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Energy

Interdisciplinary Research Centre
 

Engines and Turbines research within the energy initiative is carried out across a number of departments and research groups at the University of Cambridge.

Research areas include:

Internal combustion engine research includes:

  • investigations into the modelling and control of combustion and its products
  • novel gas and particle sensors for IC engines
  • control of highly downsized engines
  • the characteristics of exhaust gas after-treatment devices (catalysts, particle traps)
  • modelling and optimisation of alternative fuel next generation IC engines which may be fuelled by biofuels and other low energy hydrocarbons.

 

Sensors for air pollution measurement and control research includes:

  • particle sensors for IC engines and atmospheric measurements
  • measurement and assessment of particulate matter and aerosol effects in the atmosphere
  • the characteristics of exhaust gas after-treatment devices (catalysts, particle traps)

 

Research on gas turbines for electrical power and aeronautical applications focuses on:

  • turbomachinery aerodynamics
  • combustion: lean combustion, ignition, new fuels
  • acoustics and thermoacoustics
  • modelling of spray breakup

 

Wind turbine research includes:

  • a 20 KW demonstrator turbine with novel electricity generation by brushless doubly-fed generators, which have increased reliability that will be particularly important for offshore wind farms. 
  • The aerodynamic design and control of vertical axis wind turbines is another area of interest. 
  • Several projects are investigating the design and construction of superconducting turbines for wind, wave and tidal power.

 

Some key research centres include:

The Centre for Doctoral Training in Gas Turbine Aerodynamics - a partnership between universities and industry that provide a unique turbomachinery training and research experience for graduate students.

The Whittle Lab - Specialising in research into the fluid dynamics and thermodynamics of all types of turbomachinery, the laboratory has excellent contacts with industry and other research organisations.

The Rolls Royce University Technology Centre (UTC) investigates the optimisation of the composition, processing and performance of nickel-based alloys and other material candidates for aeronautical turbines.

We collaborate with industrial partners and are also actively involved in increasing both energy awareness and public understanding of the opportunities and challenges in engines and turbines.

Please visit individual faculty profiles to learn more about their research in the Engines and Turbines theme.  


People specializing in this area

Principal Investigators

Dr. Nick  Atkins
MHI University Lecturer in Turbomachinery
Professor Stewart  Cant
Professor of Computational Engineering
Combustion modelling and simulation, combustion CFD, two-phase flow modelling and simulation, plant explosion safety case analysis
Gas turbine combustion CFD and modelling; thermoacoustic instability analysis
Professor Silvana  Cardoso
Professor of Fluid Mechanics and the Environment
Dr. Cesare  Hall
Professor of Aerothermal Engineering
Dr. Hugh  Hunt
Professor of Engineering Dynamics and Vibration
Dr. Matthew  Juniper
Professor of Thermofluid Dynamics
01223 332 585
Professor Clemens  Kaminski
Professor of Chemical Physics
Director: EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Sensor Technologies and Applications
Head of Department
Markus  Kraft
Member of the Energy IRC Steering Committee
Professor of Chemical Engineering
Director of Cambridge Centre for Advanced Research and Education in Singapore (CARES)
Professor Epaminondas  Mastorakos
Professor of Applied Thermodynamics
Professor Robert  Miller
Professor of Aerothermal Technology
Director, Whittle Lab
Dr Geoff  Parks
Professor of Nuclear Engineering
01223 748553
Professor Nigel  Peake
Head of School of the Physical Sciences
Professor of Applied Mathematics
01223 339058
Dr. Graham  Pullan
Professor of Computational Aerothermal Design
Dr. Catherine  Rae
Dr. Howard  Stone
Deputy Director - Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre
01223 334320
Professor Paul  Tucker
Rank Professor of Engineering
Dr. Alex  White
University Senior Lecturer in Thermofluids
Professor Liping  Xu
University Lecturer in Turbomachinery

Associate Members

Engagement Manager
Head Future Systems

Postdoctoral Researchers

Graduate Students