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)   Onshore and offshore foundation systems

4)    Geotechnical centrifuge modelling

5)    Resilience of Geotechnical Infrastructure

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

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 15 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 has been the Chair of the Outstanding Paper Award Committee (OPAC) of the IABSE 'Structural Engineering International' Journal (2016-2021).

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,

- Editorial Board Member for Materials Journal, MDPI,

- 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 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 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.

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 interested 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

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.

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.

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 working in close relationship with industry 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

Alex Peter Gander is a 3rd year postgraduate research student at the University of Brighton, where he has previously completed his undergraduate degree. He currently works with Professor Cyril Crua and under the umbrellas of the Advanced Engineering Centre and Sir Harry Ricardo Laboratories.

Whilst at the University, Alex had also been a member of the formula student team 'Brighton Racing Motors', forming a small team tasked with chassis structure, analysis and ergonomics. The team's car, 'BlackJack Special' was the first from the University to complete scrutineering and participate in the endurance event held at Silverstone motor circuit, a truly memorable moment for the University and its team.

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