Thermofluids Group: How we are governed

University of Leeds

Brunel University

University of Oxford

Atkins

Rolls-Royce SMRs

Mehdi Biroun joined the Dyson Institute as a lecturer in thermofluids in August 2022. Before this role, he held academic positions at University College London (UCL), Northumbria University, and West Pomeranian University of Technology. He is a Chartered Engineer through IMechE and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). He has been recognised as a global talent by the Royal Academic of Engineering.

His research interests include dynamic modelling of renewable energy systems, Acoustofluidics and Droplet actuation, Complex granular flows, and numerical and experimental investigation of multiphase flow systems. Mehdi is always looking for academic collaborations on research.

Mehdi teaches core mechanical engineering modules on fluid dynamics, heat transfer, thermodynamics, and CFD. During his career, Mehdi has always integrated real-world applications into engineering teaching.

retired

Cyril Crua is Professor of Engineering at the University of Sussex and specialises in the optical measurement of complex flows. He is Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (FIMechE), Committee Member of the European Institute for Liquid Atomization and Spray Systems (ILASS), member of UKRI Peer Review Colleges (EPSRC; UKRI Talent; EPSRC New Horizons; UKRI Interdisciplinary Assessment College), and Engineering Unit of Assessment Lead for REF2021 (University of Brighton) and REF2029 (University of Sussex).

His research focuses on fluids, heat and mass transfer processes in the energy, biomedical and manufacturing sectors. He has more than 28 years' experience on the development and application of optical measurement techniques to investigate the microscale physics of complex multiphase flows, such as fuel sprays, industrial process fluids (lubricants, coolants, carbon capture solvents), and biomedical fluid dynamics (droplet impacts, bioartificial organs, intraocular lenses).

His research has received continuous EPSRC funding since 2013 (currently until 2028), as well as support by industry, Innovate UK, Royal Society, EU, and UKRI. He has published 100+ articles with 145+ co-authors from 45 institutions in 20+ countries, in a wide range of Q1 journals and conferences in the areas of energy, thermofluids and materials. He has supervised 16 PhDs to completion (+8 in progress) and examined 21 PhDs in the UK, Australia, Denmark, France and Malaysia.

linkedin.com/in/cyrilcrua
sussex.ac.uk/profiles/630715

Client Executive, Dassault Systemes UK Ltd

Mark Keating is a Client Executive at Dassault Systemes working within the UK Infrastructure, Energy & Materials (I,E&M) group having a focus on the Renewable Energy sector.

Mark became an IMechE member in 1993 and has been involved in modelling and simulation first degree graduation in Mechanical Engineering in 1995 at Nottingham Trent University. He went on to study for his MPhil & PhD in industrial gas turbines investigating novel blade heat transfer and became chartered (CEng) in 2000. Since 2001 Mark has held technical, commercial, marketing and management roles revolving around major commercial simulation software vendors (most significantly, 16 years with Ansys).

Mark has been a STEM ambassador since 2019 and in 2022 completed his Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA) course. Mark sits on the NAFEMS UK steering committee as well as a number of NAFEMS working groups (CFD, optimisation, metal additive manufacturing etc) and IMechE Thermo-Fluids Group Board and is an enthusiastic advocate of the adoption of simulation technologies. He is also the publicity officer for the IMechE Nottinghamshire/Derby Area Committee.

Frazer Nash Consultancy

Assistant Professor in Energy Systems at the University of Leeds

Previously, he held academic positions at the University of Huddersfield and the University of Hertfordshire and worked as a Research Fellow at the Institute of Energy Futures, Brunel University London. He is a Chartered Engineer (CEng), a member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). Dr. Pandey has been recognised as a BRICS Young Scientist and a Global Talent by the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng).

His research focuses on low-carbon energy systems, hydrogen production, resource recovery, decarbonisation, energy transition, sustainability and the circular economy.

Colin Scrivener worked for Rolls-Royce from 1967, until retirement in June 2006, and then as a consultant to the company for 12 years. Initially in compressors, he contributed to the aerodynamic development of the high bypass ratio fan for the RB211-524 engine. His major contribution to Rolls-Royce has been in turbine technology. After joining the turbine group in 1978, progressing to Head of Turbine Engineering in 1992, with a team of 300 aero-thermal, mechanical and design staff responsible for turbines for the whole company.

This team produced turbine designs for the Trent and EJ200 aero engines, and the variable turbine for the WR21 marine engine. Colin also supported turbine engineering at Rolls-Royce sites in Germany and Montreal. Subsequently he was Head of Technology responsible for the generic aerodynamic, mechanical and design methods and then IT Director for Aerospace Engineering, with responsibility for the IT strategy for about 450 people and an IT budget of £3M.

He was instrumental in the move from main-frame Cray super computers to distributed servers. From 1997 Colin was responsible across the whole of Rolls-Royce for the professional leadership and career development of engineers in the aerothermal area (fluid dynamics and thermodynamics). He has played an active role in ASME, the IMechE and the European Turbomachinery Conference and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2006. Since 1996 he has been a member of the Editorial Board the IMechE Journal of Power and Energy, and was Editor from 2002 to 2006.

In retirement he spend some time mentoring PhD students at Cambridge and Oxford University.