Date: 11th August Tuesday; Time: 14:00 – 15:00
Venue: ENG 207, Engineering Hub
Talk by Dr. Ben Akih-Kumgeh
(Biosketch: Dr. Ben Akih-Kumgeh is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Syracuse University, NY, USA. His research is focused on thermodynamics and combustion. He combines fundamental combustion experiments with combustion chemistry modeling and simulations to develop tools for the design and operation of combustion systems. He teaches courses in the area of thermodynamics, combustion and propulsion. Dr. Akih-Kumgeh holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from McGill University, Canada. His university education began at the Samara State Aerospace University, Russia, focusing on Aircraft Engines and Power Plants. He later studied at the Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Germany, where he obtained a Diplom-Ingenieur (FH) in Mechanical Engineering before proceeding to RWTH Aachen for a Master’s degree in Energy Engineering.
During his undergraduate studies, Dr. Akih-Kumgeh worked on Direct Methanol Fuel Cell systems at the Juelich Research Center and while at RWTH Aachen, he was a research student at the Chair of Internal Combustion Engines. Prior to joining Syracuse University, Dr. Akih-Kumgeh was a post-doctoral scholar at McGill University, collaborating with Rolls-Royce Canada (now Siemens) on combustion chemistry for gas turbine applications.)
Title: Investigations of auto and laser-induced ignition for combustion system applications
Abstract:
The ignition process is central to combustion technology. It is the transition of a system consisting of a mixture of fuel and oxidizer from an unburned to a burned state as a result of external forcing. Rapidly subjecting a bulk mixture to high temperature may lead to volumetric ignition that is conveniently termed auto ignition whereas localized addition of energy to a combustible mixture, known as forced ignition, may induce a self-sustained combustion wave that can propagate throughout the mixture. These modes of initiating burning processes are employed in various combustion systems to achieve clean and efficient conversion of the chemical energy of fuels to other useful forms, such as thermal and mechanical energy.
With the aim of supporting the development of advanced combustion devices, research activities seek to characterize the combustion properties of conventional and the wide variety of emerging alternatives. This is realized through a synergy of fundamental experiments and development of predictive chemical kinetic models. In conjunction with fluid transport equations, these models can be used in computer-aided engineering of combustion systems.
In this talk, shock tube auto ignition studies of selected alternative fuel candidates will be presented. The relation of observed reactivity trends will be discussed in the context of detailed and reduced chemical kinetic modeling. It will be followed by a discussion on our forced ignition studies using laser-induce plasma with a focus on methane and biogas. The presentation highlights the complex phenomena associated with combustion and the need to accurately characterize these as we seek to develop predictive physical models for combustion in transport-dominated media.
Date: 27th May Wednesday; Time: 10:00 – 11:00 am
Venue: ENG 207, Engineering Hub
Talk by Dr. Marco Greco
(Visiting Lecturer at the School of Engineering from Italy, through the Erasmus Mundus Programme)
Title: OPEN INNOVATION: HOT AIR OR HOT STUFF?
Abstract: The Open innovation paradigm deals with the innovating capability of an organization resulting from the interaction with other organizations (Chesborough 2003). The term is opposed to closed innovation, which incurs when the internal Research & Development (R&D) labs develop all the organizational innovations. Nevertheless, far before the term “open Innovation” was introduced by Chesbrough, firms were already interacting with other organizations such as universities and suppliers in order to improve their innovation performance (Vanhaverbeke, West and Chesbrough, 2014).
This talk introduces the audience to the characteristics of open innovation, its increasing popularity among firms and scholars, and its effect on innovation performance. Special attention will be paid to the effect of the interaction between universities and firms.
Date: 26th May Tuesday; Time: 14:00 – 15:00
Venue: ENG 207, Engineering Hub
Talk by Prof. Roger Goodall
(affiliations: Loughborough University, Huddersfield University)
Title: Maglev – ground transport for the 21st Century?
Abstract: The technology of Maglev is now more than 50 years old. However, despite the recent Japanese world speed record of over 600 km/h, many of the dreams of the early days have not been achieved. The lecture will give an overview of the technologies, describe some of the speaker’s own research involvement in the subject, and present a summary of what has been achieved around the world. This will include a personal view on the present day barriers and opportunities, and also suggest that the kind of advanced control technology embodied in some forms of Maglev may also revolutionise conventional railway technology.
Date and Time: 11th March 2015, Wednesday, 13:00 – 14:00 hrs
Venue: ENG 209 (second floor), Engineering Hub, Brayford Pool Campus
Talk by Dr. Michal Weiszer
(Post-doctoral Fellow working with Dr. Jun Chen at the School of Engineering)
Title: Towards a More Cost Effective and Environmentally Friendly Airport Surface Movement through Active Routing and GuidanceAbstract: The Airport Surface Movement problem is one of the challenging real-world optimisation problems found at airports. In this talk, a new concept called Active Routing and Guidance is proposed and set into a wider context of previous research which saw an evolution from simple routing to a complex decision support system for both air traffic controllers and pilots.
In its nature, the airport surface movement problem is a multi-objective multi-component optimisation problem which combines two components: scheduling and routing of aircraft and speed profile optimisation. In this talk, a multi-objective optimisation framework is presented which combines lower-level algorithms for each component. Different speed up techniques are introduced including a heuristic for the speed profile optimisation and an adaptive speed profile database. The performance of the proposed algorithms is demonstrated using real data from major airports. Finally, a metaheuristic approach is introduced to integrate the airport surface movement problem with other airport problems.
Date and Time: 25th February 2015, Wednesday, 13:00 – 14:00 hrs
Venue: ENG 208 (second floor), Engineering Hub, Brayford Pool Campus
Talk by Dr. Festus Agbonzikilo
(First PhD graduate from the School of Engineering!)
Title: Investigation of Flow Aerodynamics for Optimal Fuel Placement and Mixing in the Radial Swirler of a Dry Low Emission Gas Turbine Combustion ChamberAbstract: The aerodynamics of the air flow within the radial swirler slot of a dry low emission (DLE) combustion system has a complex three-dimensional flow structure, which includes flow separation and recirculation. This, together with the placement of the fuel holes with cross injection, controls the mixing of the fuel and air. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with the Shear Stress Transport (SST) turbulence model was used for flow and mixing predictions and for conducting a CFD-based Design of Experiments (DOE) optimisation study, in which different parameters related to the fuel injection holes were varied. The test domain for the CFD, and its experimental validation, was a large-scale representation of a swirler slot from a Siemens proprietary DLE combustion system. The results of a detailed investigation of the fuel-air mixing processes will be discussed in this research seminar talk.
Date and Time: 11th February 2015; Wednesday, Time: 13:00 – 14:30 hrs
Venue: ENG 208, The Engineering Hub, Brayford Pool
Please find the Flyer here
Agenda for the day:
13:00-13:10 Inroduction Basab/Ray Newell
13:10-13:30 Talk Dr Robin Young followed by questions (find the talk abstract below)
13:30:13:50 Guest lecture Alysia Garmulewicz followed by questions (find the talk abstract below)
13:50-13:55 Prize award announcement for 2015 Ray Newell
13:55-14:00 Presentation from UOL Engineering students re project Yellow Submarine.
14:00-14:30 Discussions
14:30 CLOSE MEETING.
Refreshments will be available, before, after and throughout the meeting.
Invited Industry personnel:
Mark Piercy (from Skillserve 2000)
Rick Shouler (From Manufacturing Advisory Service)
Rob LLoyd (from Micrometrics)
Graham Whitchurch (from Solutions for plastic)
Peter Stevenson (from PSL Ltd)
Mark Hudson (from Hi Q sound)
Representative from SL Engineering
Representative from Castlet
Representative from E2V-3
Talk by Dr. Robin Young
From ‘Applied Materials’
Title: Technology and Material Developments in Additive Layer Manufacturing (ALM)
Abstract: Additive Layer Manufacturing is acknowledged to be a disruptive technology
in advanced manufacturing. This presentation provides an overview on the
last International Conference on Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing
held at Nottingham and examines the opportunities for ALM and the
obstacles to uptake with a focus on the relationship between processing
and materials aspects which both need to developed to meet market
aspirations.
Talk by Dr. Alysia Garmulewicz
From Saïd Business School, University of Oxford
Title: 3D Printing and the Circular Economy
Abstract: Alysia will present her PHD research on the implications of additive manufacturing for the circular economy. Nano-scale fabrication, bio-inspired design, and materials traceability are features of additive manufacturing that may increase the circulation of materials in industrial systems. The main focus of her research is on the changing scales of production introduced by low-cost 3D printing as a subset of additive manufacturing. Alysia will explore the materials supply chains for 3D printing, the growing distribution of 3D printing production, and the implications for circular economy aims.
FlyerForStudents_110215
Talk by Dr. Louise O’Hare
Lecturer in Psychology
(trained at the University of St. Andrews and trying to understand: Why do we see differently?)
Date and Time: 10th December 2014; Wednesday, 15:00 – 16:00 hrs
Venue: ENG 208, The Engineering Hub, Brayford Pool
All welcome including members of public
Title: Objective Correlates of Visual Discomfort
Abstract: Visual discomfort is the subjective reports of adverse sensations experienced on viewing particular types of patterns, such as stripes. The reports describe symptoms that include headache, eyestrain, blurred vision, and illusory movement and colour, in the form of shimmering and scintillating patterns. One potential reason for visual discomfort is that images such as stripes do not have the same statistical properties as everyday scenes. It is thought that the visual system is optimised to process natural images, and therefore stimuli with very different properties mean that these images are not able to be processed efficiently. This inefficiency might therefore result in excessive neural responses and discomfort. The current project involved firstly investigating the measurement of subjective experiences using a range of methods. The second aim of the project was to investigate whether excessive neural responses are related to visual discomfort, controlling for the potentially confounding effects of perceived contrast, and eye movements.
Talk by Dr. Rebecca Margetts
Lecturer in Systems Modelling & Control Engineering (with around 7-8 years experience in British Industry)
Date and Time: 26th November 2014; Wednesday, 12:00 – 13:00 hrs
Venue: ENG 208, The Engineering Hub, Brayford Pool
All Welcome including members of the public
Title: Engineering models: towards a unified approach
Abstract: Computers are now used extensively in Engineering: for model-based design, virtual prototyping, and controlling ever more complex systems. But how does a computer do all this, and why haven’t computer models taken over in Engineering? Translating a physical system into a computer model must be done with care, and requires an understanding of both physics and computational considerations. Fundamental research into this type of modelling is still ongoing between engineers, computer scientists and mathematicians. As Engineers ask more from their computer models, it’s crucial that these models are fit for purpose. This talk will overview some of the achievements and grand challenges in engineering modelling and simulation, and look at how we’re contributing to the debate at the University of Lincoln.
Talk by Professor Nigel Allinson
Date and Time: 12th November 2014; Wednesday, 13:30 – 14:30 hrs
Venue: ENG 208, The Engineering Hub, Brayford Pool
Title: Seeing and treating cancer with protons
Abstract: PRaVDA is a unique imaging and dosimetry instrument for use in treatment of cancer using proton therapy – beneficial for some brain, head and neck tumours and childhood cancers. It will deliver the Holy Grail for radiotherapists – accurate proton computerised tomography (CT) images so eliminating the potential targeting errors of this new treatment. From an engineering point of view, the instrument is probably one of the most complex imaging systems ever developed. Twelve sets of silicon strip detectors, designed by the team at the University of Liverpool who built the detectors for the LHC Experiments at CERN; and 24 layers of very high-speed CMOS imagers (10 x 10 cm radiation-hard and operating at over 1,500 fps). There is over 2.5 square metres of processed silicon – enough for over 25,000 iPhone cameras. The system operates with a master clock of 100 MHz and produces 6 Gbytes of data per second. A new algorithm for 3-D CT reconstruction has been developed that is fully analytic and accounts for the non-linear paths of protons.
The talk will provide an overview of the need, the system and the engineering decisions.
SoE-Rss inaugural talk by Prof. Timothy Gordon, Head of School
Date: 29th November 2014; 13:00 – 14:00 hrs
Venue: ENG 208, Engineering Hub, Brayford Pool
Title: Smart Safety before Self Driving: why the Google self-driving car is a whole generation too early
Abstract: Modern cars are smart: they can control their own speed, control their own steering, park themselves, watch out for danger, never sleep, don’t forget traffic rules, don’t get distracted … and they are “legal” in several US states, and soon will be in the UK. So the next generation of self-driving cars is already here and within a few years we’ll all be riding around in them? Sadly not! While much of the technology hype is actually true – vehicle control systems are very sophisticated and can do amazing things – the conclusion is not. At a recent workshop in Sweden, a number of university professors and industrial professionals presented work on the progress that been made and … what still needs to be done. This talk summarises the state of the art, and the technology challenges ahead … including what we hope to contribute at the University of Lincoln.