Thermodynamics and Combustion Laboratory

Current research directions

Our current research interests are motivated by the need for alternative energy sources, with reduced negative environmental footprints and the ability to replenish the world's diminishing fossil energy resources. Developing advanced combustion devices and using renewable and less pollutant fuels are expected to contribute towards realizing a more sustainable energy economy.

In order to achieve this, it is necessary to characterize the fundamental combustion properties of the wide spectrum of alternative fuels under consideration (bioalcohols, biodiesel, furanics, ethers and synthetic fuels). Computational Engineering has emerged as a powerful tool in the design, construction and maintenance of various engineering devices. However, the potential of these tools in the development of combustion-based technologies can only be realized when sufficiently reliable physical and chemical submodels are employed in the computational codes. While substantial progress has been made in this area in recent years, there are still many outstanding challenges. Among these are the growing diversity of fuel sources and the large sizes of resulting combustion chemistry models which do not readily lend themselves to numerical experimentation.

We seek to advance the use of alternative fuels through experimental characterization of fundamental combustion properties such as ignition behavior and flame propagation. We also contribute to improved computational combustion practices through the development of empirical correlations, detailed and reduced combustion chemistry models as well as evaluation of turbulence-chemistry interaction strategies. We are currently developing laboratory facilities to address the problems outlined below.

 

Combustion chemistry

• Shock tube ignition experiments

• Shock tube pollutant formation experiments

• Chemical kinetic mechanism analyses, development and reduction

Laser ignition experiments

• Laser ignition of constant volume combustible mixtures

• Laser ignition of jets

• Simulation of ignition kernel propagation

Others

• More to come soon. If you would like to know more, please speak to Dr. Akih during his office hours or send him an email.