PhD in Combustion and Energy

University of Leeds

Fundamentals of laminar and turbulent combustion that also might also culminate in detonation. This relates to knocking in engines, fire and explosion hazards, conversion from methane to hydrogen gas burning, venting of nuclear reactors, combustion in gas turbines, and furnaces. Leeds is renowned for its fan-stirred explosion vessel for the measurement of turbulent burning rates, the quenching of turbulent flames and determination of critical sizes of flame kernels. In recent years the Leeds Detonation Peninsula has provided a “short cut”, avoiding complex modelling, in the assessment of knocking possibilities in internal combustion engines. International work on jet flames, involving Mexico, Barcelona, and use of the large wind tunnel at Hefei, China. This has led to improved understanding of non-premixed combustion, venting and flaring in crosswinds. This has also led to improved understanding of flame instabilities, and their relevance in large scale atmospheric explosions.