The Fluids and Thermal Engineering Group uses advanced experimental facilities alongside computational modelling to engage in a broad range of research activities in thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, heat transfer, combustion, bio- and renewable fuels and low-carbon propulsion.
The Group’s work covers industrially and environmentally relevant projects associated principally with the automotive, aerospace and power industries.
We have excellent experimental facilities that include well-equipped engine test cells; a wind tunnel with moving ground plane; test facilities for combustion; and test facilities for renewable fuel research. Each research area is supported by a strong, complementary analytical and numerical modelling capability.
Current research interests include:
- Low-carbon propulsion
- Future renewable fuels
- Heat transfer enhancement
- Thermodynamics and properties of new solid and liquid materials
- Turbulent combustion in supersonic and subsonic flows
- Fluid-structure interaction
- A broad spectrum of aerodynamic research from gas turbines and ground vehicles to missiles and space vehicles
Northumbria is a longstanding member of the AVL Advanced Simulation Technologies University Partnership Program and provides students with access to this and other software including Ansys, Star-CCM+, CATIA V5, OpenFOAM, Chemkin and SIMULIA.
Project-based learning:
Northumbria automotive design:
Take a tour around our engine facilities, click here
To view a detailed engine test cell facilities equipment list, click here
Wind tunnel facilities, click here
Contact: Dr Ulugbek Azimov
This research group forms part of the Department of Mechanical and Construction Engineering.
Please click on the links below to view current PhD opportunities:
- Project title: Breaking frontiers for the developmentand production of custom-made fuels through synthetic biology and fuel design –a multidisciplinary approach
- Project title: Novel microbial fuel design andproduction - a multidisciplinary approach
- Project title: Water Droplet Intervened IndirectEvaporative Cooler
- Project title: Efficient Solar Thermal Energy StorageSystem Development for 24 Hours Operation
- Project title: New materials for wind turbineapplications
- Project title: Development of new nano-absorptivematerials for air filtration and self-cleaning coatings in closed environment
- Project title: Encapsulated Phase change materials forbuilt environmental thermal management
- Project title: Multifunctional antimicrobial sensorfabrics for patient’s healthcare
- Project title: Development of novel refrigerants withlow global warming potential
This group is a part of the University’s multi-disciplinary research into the theme of Future Engineering.
Research from this group will be submitted to REF2021 under UoA 12: Engineering.
To view research papers emanating from this group, please click here to view Northumbria Research Link, our open access repository of research output from Northumbria University.
Find out about the Researcher Links UK-Russia Workshop on Scientific and Technical Grounds of Future Low-Carbon Propulsionon here.
Research
- Civil Engineering Heritage and Future
- Engineering Materials Mechanics Group
- Fluid and Thermal Engineering
- Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT)
- Renewable Energy Technologies
- Smart Materials & Surfaces Laboratory (SMSL)
- Engineering Materials and Mechanics Group (EM²G)
- Faculty Education Research Group
- Industry-Academia Partnership
- Joint Academic Development Centre
Researchers within our Future Engineering multidisciplinary research theme are exploring what technologies will be heating our homes and driving our cars in 20 years time.
Get an insight into life at Northumbria with videos and 360 panoramas of the Department of Mechanical and Construction Engineering.
