Who we are

My research interests are in the area of achieving energy efficiency in the Built Environment particularly applying low/zero carbon solutions. Recently, I have been working on developing advance vacuum insulation panels and evaluating their application in buildings components for improving energy efficiency. I also conduct research on the topics of building performance evaluation and energy and economic assessment of energy efficient building retrofit measures.

Offsite Construction, Green Buildings, and Project Management.

I have a keen interest in future sustainable fuels and societal needs in the transport sector, coupled with research into low emissions, efficient combustion systems. Recent projects include work to develop near zero emissions hydrogen engines, investigation of the impact of hydrogen injection into the gas grid on heavy duty vehicles with Cadent Gas (https://cadentgas.com/home), and work with the Energy Systems Catapult and the Advanced Propulsion Centre examining energy systems and cost of ownership modelling of heavy duty transport.

My research is broadly focussed on the study of thermodynamics and fluid mechanics in combustion engines and applications in the wider engineering field. The research can be divided into three main streams:

1. Fluid mechanics of liquid sprays and multi-phase flow systems.
2. Thermodynamics of advanced combustion and energy systems; experimental and simulation methods.
3. Advanced experimental laser and optical measurement techniques.

Since joining the Heat Transfer Research Unit (HTRU) with Prof. Heikal in 1994, I have been involved in the development of the Sir Harry Ricardo Laboratories (SHRL), Centre for Automotive Engineering (CAE) and more recently, the Advanced Engineering Centre (AEC) at Brighton. My work has been supported by 5 EPSRC grants, 3 DfT/DTI/TSB Vehicle Foresight grants, a European FP6 programme (SUSTDEV-2002-3.1.1.1.1) and 1 INTERREG IIIa and 2 INTERREG IVa projects. I have been involved as PI/CI in over 27 programmes from 1995, including 15 significant consultancy contracts with large automotive OEM's and a Formula 1 racing team. Fundamental research applied to real world engineering solutions.

My research activity focuses on the response of structures to random loadings and includes stochastic modelling of earthquake induced vibrations and novel vibration control strategies (such as the ViBa). There are five research strands I currently undertake:

1) Vibration control of existing structures - development of the Vibrating Barrier (ViBa) device 2) Stochastic modelling of earthquake induced ground motion 3) Stochastic analysis of linear and nonlinear behaving structures 4) Structural identification and health monitoring 5) Computational stochastic mechanics Probably my most significant achievement is demonstrated by the research on vibrating barriers. The research has been supported by the EPSRC first grant : “Vibrating Barriers for the control of seismic waves (ViBa)”. EP/K004867/1, 2013-2014 (PI: P. Cacciola), and has been published in various leading peer-reviewed journal publications (see Research Output below). Notably, this research also resulted in a motion for a European Parliament resolution on the importance of the building sector in relation to seismic activity explicitly mentioning my research achievement : “whereas at the Built Environment and Civil Engineering Department of the University of Brighton, the ViBa vibrating barrier has been invented, an instrument which absorbs the impact of an earthquake by 40-80% and can be inserted into existing buildings without modifying them” (B8-0964/2015).

My research interests include a range of subject areas including experimentation and numerical simulations in sports engineering, development of digital fabrication design tools, processes and machines, and the use of additive manufacturing to support medical device development.

My research focuses on experimental fluid dynamics, and particularly on the development of optical diagnostic techniques to investigate the physics of complex flows and atomisation. My current research interests include:

• Fundamental spray/aerosol formation, and transcritical mixing
• Carbon capture using multiphase flows
• Optical diagnostic techniques for sprays, flows, combustion
• Experimental fluid dynamics

Selected publications

Supercritical / transcritical mixing of fuels

Crua C, Manin J and Pickett LM (2017) On the transcritical mixing of fuels at diesel engine conditions Fuel 208. https://doi.org/b9s9

Primary breakup of fuels in engine

Crua C, Heikal MR, Gold MR (2015) Microscopic imaging of the initial stage of diesel spray formation. Fuel 157. https://doi.org/4F3

Measurement of droplet temperature and evaporation rate

Wu Y, Li H, Wu X, Gréhan G, Mädler L, Crua C (2019) Change of evaporation rate of single monocomponent droplet with temperature using time-resolved phase rainbow refractometry. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute 37(3). https://doi.org/czgp

Fuel emulsions

Ismael M, Heikal M, Aziz ARA, Syah F, Zainal E, Crua C (2018) The effect of fuel injection equipment on the dispersed phase of water-in-diesel emulsions. Applied Energy 222. https://doi.org/gdtdk3

Measurement of gas temperature in engines

Förster F, Crua C, Davy M and Ewart P (2019) Temperature measurements under diesel engine conditions using laser induced grating spectroscopy. Combustion and Flame 199. https://doi.org/cwsn

• optical techniques applied to flow measurement (LIF, PIV, High speed imaging, shadowgraphy, schlieren, etc.)
• internal combustion engines, particularly mixture formation
• Image processing
• Cyrogenics
• Flywheel for energy storage

My research interests lie in the following areas:

1)    Earth retaining structures

2)    Soil-structure interaction

3)    Novel foundation systems

4)    Geotechnical centrifuge modelling

I have worked exclusively in experimental fluid mechanics area ranging from supersonic flow velocities to subsonic flow regimes. I am interested in subjects related to missile aerodynamics, force prediction from quantitative flow visualization, flow over flapping wing micro air vehicles, flow-structure interactions, streamlined and bluff bodies in oscillation, wind turbine aerodynamics and flow over delta wings.

I am a Technical Team Member for NATO-AVT Panel Business Meetings since 2013 and recently in our task group we are studying large-amplitude gust mitigation strategies.

My current research interests are flapping wing aerodynamics with main focus on experimental realization of energy harvesting using flapping foils. In addition to fundamental research and development of flapping wing micro air vehicles, my former Master’s student and I have experimentally demonstrated that flapping foils can actually be used to harvest energy from surrounding flows. With our international collaborators, I am performing tests to design and develop a small scale renewable and sustainable oscillating-wing energy generator with anticipation to materialize an industrial product. 

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling of diabatic two-phase flows with phase change (pool boiling, flow boiling, cavitation), turbulent multiphase flows (water-sediment/turbidity currents, water-air/free surface flows), heat and mass transfer, aerodynamics, HVAC

Electrical vehicles. Renewable technologies

Dr Lampropoulos' main research agenda spans the areas of novel construction materials and seismic strengthening/retrofitting of existing structures. He was the Sustainability and Resilience Engineering (SuRE) Research Group leader (2016-2019).

He currently serves as the Chair of two International Task Groups (TGs) of the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE): TG1.1 ‘Improving Seismic Resilience of Reinforced Concrete Structures’ and TG5.5 ‘Conservation and Seismic strengthening/retrofitting of existing Unreinforced Masonry Structures’. TG 1.1 and 5.5 consist of experts (Academics and Practitioners) from more than 10 different countries worldwide (i.e. Austria, Bulgaria, Brazil, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand/Netherlands, Portugal, UK). In his capacity as the Chair of TG1.1 and TG5.5, Dr Lampropoulos is leading various types of activities (e.g. workshops and development of practical guides) and mainly to The main scope of these groups is to produce documents (i.e. IABSE Bulletins) that provide in-depth information to practicing engineers.

He is also a member of the International Federation for Structural Concrete (fib) Task Group 6.6 ‘Retrofitting of Precast Structures in Seismic Areas’ and the UK Mirror Group for Eurocode 8 Part 3 (BSI committee on EC8, B/525/8). Dr Lampropoulos is also member of the Institute of Concrete Technology (MICT).

Dr Lampropoulos is the Chair of the Outstanding Paper Award Committee (OPAC) of the IABSE 'Structural Engineering International' Journal

He has been member of the scientific committee of more than 15 international conferences and he has also been reviewer of more than 35 international journals in his field and reviewer of research proposals.

He is currently:

- Editorial Board Member for the Structural Engineering International (SEI) Journal of IABSE, Taylor & Francis,

- Associate Editor for the Journal Frontiers in the Built Environment-Bridge Section,

- Academic Editor for the Advances in Civil Engineering Journal (Hindawi),  and

- Associate Editorial Board member for ‘The Open Construction and Building Technology’ journal (Bentham Open)

Areas of expertise

My main research agenda spans the areas of novel high performance materials and seismic strengthening/retrofitting of existing structures.

My main interests are focused on a wide range of cementitious materials such as Ultra High Performance Fibre Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC), Steel Fibre Reinforced Concrete (SFRC) and cementitious materials reinforced with nanoparticles, while I am also working on cement-free concrete.

I am also working on the development of novel strengthening techniques for the structural upgrade of Reinforced Concrete (RC) and Unreinforced Masonry (URM) structures. I have conducted extensive experimental work and I have also worked on the development of numerical models for the simulation of the response of strengthened elements.

My area of research is currently involved with a novel Split Cycles engine utilising waste recovery to increase thermal efficiency and lower fuel consumption.  I completed my degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1988 here at the University of Brighton when it was known as Brighton Polytechnic. I started work at Ricardo in Jan 1989 and since then I have largely worked in engine test and development, and engine management systems. I returned to the University of Brighton as Research Officer in October 2014. Now a Research Fellow my work focuses on high efficiency low emissions heavy duty diesel engines / dual fuel applications / Waste heat recovery.

My research area is in computational fluid dynamics of multiphase and interfacial flows. I developed theoretical models and numerical schemes in the context of the diffuse interface approach to study bubble dynamics, from its inception to collapse.

Research topics include: droplet dynamics, wetting and droplet motion on substrates, vapor bubble dynamics, bubble nucleation, bubble collapse and shockwave formation, shock-bubble interaction, bubble collapse near surfaces, freezing.

My research is devoted to the science of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat and mass transfer for ground and space applications. The research activities have a large spectrum of applications, from energy to combustion, from electronic cooling to ice-mitigation techniques, including phase transition phenomena like in pool and flow boiling, icing, evaporation and condensation.

The research can be divided in five main branches

1  Physics of drop, sprays and liquid interfaces,

2  Phase change phenomena,

3  Heat pipes and passive thermal systems

4  DNS/VOF simulations of two-phase flows

5  Dynamic energy simulations of buildings

Particularly important are the works on drop-wall interaction, for which I have (I hope) an international reputation with more than two thousands citations.

In the last years, following a long industrial engagement in designing thermal systems, heat pipes (loop heat pipes and sintered heat pipes), I carried out a series of experiments on a specific passive two-phase thermal control system, called Pulsating Heat Pipe, which was characterized both on ground, in hypergravity and microgravity environments, such as during parabolic flights. I am currently leading an International Scientific Team of more than 10 Universities worldwide aiming at measuring the thermal performance of a Pulsating Heat Pipe on the International Space Station (ISS). The experiment is at the moment one of the three experiments in Europe selected for the new Thermal Platform on the EDR modulus of the ISS.

Finally, noteworthy is the fact that all the activities have been studied numerically and experimentally, trying to conjugate the experimental data with the detailed insights coming from numerical methods.

I am particularly interested in cogeneration systems and the exploitation of Energy+ energy simulations of commercial and residential buildings.

Robert Morgan is a Professor in the Sir Harry Ricardo Laboratories within the Advanced Engineering Centre. He joined the university in 2012 after 20 years in industry first at Ricardo, then Ceres Power and finally as Chief Technical Officer at Highview Power Storage. He secured over £25M of research income in industry and £5M since joining the university. 

He is a co-founder of the Impact Factory, an initiative that brings enterprise, academia and teaching together to address the messy problems arising from the sustainability crisis.  The Impact Factory applies techniques normally applied to social science and business issues to technological problems to ensure the right questions are asked and better outcomes achieved.

Professor Morgan is joint secretary to the Universities’ Internal Combustion Engines Group (UnICEG) and a member of the IMechE Powertrain Systems and Fuels Group.   He was director of the APC Thermal Efficiency spoke until 2017 and  Assistant Head of the Advanced Engineering Centre until 2019.  His research focuses on the following themes:

• High efficiency – low emissions combustion
• Waste heat recovery
• Large scale energy storage
• Energy systems
• Messy problems!

My research interests cover the wider theme of sustainable energy production, conversion and storage, with a strong focus on waste heat recovery, thermal energy storage, high efficiency engines and renewable fuels. At the systems level, this includes, heat to power technologies, fluid bottoming cycles, energy recovery expanders, working fluids, concentrated solar power plants, molten salt thermal batteries, compact heat exchangers, liquid air energy storage systems, NOx/CO2 emissions, heavy-duty engines, split cycle engines, carbon free fuels, ammonia combustion, process integration, techno-economic evaluations, exergy analysis, hazard and operability studies, research methodology to improve technology readiness level, and system wide modelling, optimisation, control and validation. I have investigated most of these research strands via simulation and experimental methods as part of knowledge transfers, industrial consultancies and research grants.

My reserach interests and expertise focuses mainly in three different fields:

• Thermal Physics applied to constructions and building components, to determine stationary and transient thermal properties and energy performances;
•  Transient energy balance applied to buildings to evaluate energy performances and indoor comfort, Dynamic energy simulations and their application in support of the design process;
• Testing and validation of building components and equipment (both in lab and in operation) to determine thermal properties and energy performances.

From the start of my Ph.D. until now, I was also able to engage with various industry partners, public sector, stakeholders, and architectural and construction companies to deliver professional consultancies, both autonomously or in cooperation with other professionals, in various fields related to energy efficiency in the building sector ranging from, the writing of SEAPs (Sustainable Energy Action Plans), the numerical modelling of a test chamber for virtual tests on radiators and various applications of Building Dynamic Energy and Performance Simulation for design validation and optimization or financial feasibility analysis of building renovations. This gave me professional experience and helped me in working toward applied research. 

Some of the most recent and ongoing projects I’ve been involved in:

• Leading research in the development of a simplified building performance simulation tools to support the integrated design process of new highly efficient buildings
• Currently collaborating with an Italian research group and a PhD student on the integration of building energy simulation with BIM to improve building design and management;
• Currently lead-supervisor of a PhD student in Brighton (Robin Talbot) under the SEAHA CDT on “Retrofitting space heating systems for historic churches: meeting the needs of community, conservation and environmental sustainability”;
• Currently co-supervisor of a PhD student at University of Pisa (Italy) on the design of personal comfort systems and their potential impact on building energy consumption;
• Currently expanding previous research delivered during my PhD studies on simplified building energy modelling for building design, developing it into a fully-fledged web-based screening tool to support building design, both for educational and commercial purposes (https://www.freds4buildings.com/);
• Other ongoing collaborations including co-supervising various student projects in collaboration with other academics and external partners (e.g. analysing and understanding the performances of the ATES system in Cockcroft building; designing a solar canopy for renewable energy generation) and taking part to activities with external partners that may help generate impact (e.g. part of the Greater Brighton Energy Plan steering group).

My research interests focus on experimental research in heat transfer and waste heat recovery. My previous research has investigated the miniaturisation of heat exchangers for developing technologies, ranging from clean energy to computer systems. My current work is looking at a possible method for storing green energy, a requirement for the large scale implementation of green energy supplies. I am also interested in technology which can be readily applied to current systems for the recovery of waste heat.  

My research focuses on quantifying deterioration in structures, and how this impacts on their performance. I develop models for the deterioration processes and incorporate the uncertainties associated with their future occurrences through stochastic modelling. Both laboratory experiments, as well as analytical/numerical modelling are used for this purpose. This leads to the prediction of remaining service life of deteriorating structural systems.  

My research also spans the structural health monitoring methods and its use for the maintenance management of infrastructure assets. The data obtained from the structural health monitoring systems helps to reduce uncertainty in the prediction of structural performance and improve the confidence in the prediction of service life of structures. This assists in development of decision making systems pertinent to the maintenance management of civil assets.

My main research interest is to develop efficient modelling approaches for sprays. To achieve this, I combine engineering with applied mathematics and advanced computing techniques. My expertise includes fluid flow, multiphase flows, heat and mass transfer.

Since joining the University of Brighton in 2013, my research has been focussed on modelling of droplet dynamics, droplet heating and evaporation. Other subjects I am interested in and have contributed to are related to multiphase physics: focusing of particles in subsonic and supersonic flows, flows with shock waves; the effect of droplets on heat transfer in supersonic boundary layers; geomechanical effects in oil reservoirs. In my research, I extensively use and develop new tools based on applied mathematics, Computer-Aided Engineering and programming.

My previous projects include-

• StepCo2 - Split cycle high efficiency diesel engine combustion
• Paregen - lean gasoline combustion and advanced aftertreatment to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions

I am currently working on a hydrogen/methane combustion project with Cadent Gas, looking at the potential benefits of running heavy duty vehicles on alternative fuels.

I have also been involved in the design and development of the engine test cells for the Advanced Engineering Building.

My areas of interest include engine test cell work aound high efficiency - low emissions combustion and alternative fuels.

 Areas of academic research

Dipak Sarker's research expertise lies in the areas of materials science, nanotechnology and manufacturing sciences. Current research projects involve plasma physics, polymer recycling, new product developement, wetting, smart nanotechnology, engineering nano-textured surfaces, nanoparticle encapsulation, phase change materials,  colloid and polymer sciences, rheology and fluid mechanics, complex fluids and coarse dispersions, packaging technology, micro- and nano-plastics and project work involving solid fragments and colloidal pollutants in the marine environment. Having a keen interest in both academic research (in and out of the UK), enterprise  and outreach provide opportunites for both learning and social engagement, which contribute to the UK industry and technology base. 

Research activities at Brighton can be found in: 

• Advanced Engineering Centre (AEC)
• Centre for Aquatic Environments (CAE)
• Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Devices (CRMD)
• Centre for Stress and Age-Related Disease (STRAND)
• Chemistry Research and Enterprise Group (Chemistry REG)
• Environment and Public Health Research and Enterprise Group (EPHREG)

I have a longstanding interest in nanoscience, nanotechnology and nanophysics, condensed or soft-matter self-assemblies and coarse dispersions, including colloidal encapsulation systems and the surface adsorption of functionalising polymers. I study complex formulations such as vaccines, particulate drug delivery systems and nanoencapsulation techniques in considerable depth. I work routinely with biosurfactants (such as proteins and peptides or gums), natural polymers, sustainable materials and synthetically modified materials.

I am interested in recycling and re-exploitation of spent and soiled or spent materials or polluted environments. I am intersted in the pollution of water systems and soils by heavy metals, pharmaceuticals and pesticides and by the role micro- and nano-plastic pollution plays in the damage to rivers, coastlines and seas. Work with microplastics (solid bodies) in terms of characterisation of adsorbates and organo-metallic or protein-polysaccharide biofilm fouling and the chemistry of seafoams also feature in my current research. I work with surface active molecules in the form of simple and complex foams and thin liquid films (foam lamellae). These structures relate to the quasi-2D-architectures created for a range of purposes; as means of sensing, synthesis and in their own right, to study processes such as statistical mechanics and energetics. As a nanotechnologist I also work in the field of miniaturised analytical systems – microfluidics, microarrays, sensors, diagnostic systems, and biosensors. I work in the context of product and process design and investigations associated with engineering and manufacturing process modelling. I work with the mechanics and rheology of a range of materials.

I am interested in 'invention' and equipment fabrication and design. I am fascinated by physical and engineering applications of mesophase materials (liquid crystals), coarse and colloidal dispersions, and complex fluids, such as ionic liquids, thermotropic materials, gels and emulsions.

Knowledge Exchange

My interest in knowledge exchange (KE) is manifested in university teaching and research but also in professional body (RSC, RPSGB, IOM3, HEA) and STEM Ambassador work (schools, colleges, university summer schools). Yet more KE is undertaken by industrial consultancy (Smpl Innovations GmbH, Graphic Supplies, Cryolabs, Biofrontera AG, etc), industrially-related academic study (KTPs, KEEP+), pure academic research with chemists, biologists, physicists and engineers at the University of Brighton and the University of Sussex but also more globally (Bulgaria, France, Italy, Sweden, USA, China, India, etc). Even more KE occurs through RCUK grant reviewing activities (EPSRC, MRC, BBSRC), editorial board and editorships (CDDT, Current Nanomedicine) for scientific periodicals, publisher book reviewing (HEA, Elsevier, Wiley) and in text book writing for three fully-authored books (Wiley-Blackwell).

Past, present and future research projects and topics:

• Plasma treatment of metals for vapour deposition
• Flax and hemp materials and their non-food use
• Nanomaterials in composite polymer materials
• Microemulsions for drug delivery
• Applications of coarse dispersions and complex fluids
• Thin liquid films and foams. Wetting transitions and thin liquid films
• Surface adsorption of polymers and proteins
• Nicotine replacement therapy and drug delivery systems
• 3D/4D printing and photo-reactive polymers
• Recycling and re-assignment of waste absorbent cotton materials
• Physics of droplet impact, spreading and fluid mechanics
• Nanoparticle and polymer drug delivery systems
• Photo-dynamic nanoparticle therapy for cancer treatment
• Nanotechnology for pharmaceutical, medical and food packaging
• Food physics and food process engineering
• Status indicating medical device materials
• Environmentally responsive encapsulated metal nanoparticles for sensor use
• Complex fluids, ionic liquids and liquid crystals
• Composite insulating materials
• The heavy metal content of industrial wastewater and landfill discharge/leachate
• Micro-plastics as 'nucleation' bodies for marine pollution and their role in seaborne and food-chain concentration, based on surface physics and composition chemistry, and the subsequent effects on geosystems and marine ecology

PhD students 2001-present Gennaro Dichello (2012-2018)Targeting of brain tumours with photo-dynamic therapy using liposomes and encapsulated metal nanoparticlesKais Shaban (2014-2018)Levothyroxine drug stability and formulation in fast-dissolving oral filmsShaimaa Shakargi (2014-2018)Synthesis and therapeutic use of environmentally-sensitive polymeric micelles for drug deliveryCristina Boscariol (2015-2019)The physics of impacting droplets on model solid surfaces Previous PhD student at the University of Brighton and OverseasEvgeniya Seliverstova (2014)Energy transfer mechanisms and the photo-optical effects of fluorophore-conjugated grapheneCarla Di Mattia (2009)Photo-oxidative changes in protein-stabilised olive oil emulsions Georgi Georgiev (2008)Phase transitions in striated foam films as models of cells membranes Othman Al-Hanbali (2008)A novel assay for block co-polymer non-ionic surfactants used in nanoparticle surface engineering Atia Naseem (2003)Approaches to enhancing the dissolution rate of poorly soluble drugs Awards

• Sosabowski, M.H., Piatt, R., Sarker, D.K. (2003) “Young Chemists’ Learning Project,” University of Brighton Innovation Awards 2003 - Prize Winner, Business Services, University Brighton
• Dipak K. Sarker, Featured chemist: RSC News Chemistry World, Feb 2005, p12
• Chair of the Downland Section of RSC from (Sussex, Surrey, Hamphire, Kent) 2005-2008

Memberships

• Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). Fellow designated: CChem FRSC
• Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3). Fellow designated: FIMMM
• Institute of Nanotechnology
• Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB), Academic Pharmacy Group
• University of Brighton  – School Safety Officer (chemistry)
• University of Brighton  – Sustainability representative - Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences
• University of Brighton  – Enterprise representative - Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences
• University of Brighton  – Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences Research Ethics Committee

Editorships

• Section Editor: Current Drug Delivery Technologies
• Associate Editor: Current Nanomedicine
• Special Issue Editor: Nanomaterials - Synthesis, Properties and Application of Novel Nanostructured Biomaterials

Editorial boards

• Recent Patents on Drug Delivery and Formulation
• International Journal of  Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education
• Open Colloid Science Journal
• Advanced Materials Reviews
• Advanced Materials Letters
• Asian Journal of Pharmaceutics
• Inventi Rapid-Impact: Pharm Tech
• Khimiya (Chemistry)
• Journal of Modern Medicinal Chemistry
• Journal of the Chinese Advanced Materials Society
• Recent Patents on Engineering
• ISRN Journal of Chemistry: Medicinal Chemistry
• International Journal of Information System and Management Research

Organising committees

• Waste Management Conference Team - KTP Project 2019/2020 (University of Brighton)
• Conference Committee - 2nd International Conference on Advanced Materials 2013 (China)
• Organising committee: International Union of Advanced Materials - Academic Committee Member 2011, Hong Kong
• Advisory board: Advanced Materials World Congress (AM 2013, organized by the International Association of Advanced Materials), Turkey, September 2013
• International Advisory Board 2nd World Conference on Science and Mathematics Education , 15-17 Oct 2015, Cyprus

 

Numerical and asymptotic modelling of uid dynamics, heat/mass transfer, and combustion processes in Diesel and gasoline sprays

My research focuses upon the mathematical modelling of dispersed multiphase flows, with an emphasis on capturing the effects of unsteadiness or turbulence in the carrier flow upon droplets and particles.

Probability density function (PDF) models can be used to approach this, and construct a statistical description by treating the dispersed phase as a continuum. To produce closure relations that are able to account for the desired physical effects, a variety of stochastic modelling techniques are utilised. Kinematic simulation is a useful computational method which is ideal as a first test case for the developed closures.

Polydisperse droplet flows are very computationally demanding to simulate both directly and statistically, and recent work has focused upon using the Full Lagrangian Approach (FLA) to improve the efficiency of simulations. This has involved the development of novel numerical methods which use statistical learning to reconstruct a continuum representation of the dispersed phase at a reduced computational expense.

Biologically inspired algorithms, neural networks and optimisation of their topologies

My research interests are in geotechnical earthquake engineering and computational structural mechanics, with emphasis on seismic soil-structure interaction, dynamic cross-interaction, earthquake ground motion characterization, soil dynamics and analysis and design of bridges and bridge foundation.

My research has involved the devising of models for considering soil-structure interaction (SSI) and structure-soil-structure interaction (SSSI) effects, the characterization of the local site deposit for site response analysis, investigation of the effects of the soil nonlinearities on bridges through Nonlinear Winkler Foundation (BNWF) models as well as sensitivity, stochastic analysis and uncertainty analysis of SSI problems.

 Research studies have been undertaken by analytical analysis, numerical simulation and scaled-model experimental test.

My main research interests are novel construction materials and concrete technology with particular interest in a) cement replacement materials i.e Pulverized Fuel Ash, geopolymer high strength cement free concrete and low thermal conductivity concrete, and strengthening of reinforced concrete members using concrete layers with particular interest in interface bond and slip and in shrinkage effect.

I am Reader (Associate Professor) at the University of Brighton, EPSRC Innovation Fellow and member of the Advanced Engineering Centre – a centre dedicated to high-efficiency thermal propulsion systems. My research within lies in the field of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). I develop high fidelity numerical algorithms that can be used as part of virtual manufacturing tools of future energy systems as well as to the understanding of complex bio-systems. I have expertise both in RANS and LES simulations of multiphase flows and turbulent combustion. My aspiration is that my research can contribute towards the solution of the grand challenges of today in relation to climate change and sustainability of our planet using state of the art algorithms that help us analyse, understand, and eventually predict phenomena relevant to thermo fluids dynamics. I have published more than 50 high impact journal and conference papers and I has been involved in various projects with industrial support.

Large Eddy Simulations (LES) of in-nozzle flow, spray dynamics and ignition at ultra-high pressure devicesThe efficiency of spray systems designed for various applications is determined by the size/shape distribution and velocity of the droplets formed. For example, in combustion process, smaller droplets imply higher vaporisation rates and subsequently more efficient combustion with fewer emissions. Despite the importance of droplet size and velocity distributions in industrial applications, there are fundamental questions which still remain unanswered. Given certain conditions, including fluid properties and geometry, it is unclear what size and shape of the droplets are expected to be generated. What is the effect of ultra-high pressure (up to 3000bars that modern automotive injectors operate) and turbulence on these structures? How do these liquid structures evolve? What is the effect of in-nozzle phenomena on the formation of sprays? What happens when the injected fluid exhibits super critical conditions.

My current research aims at answering these questions through the development of advanced numerical tools within Large Eddy Simulations context that will be capable of representing in a unified manner in-nozzle and subsequent spray formation mechanisms and will be valid for both sub- and supercritical conditions. With co-workers from Imperial College (Dr S. Navarro Martinez), Stuttgart University (Prof A. Kronenburg) and Melbourne University (Dr R. Gordon) we work on implementing a novel model for spray evolution based on the probabilistic modelling of sub-grid scale liquid surface evolution under sub-critical conditions. Parallel research is performed within our group towards understanding supercritical conditions based on experiments from the ECN network as well as complimentary experiments at ultra-high pressure performed in house (collaboration with Prof Crua). We try to understand the shock wave formation of high pressure jet tips and the effect these waves have to the surrounding turbulence. Moreover, the interaction of these waves with waves travelling from within the nozzle downstream to the nozzle exit because of cavitation collapse is of interest.

Multiple Mapping Conditioning (MMC)An important part of my work has focused on a novel approach in turbulent combustion named Multiple Mapping Conditioning (MMC). MMC offers a new predictive framework based on conditional and probabilistic methodologies that can account for detailed chemical kinetics and turbulent mixing and thus offers more accurate prediction of emissions and efficiency of energy conversion systems. In the past seven years, I developed key model closures for MMC – both in a stochastic and deterministic context – and I pioneered the implementation of the model in real flames. MMC is not only a rigorous combustion model but can be used as a generalised mixing model for a variety of flow configuration that accurate prediction of mass and heat transfer is important. Mixing in reality determines the efficiency of the device and the production rate of pollutants and thus its accurate modelling is of interest. In collaboration with colleagues, I have developed a new turbulent mixing algorithm based on the extension of the ideas of MMC methodology to be applicable to any device where different fluids are injected separately and are required to mix. Although this model has mostly been implemented in the RANS context and simple jet flame configurations, part of my current research focuses on extending the model to the Large Eddy Simulations context and to test its applicability to a wider range of problems that combine mixing and chemical processes. More specifically, I am interested in exploring the applicability of the methodology in high pressure chambers that have application to automotive industry.

Alternative fuels (Hydrogen, Syngas, Bio-fuels)The growth of the energy consumption due to population and economic growth represents a pressing problem for most countries both in financial and environmental terms. Electricity generation as well as transportation currently relies on hydrocarbons which are both running out and contribute tremendously to climate change. The use of alternative fuels mostly coming from renewable sources such as wind or solar energy has started to emerge as a promising solution although there are not yet the technologies available (or even if they are available, their cost is prohibitive) to completely replace the use of fossil fuels for large-scale energy generation. My current research within this field in collaboration with Dr R. Morgan and colleagues from MIT evolves around the idea of how traditional sources of energy can be supplemented by renewable forms of energy in large power plants. Our current focus is on synthetic fuels with various hydrogen context. We explore the effect of the fuel input on the combustion stability mechanisms

Cavitation and flashingMicroscopic bubbles are ubiquitous in nature and could interact significantly with their environment once excited. Extensive studies have elucidated these effects in diverse fields of application, eg. hydrodynamics, sound and erosion structure protection and environmental technologies. However, still many questions remain unanswered and the CFD modelling of their dynamics is a very challenging task mostly because of the lack of rigorous algorithms to track the full process from nucleation to bubble explosion and the release of energy to their surroundings. The problem I am currently interested in is relevant to bubble formation within ultra-high pressure injectors also known as cavitation. In our group (with collaborators from Stuttgart University), we are working on a project entitled: LES modelling of bubble collapse-induced spray atomisation for cryogenic fluids. Flashing is similar in nature to cavitation however it occurs when a liquid’s temperature exceeds a certain degree of superheat. Flashing also can accelerate the primary spray break-up when the bubbles – present in the superheated liquid because of the pressure changes through the process – explode and thus leads to smaller droplets. The resulting very fine droplets promote a quick evaporation of the liquid and lead to a rather homogeneous mixing with the carrier gas. The phenomena can be manifested in the chemical and process plants where liquid superheat is essential. The phenomenon is initially more violent at the surface and causes the liquid to acquire a very heterogeneous temperature composed of superheated, saturated, and sub-cooled liquid. The area of research we are interested in is how these temperature variations are affected by turbulence and how they can affect in turn the chemical processes taking place at the applications that flashing occurs.

Flows through porous mediaThis project is relevant to environmental fluid dynamics in the context of oil and gas interaction through tight porous media. We are performing high fidelity numerical simulations to explore the flow patterns of multiple phases (oil, water, gas) present in the primary and secondary extraction phase inside the complicated structures of rocks. We aspire to help designers and operators of large wells to solve flow problems, extend life of flow and, ultimately, assure the efficient and reliable delivery of the product. Our main challenge is to perform the simulations in a manner that accounts for interpenetrating or immiscible fluids that include effects of pressure, temperature and liquid/gas mass transfer in detail. We also target creating generalised algorithms that will allow us, in the future, to tackle a wider range of problems in porous materials such as Porous Media Combustion (PMC), storage of CO2, flow of fluids and solutes in biological tissues.

Cryogenic fluids

 Recently there has been increased interest in the use of cryogenic fluids in existing and new technologies. Some of these cryogenic fluid dependent technologies include enhancement of superconductivity by cooling the materials to required temperatures using cryogenic fluids, cryosurgery based on cryogenic fluid jets used to tackle skin cancers, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and cryopreservation. In addition, cryogenic fluids such as liquid air, liquid nitrogen or liquified natural gas can serve as cost-effective energy vectors within power production units as well as transport “fuels” with zero emissions. For example, energy coming from renewable resources can be used in order to “cool” air or nitrogen, down to the point that they become liquids. Follow up injection of these liquids to a higher temperature environment causes rapid re-gasification and large expansion in volume. This can either drive a turbine or piston engine even without combustion or be used in novel ultra-low emission combustion systems in order to optimise the compression stroke and reduce emissions as in the case of the Cryopower split-cycle which has been developed in the University of Brighton and Dolphin N2 We are currently running multiple projects within the University of Brighton in order to understand the behavior of such fluids when they are injected in various environments or as they interact with surfaces.

My research interests include (in no particular order): Automotive Systems and Electronics, Condition Monitoring, High Voltage Theory and Applications, Power Systems, Analogue and Power Electronics (Including Magnetic Materials and Effects), Intelligent Systems, Internal Combustion Engines, Sensors and Transducers, Sustainability of Energy and Water Resources.

Contact:

Dr Simon Walters Division of Engineering School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematics Room 511, Cockcroft Building Moulsecoomb Brighton BN2 4GJ

Telephone: +44 (0)1273 642233 (Please use email in the first instance). Email: S.D.Walters@brighton.ac.uk

My research interests are intelligent manufacturing with a focus on remanufacturing, Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAD) with case studies ranging from automotive components, rolling stocks, machine tools, aeroengine components leading to papers, patents and software prototypes

My research interest are in mathematical and numerical modeling of multi-phase flows. My research career started at Kazan Federal University, where I focusing on the mathematical and numerical modelling of gas-particle flows in porous structures between 2008 and 2015. During this period I developed high-performance numerical codes for Lagrangian particle tracking, using CUDA technology for parallel computing on graphics cards. As a result, performance of the calculations increased for up to 70 times comparing to single-threaded CPU version of the code.As a Research Fellow at Advanced Engineering Centre at University of Brighton I developed a new method for calculating droplet number densities in gasoline engines and applied it to the analysis of experimental observations of sprays produced by high-pressure outwardly opening pintle injector. I developed a new model for heating and evaporation of a monocomponent droplet cloud based on the Fully Lagrangian Approach and implemented it into CFD code ANSYS Fluent. My ongoing work is focused on a two-way coupled model of gas-droplet flow based on Fully Lagrangian Approach.

My research degree focuses on the application of spray technology for carbon capture utilising inorganic chemical species for absorption and other non-conventional methods of separation such as low temperature CO2 capture. My current research interests include:

• Experimental spray/fluid dynamics
• Inorganic chemical synthesis
• Laser and optical diagnostics for sprays
• Cryogenic spray separation and desublimation

My post-graduate research degree focuses on the end of injection fluid dynamics, specifically looking at fuel sprays and film formations with renewable gasoline fuels using direct injection injectors. Other current interests include:

• Experimental fluid dynamics
• Optical diagnostic techniques for sprays
• Micro and macroscopic imaging of sprays
• Computational fluid dynamics

Numerical Modelling of Spray Injection in Internal Combustion Engines (ICE).CFD modelling of sprays with the Eulerian-Lagrangian Approach.Modelling development of spray submodels (atomisation, break-up, evaporation, etc).Case of interest: - Diesel-like fuels - ECN spray A (n-Dodecane); - Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) systems; - Novel engine concept - Recuperated Split Cycle Engine (RSCE); - RSCE injection dynamics; - Cross Flow impinging sprays.

My research interests are based around thermal propulsion systems.

My current research focusses on thermodynamic efficiency, emissions, combustion dynamics and fluid dynamics of a novel internal combustion engine, namely the recuperated split cycle engine.

My research interests mainly focus on thermal propulsion systems, particularly on sustainable fuels and how they can be used to achieve high efficiencies and low emissions in existing and advanced engine cycles. In addition to this, I also have a keen interest in waste heat recovery systems and thermal management.

Doctoral Researcher 'Injection and Droplet Dynamics of Cryogenic Fluids', School of Computing Engineering and Mathemaatics.

I am a PhD research student within the Advanced Engineering Centre (AEC) at the University of Brighton. My current work is on the development of multiphase, multi-component fluid flow models with a focus to capture the complex dynamics observed in high pressure injection systems in the Large Eddy Simulation (LES) context. The research interests with this include Eulerian multiphase flows, compressible flows, cavitation, turbulence, spray atomisation, phase change, heat tranfer, and interface tracking techniques. 

My current research interests are in the alternative fuel sector, particularly waste to energy. This includes novel feedstocks, carbon negative fuels, and the technology for energy dense fuel production. Within the technology sector of waste to energy, small scale cryogenic systems are of great interest to me.

From an environmental standpoint, my current research interests are the further understanding of anthropological methane and recognising unclassified sources.

I am interested in mathematical modelling and optical diagnostics of multiphase flows, particularly in sprays and droplets.

My research is based on two important topics: microfluidics and personalized medicine. The focus is the preparation of microparticles/droplets that allow a better delivery of extremely selective drugs for the treatment of breast cancer

My main aim of my current PhD - research project is to utilise and existing, enhanced VOF-based direct numerical simulation approach for fundamental research on boiling heat transfer that will feed in the development and application of a novel Eulerian-Eulerian modelling approach with enhanced applicability and accuracy, being able to be applied at the device scale and aid in the design of STM systems

My interests include:

-CFD

-Fluid Dynamics

-Heat transfer

-Flow Boiling

-Two-phase/mutliphase flows

-Microchannel cooling

-Numerical methods

-OpenFOAM