Future Fuel for Advanced Combustion Engines

Apply

Project Description

Increasing focus on global warming and CO2 emsisions is pushing the engine technology to new frontiers. The overarching objective is to increase the efficiency of internal combustion engines so as to minimize the CO2 emissions. Advanced engine technologies revolve around compression ignition concepts but diesel is not deemed to be suitable fuel for achieving higher efficiency and low pollutant levels. In this context, we are exploring new fuel formulations which can be produced at a lower cost from the refinery but can provide superior performance in the engine. The project will involve exploring the ignition and emission characteristics of such candidate future fuels.​​​​​
Program - Chemistry
Division - Physical Sciences and Engineering
Center Affiliation - Clean Combustion Research Center
Field of Study - ​Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry

About the
Researcher

Aamir Farooq

Professor, Mechanical Engineering<br/>Chair, Mechanical Engineering Program

Aamir Farooq
Dr. Farooq’s research interests are in the areas of energy sciences, combustion chemistry, spectroscopy and laser-based sensors. He is the principal investigator of Chemical Kinetics and Laser Sensors Laboratory and is affiliated with the Clean Combustion Research Center. Professor Farooq’s group focuses on the development and use of advanced experimental techniques to understand fundamental processes in traditional and renewable energy-conversion devices. The laboratory carries out experimental research on chemical kinetics using shock tubes and rapid compression machine. These idealized reactors enable the study of reaction kinetics, fuel chemistry, ignition properties, and emissions under conditions suitable for future high-efficiency, low-emission engines and gas turbines.

Professor Farooq is interested in the development of new laser-based sensors and their application to a variety of energy systems. These sensors are used to make in-situ measurements of various parameters of interest such as species concentration, gas temperature, flow velocity, mass flux, and particle number density. Small-sized quantum-cascade lasers are used to design highly sensitive sensors that are portable and can be applied directly in industrial settings. Also, Professor Farooq is interested in developing laser-based sensors for biomedical and environment–monitoring applications.

Desired Project Deliverables

​Perofrm detailed physical/chemical characterization on select refinery stream fuels;Carry out ignition experiments in idealized reactor configurations of shock tube and rapid compression machine; Perform chemical kinetic modelling to develop surrogates for the fuels; Analyze the performance of new fuel in engine simulations; Recommend the optimal fuel formulation suitable for advanced compression ignition engines​.