Research Interests
Short-term:
For near-term research, I am particularly interested in trying to optimize internal-combustion engines to reduce emissions and improve efficiency. To achieve these goals requires a good understanding of the fundamental fluid and thermo-dynamics in the engine, both during the pre-combustion and combustion processes. As well, new after-treatment devices will be needed to allow vehicles to meet exceedingly stringent emissions standards in Europe, North America, and Asia.
Long-term:
Demand for on-road transportation will almost certainly dramatically increase over the next 50 years. It is vital that this transportation system develop towards a more sustainable model which minimizes negative impacts on the environment. At the same time, to be acceptable to the public, the transportation system will need to be at least as safe, reliable and economical as our current gasoline-fuelled car-dominated culture. To meet this daunting goal will involve the development of new motive power sources and new fuelling infrastructure as well as technical and policy measures to mitigate the environmental impacts of transportation.
One of the key questions that needs to be answered is what transportation system is best? Popular options include the 'hydrogen age', bio-fuels, renewables, and efficiency - but none of these nice buzz-words provide a comprehensive solution. Transportation, with its large pre-existing infrastructure and high cost sensitivity, poses one of the most technically demanding challenges to meeting sustainability goals.
And even if you can identify the ideal transportation system, how do you go about ensuring that the transition occurs? Any change will be evolutionary, rather than revolutionary - and to that end, we need to develop transitional technologies which provide a 'bridge' towards a truly sustainable transportation system. I am looking to contribute to this through the continued development of alternative fuel transportation applications (including natural gas, hydrogen, and bio-fuels).
Available Postgraduate Research Studentships (PhD):
Unfortunately, I no longer am accepting applications for new PhD projects.
Available Undergraduate Research Projects:
I will not be supervising any further part-C projects.