of Soot Formation
Advancing our understanding of the formation and oxidation of combustion generated particles (i.e. soot) by careful, detailed and precise measurement techniques:
o Experimental measurement of particulates in flames and engine exhaust;
o Experimental study of the effects of different chemical functional groups on soot formation;
o Experimental investigation of soot formation for real fuels and their surrogates;
o Experimental measurements of soot properties for model validation;
Biofuel Combustion
Advancing the development of new fuels from biomass feedstocks:
o Investigating the effect of biodiesel, bio-butanol, bio-oil, bio-kerosene and other biofuels on combustion processes;
o Measurement of species in biofuel flames;
o Development of detailed chemical kinetic models;
o Adaptation of engines for biofuel use;
o Applications in the automotive, train, aircraft and power generation sectors.
Optical Gas Sensors for Industrial Furnaces
Conserving energy and reducing pollutant emissions through process control:
o Development of non-intrusive optical sensors for pollutant measurement;
o UV, VIS, N-IR, M-IR Spectroscopy;
o Novel process control strategies;
o Applications in the steel, cement, and power generation.
Engine Models
The understanding and modelling of engine combustion processes:
o Development of engine models (esp. HCCI and gas turbine engines);
o Integration of radiation heat transfer into combustion models;
o Applications include gas turbine engines and diesel engines.