Sustainable Energy
People
Dr Ricardo Martinez-Botas , Dr Simos Evangelou, Dr Andy Heyes, and Dr Andrew Marquis
Research Activities
The work in this research focus area is unified by its application to energy transformation.
The coupling of CFD models of the flow, heat and mass transfer and electrochemistry with thermal stress modelling has led to the development of a tool capable of determining the failure of ceramic components in solid-oxide fuel cells, i.e. life-time prediction. In addition complex models of fuel cells detailed simulations of systems involving gas-turbine/fuel-cell hybrids have been developed.
Long term work on the characterisation of coal continues with current work being related to low-emission electricity generation. Attention is focussed on the optimisation of power cycles with post-combustion CO2 capture and storage, working closely with UK government and industry to study CCS options for deployment in the UK and key developing countries such as China and India.
Previous experience of high-speed generators for small scale and distributed power generation has stimulated work on hybrid vehicle propulsion and enabled the development of equipment for torque measurement of turbocharger turbines operating at high rotational speeds. The latter has made possible research into turbocharger turbines operating in realistic highly unsteady flow, in contrast to the steady flow the designs are based on, and allowed the investigation of active control of nozzle vanes to improve performance.
The use of dimples to raise heat transfer has been explored computationally and experimentally, whilst film cooling, and the effect of its angle of injection, was studied with liquid crystals. Novel work on thermal-barrier coatings for improved durability of combustion equipment, including optical measurement of coating temperature, has resulted in a spin-out company.
Research has led to an understanding of the break-up of aircraft trailing vortices, the associated energy loss and implications for reduced landing/separation distances between aircraft.
Hybrid vehicle propulsion is seen as a key technology and follows on from the work on high-speed generators.
Spin-outs
Southside Thermal Sciences Ltd
