Energy Systems for Transport

Within this research area, staff within the Centre for Intelligent Transport are working in the following areas:

• Simulation of propulsive jets. This involves high-fidelity simulations of jet-wing interaction noise for representative engine, pylon and wing configurations at relevant flight conditions. Staff are establishing best practices for Large Eddy Simulations coupled with far-field noise prediction methods accelerated on GPU for industrial design
• Electric propulsion systems: Staff within the Centre are investigating the use of electrospraying for propulsion system. This research involves understanding the underlying physics of electrospraying using high-speed imaging to develop cutting-edge spacecraft electric propulsion systems for nanosatellites.

Much of the research in this theme is in collaboration with colleagues in the Centre for Sustainable Engineering. This extends to related research such as development and modelling of the next generation of aerofoil surface treatment for use in wind turbines. This involves bio-inspired modifications of the turbulent boundary layer flows close to the blade trailing edge using ‘canopies’. and large Eddy Simulations coupled with far-field noise prediction methods accelerated on GPU to help designing surface treatments to reduce aerofoil noise.