Zero-carbon Fuels, e-Fuels and Biofuels: Analysis, Experiments and Modelling
Project Details
Program
Mechanical Engineering
Field of Study
Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry
Division
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Faculty Lab Link
Project Description
Zero-carbon fuels, e-fuels, and biofuels are essential for achieving global climate goals by providing sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. They play a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions across various sectors, including transportation, industry, and energy production, thereby helping to mitigate climate change and transition towards a carbon-neutral future. Understanding the reaction pathways, ignition characteristics, and pollutant formation of these fuels is essential for developing efficient engines and minimizing emissions, ensuring that these sustainable alternatives can be effectively integrated into existing and future energy systems. In this project, the student will investigate physical, chemical, ignition and pollutant characteristis of candidate fuels. The work will invovle performing experiments with shock tubes, rapid compression machine, FTIR, and lasers. The student will also develop and optimize chemical kinetic models to predict the performance of these fuels in practical devices. Machine-learning baesd methods will be used to predict fuel properties and propose optimal fuel composition.
About the Researcher
Aamir Farooq
Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Affiliations
Education Profile
- Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, 2010
- M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, 2006
- B.S., Mechanical Engineering, GIK Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, 2002
Research Interests
Dr. Farooqa'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 Farooqa's group focuses on the development and useA of advanced experimental techniquesA to understand fundamental processes in traditional and renewable energy-conversion devices.A TheA laboratory carries out experimentalA research onA 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 environmenta-monitoring applications.Selected Publications
- M. Lamperti, R. Gotti, D. Gatti, M.K. Shakfa, E. Cane, F. Tamassia, P. Schunemann, P. Laporta, A. Farooq, M. Marangoni, ""Optical frequency metrology in the bending modes region"", Communication Physics 3 175 (2020)
- H. Jin, L. Xing, D. Liu, J. Hao, J. Yang, A. Farooq, ""First aromatic ring formation by the radical-chain reaction of vinylacetylene and propargyl"", Combustion and Flame 225, 524 a- 534 (2021)
- M. Figueroa-Labastida, A. Farooq, ""Simultaneous lateral and endwall high-speed visualization of ignition in a circular shock tube"", Combustion and Flame 214, 263 a- 265 (2020)
- F. Khaled, A. Farooq, ""On the universality of ignition delay times of distillate fuels at high temperatures: A statistical approach"", Combustion and Flame 210 145 a- 158 (2019)
- E.F. Nasir, A. Farooq, ""Intra-pulse laser absorption sensor with cavity enhancement for oxidation experiments in a rapid compression machine"", Optics Express 26 14601 a- 14609 (2018)
Desired Project Deliverables
- Perform life-cycle-analysis on the candidate fuels - Characterize various fuels in terms of their physical and chemical properties - Conduct detailed experiments on the chemical kinetics behavior of these fuels using shock tube and rapid compression machine - Develop and optimize chemical kinetics models to predict the performance of the fuels in practical devices - Propose optimal fuel formulations
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Be part of the journey with VSRP
3-6 months
Internship period
100+
Research Projects
3.5/4
Cumulative GPA
310
Interns a Year