Research

Research Interests

  • Developing reliable, multipurpose numerical models and computer programs for the simulation of the thermal performance of heat exchangers.
  • Modeling of the combustion process in regenerative slab reheat furnaces.
  • Analysis of the NOx formation rate in the industrial furnaces under high temperature air combustion conditions.
  • Dynamic model construction of an industrial flue gas recirculation furnace for real-time NOx emission control
  • Modeling of turbulence and flow dynamics of gas-solid and liquid-solid two-phase flows in fluidized beds.
  • Numerical and experimental studies of NOx and soot reduction in diesel engines 
  • Modeling of fluid flow in fixed beds.
  • Numerical study of the flow behavior of air and powder inside a powder spray booth for coating purpose.
  • Numerical and experimental investigations of the fluid flow in aero-engine compressors  
  • Numerical studies of fluid flow and heat transfer in supercritical water cooled reactor (SCWR)

Current Research Group

  • R. Maitri - M.E.Sc. Candidate
  • P. Mirzabeygi - M.E.Sc. Candidate
  • S. Ali - Ph.D. Candidate
  • M. M. EL-Halwagy - Ph.D. Candiate
  • R. Saha - Ph.D. Candidate
  • A.  Dadashi - Ph.D. Candidate
  • W. Lin - PDF

Graduate Theses Supervised

M.Eng. Projects

  1. C. Li, “Numerical Simulations of Air Flow and Heat Transfer in a PC,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, The University of Western Ontario (Completed in August 2010).

  2. J. Mokal, “A Numerical Study of the Effects of Multiple Fuel Injections and Start of Injection Timing on NOx Formation in a DI Diesel Engine,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, The University of Western Ontario (Completed in April 2010).

  3. D. Yuan, “Numerical Simulation of Indoor Airflow and Heat Transfer in a Residential Building,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, The University of Western Ontario (completed in April 2008).

  4. X. Yang, M.Eng., “CFD Simulation of Pneumatic Feedback Oscillator Circuit,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, The University of Western Ontario (completed in August 2007)

  5. J. Liu, M.Eng., “Numerical Study of Low NOx Burners,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, The University of Western Ontario (completed in December 2006).

  6. H. Liang, M.Eng., “Analysis of Gas-Solid Two-Phase Flows in a Lung Airway Model,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, The University of Western Ontario (completed in December 2006).

  7. Z. Zhou, M.Eng., “Numerical Simulation of Steady-State Fluid Flow and Heat Transfer in a Building,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, The University of Western Ontario (completed in August 2006).

  8. X. Li, M.Eng. (co-supervised with Prof. Zhu of Dept. of CBE, The University of Western Ontario, Chief Supervisor: Zhang), “Numerical Study of Liquid-Solid Two-Phase Flows in Fluidized Beds,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, The University of Western Ontario (completed in April 2006).

  9. H. Zhan, M.Eng. (co-supervised with Prof. Zhu of Dept. of CBE, The University of Western Ontario, Chief Supervisor: Zhang), “Numerical Analysis of the Flow in a Liquid-Solid Circulating Fluidized Bed,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, The University of Western Ontario (completed in December 2005).

  10. Y. Li, M.Eng. (co-supervised with Prof. Zhu of Dept. of CBE, The University of Western Ontario, Chief Supervisor: Zhang), “Numerical Simulations of Gas-Solid Two-Phase Flow in Lung Airways,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, The University of Western Ontario (completed in December 2005).

  11. X. Wang, M.Eng. (co-supervised with Prof. Zhu of Dept. of CBE, The University of Western Ontario, Chief Supervisor: Zhang), “Simulation of Particle Flow in Lung Pathway for Pulmonary Drug Delivery,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, The University of Western Ontario (completed in January 2003).

Master’s Theses

  1. L. Kong, M.E.Sc. (co-supervised with Prof. Zhu of Dept. of CBE, The University of Western Ontario, Chief Supervisor: Zhang) “Numerical Simulations of Catalytic Ozone Decomposition Reaction in a Gas-Solids Circulating Fluidized Bed Riser,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, The University of Western Ontario (completed: August 2012)

  2. K. Elliott, M.E.Sc. (co-supervised with Prof. Savory, Dept. of MME, The University of Western Ontario), “Numerical Investigation of Turbulent Flows with High Curvature in a Simplified Geometry and in Centrifugal Compressors,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, The University of Western Ontario (completed: June 2012).

  3. D. A. Brown, M.E.Sc. (co-supervised with Prof. Jiang, Dept. of ECE, The University of Western Ontario, Chief Supervisor: Zhang), “Control and Optimization of Laminar Incompressible Fluid Flow,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, The University of Western Ontario (completed: April 2010).

  4. B. Ghafouri, M.E.Sc. (co-supervised with Prof. Savory of Dept. of MME, The University of Western Ontario), " Numerical Modeling of the Flow over Stators and Support Arms of Automotive Cooling Fans," Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, The University of Western Ontario (completed in October 2009).

  5. Y. N. Zhang, M.E.Sc. (co-supervised with Prof. Jiang, Dept. of ECE, The University of Western Ontario, Chief Supervisor: Zhang), “Numerical Simulation of Fluid Flow and Heat Transfer in Supercritical Water Cooled Reactor ,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, The University of Western Ontario (completed in April 2009).

  6.  J. Borgeois, M.E.Sc. (co-supervised with Prof. Savory of Dept. of MME, The University of Western Ontario), “Numerical Mixing Plane Studies with Validation for Aero-engine Centrifugal Compressor Design,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, The University of Western Ontario (completed in April 2008)

  7. J. Ma, M.E.Sc. (co-supervised with Prof. Jiang of Dept. of ECE, The University of Western Ontario, Chief Supervisor: Zhang), “Fault Detection and Isolation in Fixed In-Core Flux Detectors,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, The University of Western Ontario (completed in January 2008)

  8. L. Zhang, M.E.Sc. (co-supervised with Prof. Martinuzzi of Dept. of MME, The University of Western Ontario, Chief Supervisor: Martinuzzi), “Numerical Simulations of Fluid Flow and Heat Transfer in Buildings,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, The University of Western Ontario (completed in August 2007)

  9. Y. Wang, M.E.Sc., “A Numerical Study of Multiple Fuel Injection Strategies for NOx Emission Reduction from DI Diesel Engines,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, The University of Western Ontario (completed in February 2006)

  10. J. Shao, M.E.Sc., “Numerical Simulations of the Fluid Flow around Circular Cylinders in Subcritical Regime,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, The University of Western Ontario (completed in December 2005)

  11. U. Shah, M.E.Sc. (co-supervised with Prof. Zhu of Dept. of CBE, The University of Western Ontario, Chief Supervisor: Zhu), “Numerical Investigation of the Performance of an Electrostatic Fine Powder Coating Process,” Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario (completed in September 2004)

  12. M. Cui, M.E.Sc. (co-supervised with Prof. Straatman of Dept. of MME, The University of Western Ontario, Chief Supervisor: Zhang), “Numerical Simulation of Gas-Sold Flow in an Enhanced Solid Entrainment (ESE) Nozzle System,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, The University of Western Ontario(completed in September 2004)

  13. Q. Jiang, M.E.Sc. (co-supervised with Prof. Jiang of Dept. of ECE, The University of Western Ontario, Chief Supervisor: Zhang), “Modeling and Simulation of an Industrial Furnace with Flue Gas Recirculation for NOx Control,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, The University of Western Ontario (completed in January 2004)

  14. S. Natarajan, M.E.Sc. (co-supervised with Prof. Briens of Dept. of CBE, The University of Western Ontario, Chief Supervisor: Zhang), “Numerical Simulation and Experimental Verification of Gas Flow through Packed Beds,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, The University of Western Ontario (completed in September 2003).

  15. Z. Li, M.E.Sc. (co-supervised with Prof. Zhu of Dept. of CBE, The University of Western Ontario, Chief Supervisor: Zhang), “Numerical Simulations of Fine Powder Coating Systems,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, The University of Western Ontario (completed in May 2003).

  16. X. Jiang, M.E.Sc. (co-supervised with Dr. Liu of IMTI, NRC, Chief Supervisor: Zhang), “Feasibility Study of a New Rapid Tooling Process Using Metal Shells Back Supported by Packed Powders,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, The University of Western Ontario (completed in June 2002) 

  17. R. Liu, M.E.Sc., “A Numerical Study of NOx Reduction for a Direct Injection Diesel Engine with Complex Geometry,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, The University of Western Ontario (completed in September 2001).

  18. P. Nourse, M.A.Sc. (co-supervised with Prof. Rankin of Dept. of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, U of W), “Development of an Automotive Fan Test Facility,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, U of W (completed in September 2000).

  19. N. Tyves (current name: N. Stockwell), M.A.Sc., “Numerical Simulations of Turbulent Non-Premixed Combustion in a Regenerative Furnace,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, U of W (completed in December 1998).

  20. H. Xu, M.A.Sc., “Numerical Study of 2-D Laminar Flows Using Contravariant Velocity Fluxes on Collocated Grids in General Coordinates,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, U of W (completed in December 1996).

  21. A. Bokil, M.A.Sc., “Numerical Analysis of Two Phase Fluid Flow and Heat Transfer in a Condenser,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, U of W (completed in December 1994).

  22. Y. Zhang, M.A.Sc., “Numerical Analysis of Fluid Flow and Heat Transfer in a Power Plant condenser,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, U of W (completed in August 1992).

Doctoral Theses

  1. D. Wang, Ph.D., “Development of Heat-Release Rate-Based Emissions Control Models for a Direct-Injection Diesel Engine,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, The University of Western Ontario (completed in August 2010).

  2. B. Peng, Ph.D. (co-supervised with Prof. Zhu of Dept. of CBE, The University of Western Ontario, Chief Supervisor: Zhang), “Study on the Hydrodynamics and Flow Structure Mechanisms in CFB Risers,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, The University of Western Ontario (completed in December 2009).

  3. R. Zhang, Ph.D., “Study on CFD Assisted Control System Design for Thermal Fluid Systems,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, The University of Western Ontario (completed in November 2009).

  4. H. G. Hu, Ph.D., “Numerical Simulation of Two-Phase Flow in Condensers,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, The University of Western Ontario (completed in January 2008).

  5. H. Xu, Ph.D. (co-supervised with Prof. Barron, Dept. of Mathematics and Statistics, U of W), “A Numerical Algorithm Based on Transformed Partial Differential Equations for Fluid Flows,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, U of W (completed in December 2003).

  6. V. Damodaran, Ph.D. (co-supervised with Prof. Rankin, Dept. of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, U of W), “Numerical Simulation of Flow through Pipes with Multiple Constrictions and with Moving Walls,” Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, U of W (completed in December 1995)