The University of Sheffield
Department of Mechanical Engineering

Professor Chris Wilson

PhD, CEng, FInstE, FRAeS

Prof C Wilson

Professor

Director of Low Carbon Combustion Centre

Department of Mechanical Engineering
Sir Frederick Mappin Building
Mappin Street
Sheffield
S1 3JD
UK

Telephone: +44(0)114 222 7832
Fax: +44(0)114 222 7890

email : c.w.wilson@sheffield.ac.uk

Areas of Research

Chris's research team is actively using modelling and experimental techniques to investigate fundamental and applied combustion technologies. These technologies range from the latest designs of aerospace propulsion (Pulse Detonation Engines) to schemes for energy from waste and the combustion of all kinds of fuels. The aim is to produce low carbon combustion technologies which are sustainable and reduce environmental impacts.

The team works with the government, helping to set and improve aerospace emission regulations and assess new projects such as the third runway at London Heathrow. Ongoing projects include being part of the EU funded network of excellence into Environmentally Compatible Air Transport Systems (ECATS).

The University is supporting the team to establish a new 11,000 sq.ft Energy and Power Technology Centre (EPTeC) to support Chris's group. The centre contains a range of facilities bridging the gap between fundamental research and full scale demonstration. EPTeC includes a 350kW fluidized bed pilot plant, a SOOkW furnace, a 300kw rotary kiln, solid oxide fuel cell capability and gas turbine combustion rigs.

Chris's team works closely with industry such as Rolls-Royce and the group is actively involved in working on issues such as future aviation fuels and lubricants. The Mechanical Engineering Department is host to engine simulators, which can evaluate aviation fuels and lubricants before they go on to be used by the industry.
 

Modelling work carried out by the team includes the use of genetic algorithms in the optimization of designs and the growth of chemical kinetic schemes to predict the performance of a range of fuels.
 

Chris's team works closely with industry such as Rolls-Royce and the group is actively involved in working on issues such as future aviation fuels and lubricants. The Mechanical Engineering Department is host to engine simulators, which can evaluate aviation fuels and lubricants before they go on to be used by the industry.
 

Modelling work carried out by the team includes the use of genetic algorithms in the optimization of designs and the growth of chemical kinetic schemes to predict the performance of a range of fuels.

Teaching

Books

  • beck S, blakey S, chin S, Nicolleau FCGA & qin N (2006) The little book of thermofluids..

Journal articles

Chapters

  • Wilson CW, Lee DS & Hare W (2011) Chapter 4: International Emissions In UNEP (Ed.), Bridging the emissions gap (pp. 40-46). UNEP.
  • Wilson CW, lewis J, Niedzwiecki R, bahr D, bullock S & et all (1999) Aircraft Technology and Its Relation to Emissions In Penner JE (Ed.), Aviation and the Global Atmosphere Cambridge Univ Pr.

Conferences

  • Wilson CW, Altaher MA, Li H & Blakey S (2013) Gaseous and Smoke Emissions of Alternative aviation fuels from an APU engine. Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2013: Power for Land, Sea and Air GT2013(GT2013-94370)
  • Wilson CW, blakey S, Anderson D & Dufferwiel (2013) HOW LOW CAN YOU GO? AVIATION FUEL AROMATIC CONTENT AND ITS EFFECT ON THERMAL STABILITY AND ELASTOMERIC PERFORMANCE. Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo 2013
  • Wilson CW & Liu Y (2012) Investigation into the temperature impact on O-ring’s sealing performance using advanced stress relaxation test. Journal of Applied Mechanics and Materials
  • Blakey SG, Spalton T & Wilson CW (2011) Analysis of large scale thermal stability testing. 12th International Conference on Stability, Handling and Use of Liquid Fuels 2011, 2, 1149-1171.
  • Alborzi E, Blakey SG, Ghadebigi H, Pinna C, Wilson CW & Pourkashanian M (2011) Analysis of the structure of deposited materials at inner surface of jet fuel injector feed arm with Optical and Scanning Electron Microscopy. 12th International Conference on Stability, Handling and Use of Liquid Fuels 2011, 2, 1120-1148.
  • Alborzi E, Piazzolla R & Wilson C (2011) Computational study on the effect of local expansion and contraction upon surface deposition in a heated fuel injector. Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo, 2(PARTS A AND B), 1045-1053.
  • Liu Y, Wilson CW, Blakey S & Dolmansley T (2011) Elastomer compatibility test of alternative fuels using stress-relaxation test and FTIR spectroscopy. Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo, 1, 637-647.
  • Sicard M, Ancelle J, Raepsaet B, Ser F, Starck L, Jeuland N, Piperel A, Blakey S, Spalton T & Wilson CW (2011) Evaluation of the alternative fuel thermal-oxidation stability within the European Swafea program. 12th International Conference on Stability, Handling and Use of Liquid Fuels 2011, 1, 539-564.
  • Beck AJ, Hodzic A, Soutis C, Wilson CW & IOP (2011) Influence of implementation of composite materials in civil aircraft industry on reduction of environmental pollution and greenhouse effect. TRENDS IN AEROSPACE MANUFACTURING 2009 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE, 26
  • Liu Y, Wilson CW, Blakey SG & Theato P (2011) Investigation of elastomer compatibility with alternative fuels by mass change study, stress-relaxation test and FTIR spectroscopy. 12th International Conference on Stability, Handling and Use of Liquid Fuels 2011, 1, 340-372.
  • Leong CC, Rye LJ, Blakey S & Wilson CW (2010) REVERSE ENGINEERING GAS TURBINE EMISSION PERFORMANCE: APPLIED TO AN AIRCRAFT AUXILIARY POWER UNIT. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ASME TURBO EXPO 2010, VOL 2, PTS A AND B, 389-399.
  • Wilson CW (2009) Alternative Fuels, Security of supply or Green Aviation
  • Uryga-Bugajska I, Catalanotti E, Pourkashanian M, Ma L, Borman D & Wilson CW (2009) Assesment of the performance of alternative aviation fuel in a Modern Air-spray Combustor (MAC). ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, Proceedings, 3, 61-69.
  • Blakey S, Wilson CW, Farmery M & Midgley R (2009) Fuel effects on range versus payload for modern jet aircraft. 11th International Conference on Stability, Handling and Use of Liquid Fuels 2009, 1, 138-167.
  • Wilson CW, Uryga-Bugajska L, Pourkashanian M, bowman D & Catalanotti E (2009) Theoretical investigation of the performance of alternative fuels in an aero-engine combustion chamber
  • Wilson CW, Pourkashanian M, Catalanotti E, Hughes K, Shafagh I, Uryga-Bugajska I & Williams A (2008) Development of a Detailed Reaction Mechanism for the Oxidation of Bio-Aviation Fuel
  • Darbyshire OR, Evans A, Wilson CW & Beck SBM (2006) CFD based analysis of burner fuel air mixing over a range of air inlet and fuel pre-heat temperatures for a siemens V94.3A gas turbine burner. Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo, 1, 709-714.
  • Kyne AG, Pourkashanian M & Wilson CW (2006) Modelling soot formation in aviation fuel oxidation. Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo, 1, 503-512.
  • Ma L, Pourkashanian MC & Wilson CW (2005) A CFD model for reacting flows in an aero-engine hot end simulator. Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo, 2, 29-39.
  • Wilson CW, kyne AG, Mera NS, Ingham DB, Pourkashanian M & Elliott L (2005) Optimisation of a surrogate reduced aviation fuel/air reaction mechanism using a genetic algorithm
  • Wilson CW, Elliott L, ingham DB, Kyne AG, MERA NS & Pourkashanian M (2004) An informed operator based genetic algorithm for tuning the reaction rate parameters of chemical kinetics mechanisms
  • Elliott L, Ingham DB, Kyne AG, Mera NS, Pourkashanian M & Wilson CW (2004) A novel approach to mechanism reduction optimisation for aviation fuel/air reaction mechanism using a genetic algorithm. Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo 2004, 1, 1-10.
  • Clague AR, Wilson CW, Pourkashanian M & Ma L (2004) Chemical kinetic modelling of the evolution of gaseous aerosol precursors within a gas turbine engine. Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo 2004, 1, 443-451.
  • Lu G, Yan Y, Siouris S, Cornwell S & Wilson CW (2004) Concurrent measurement of combustion oscillation and temperature of multiple flames in a simulated gas turbine. Conference Record - IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference, 2, 1112-1115.
  • Wade AS, Ingham DB, Pourkashanian M, Kyne AG, Mera NS & Wilson CW (2004) Optimisation of the arrhenius parameters in a semi-detailed mechanism for jet fuel thermal degradation using a genetic algorithm. Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo 2004, 1, 233-243.
  • Miller MN, Wilson CW, Hilton M & Marston G (2004) Quantitative determination of methane, ethene, ethyne and benzene from within the sector of a gas turbine combustor. Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo 2004, 1, 207-214.
  • Wilson CW, Petzold A, Arnold F, Baltensperger U, Fiebig M & et al (2003) PartEmis Measurement and Prediction of Emissions of Aerosols and Gasous Precursors from Gas Turbine Engines
  • Wilson CW, Elliot L, Ingham DB, Kyne AG, Mera NS & Pourkashanian M (2003) Optimisation of reaction mechanisms for aviation fuels using a multi-objective genetic algorithm, 2046-2057.
  • Elliott L, Ingham DB, Kyne AG, Mera NS, Pourkashanian M & Wilson CW (2003) A novel approach to the optimisation of reaction rate parameters for methane combustion using multi-objective genetic algorithms. American Society of Mechanical Engineers, International Gas Turbine Institute, Turbo Expo (Publication) IGTI, 2, 27-36.
  • Cheung WS, Sims GJM, Copplestone RW, Tilston JR, Wilson CW, Stow SR & Dowling AP (2003) Measurement and analysis of flame transfer function in a sector combustor under high pressure conditions. American Society of Mechanical Engineers, International Gas Turbine Institute, Turbo Expo (Publication) IGTI, 2, 187-194.
  • Brundish KD, Miller MN, Wilson CW, Hilton M, Johnson MP & Jefferies M (2003) Measurement of Smoke Particle Size and Distribution Within a Gas Turbine Combustor. American Society of Mechanical Engineers, International Gas Turbine Institute, Turbo Expo (Publication) IGTI, 2, 455-462.
  • Kyne AG, Pourkashanian M, Williams A & Wilson CW (2003) Modelling NO-NO conversion in counter-flow diffusion flames. American Society of Mechanical Engineers, International Gas Turbine Institute, Turbo Expo (Publication) IGTI, 2, 19-26.
  • Wilson CW, Petzold A, Baltensperger U, Fiebig M & et al (2003) Particle Emissions from Aircraft Engines - An Overview of the European Project PARTEMIS. Combustion and Atmospheric Pollution, 376-381.
  • Wilson CW, Nyeki S, Gysel M, Baltensperger U, Petzold A & Weingartner E (2002) Volatile properties of jet engine combustor particles during the PARTEMIS campaign
  • Wilson CW, Elliott L, Ingham DB, Kyne AG, Mera NS & Pourkashanian M (2002) A real coded genetic algorithm for the optimization of reaction rate parameters or chemical kinetic modelling in a perfectly stirred reacto. Proceedings of Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference, 138-144.
  • Wilson CW, Elliott L, Ingham DB, Kyne AG, Mera NS & Pourkashanian M (2002) A real coded genetic algorithm for the optimization of reaction rate parameters or chemical kinetic modelling in a perfectly stirred reacto. Proceedings of Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference, 138-144.
  • Wilson CW, Gysel M, Nyeki S, Weingartner E & Baltensperger U (2002) Influence of fuel sulfur content on the hygroscopic properties of jet engine combustion particles during PARTEMIS
  • Wilson CW, Lee DS, Sun CG, Cooper M & Snape C (2002) Characterization of carbon isotope ratios for polyaromatic hydrocarbon emissions from an aero-engine combustor. EGS02-A-06133
  • Wilson CW (2002) Measurements of aircraft particle emissions. EGS02-A-06892
  • Elliott L, Ingham DB, Kyne AG, Mera NS, Pourkashanian M & Wilson CW (2002) A Real Coded Genetic Algorithm For The Optimisation Of Reaction Rate Parameters For Chemical Kinetic Modelling In A Perfectly Stirred Reactor.. GECCO, 1261-1261.
  • Arrigone GM, Welch MA, Hilton M, Miller MN & Wilson CW (2002) Detection of ethene and other hydrocarbons in gas turbine engine exhaust using non-intrusive FTIR spectroscopy. Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, 4882, 384-393.
  • Brundish KD, Miller MN, Wilson CW, Macquisten M & Moran J (2002) Internal traversing of combustion species inside a methane fuelled DLE combustor. American Society of Mechanical Engineers, International Gas Turbine Institute, Turbo Expo (Publication) IGTI, 1, 619-628.
  • Elliott L, Ingham DB, Kyne AG, Mera NS, Pourkashanian M & Wilson CW (2002) The optimisation of reaction rate parameters for chemical kinetic modelling using genetic algorithms. American Society of Mechanical Engineers, International Gas Turbine Institute, Turbo Expo (Publication) IGTI, 1, 563-572.
  • Kyne AG, Pourkashanian M, Williams A & Wilson CW (2002) Validation of a flamelet approach to modelling 3-D turbulent combustion within an airspray combustor. American Society of Mechanical Engineers, International Gas Turbine Institute, Turbo Expo (Publication) IGTI, 1, 591-600.
  • Wilson CW & Batchelor-Wylam C (2001) The influence of duct geometry on the radial velocity component of a fuel injector boundary condition. XV International Symposium on Air Breathing Engines Paper no. ISABE-2001-1151
  • Wilson CW, Caines BN & Hicks RA (2001) Influence of sub-atmospheric conditions on the performance of an airblast atomiser. AIAA Paper 2001-3573
  • Wilson CW, Hurley CD & Atkinson KN (2001) Non-equilibrium modelling of combustion in a kerosene-fuelled furnace,. Proceedings of the Technologies and Combustion for a Clean Environment, 1, 481-488.
  • Wilson CW & Brundish KD (2001) Improved Combustion Mixture Control Using a Novel Fuel injector. Asme paper no. 2001-GT-0046
  • Wilson CW, Petzold A, Tilston JR & Miake-Lye R (2001) Particle formation and properties. Proceedings of a European workshop
  • Wilson CW, Kyne AG, Patterson M, Pourkashanian M & Williams A (2001) Prediction of Premixed Laminar Flame Structure and Burning Velocity of Aviation Fuel-Air Mixtures. Asme paper no. 2001-GT-0055
  • Brundish KD & Wilson CW (2001) Improved combustor turndown using a variable swirl number fuel injector. GAS TURBINE POLLUTANT EMISSIONS, 2001(1), 11-31.
  • Wilson CW & Balachandran W (2000) Electrohydrodynamic Fuel Injector for Gas Turbine Applications,. [I-B-08],
  • Wilson CW, Welch MA & Hilton M (2000) Real Time Non-Intrusive Gas Turbine Exhaust Temperature Measurement. ASME paper no. 2000-GT-0101
  • Patterson PM, Pourkashanian M, Williams A, Kynea AG & Wilson C (2000) Experimental and theoretical investigation of premixed kerosene/O/N oxidation. International Symposium on Combustion Abstracts of Accepted Papers(B), 23-23.
  • Clague AR & Wilson CW (2000) The effect of CO and hydrocarbon addition on NO to NO conversion in measurement probes and exhaust plumes. International Symposium on Combustion Abstracts of Accepted Papers(B), 103-103.
  • Wilson CW & Brundish KD (1999) Improved Combustor Turndown using a Variable Swirl Fuel Injector
  • Wilson CW, Kyne AG, Patterson PM, Pourkashanian M & Williams A (1999) The Combustion of kerosene in counter flow diffusion flames
  • Wilson CW, Howard LH, Patterson PM, Pourkashanian M, Williams A & Yap L (1999) Experimental Investigation of Oxygen Enriched Lifted and attached Turbulent Diffusion Flames. Proceedings of the 5th international conference on Technologies and Combustion for a Clean Environment
  • Wilson CW, Hurley CD & Copplestone RW (1999) Optical Measurements of Turbulence and residence time in a gas turbine Combustor(99-2641)
  • Wilson CW, Kaufmann M, Harris SD, Elliott L, Ingham DB & Porkashainian M (1999) The retrieval of chemical reaction rates using Genetic Algorithms. Proceedings of the Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference
  • Wilson CW, Foster TJ, Pourkashanian M & Williams A (1999) 3D Modelling of NOx emissions from aircraft afterburners. ASME paper no. 99-GT-358
  • Wilson CW, Low HC & Sheppard CGW (1999) A novel technique for predicting ignition performance of an aero gas turbine combustion chamber
  • Wilson CW, Low HC & Sheppard CGW (1999) A novel technique for predicting ignition performance of an aero gas turbine combustion chamber
  • Wilson CW & Hicks RA (1999) Comparison between measured and Predicted Wall Temperatures in a gas Turbine Combustor. ASME paper no. 99-GT-59
  • Wilson CW, Brundish KD, Tippets JR & Woolhouse RJ (1999) Initial Optimisation of a fluidically controlled variable swirl fuel injector(99-2641)
  • Wilson CW, Hicks RA, Sheppard CGW, Woolley R & Wyatt J (1999) Investigation of Ignition Probability in a Gas Turbine Combustor using Laser Ignition. ASME paper no 99-GT-116
  • Wilson CW, Foster TJ, Williams A & Pourkashanian M (1999) Measurement and prediction of NO and NO2 emissions from aero engines
  • Wilson CW, Balachandran W, Machowski W, Hamlic M, Morgan L & Gray C (1999) Development of an electrostatic nozzle for gas turbine applications
  • Harris SD, Elliott L, Ingham DB, Pourkashanian M & Wilson CW (1999) The retrieval of chemical reaction rates using genetic algorithms. GECCO-99: PROCEEDINGS OF THE GENETIC AND EVOLUTIONARY COMPUTATION CONFERENCE, 1780-1780.
  • Wilson CW, Balachandran W, Machowski W & Hamlic H (1998) Space charge Modelling in a charge injected Electrostatic Atomiser. Proceedings of Thirty-Third IEEE/IAS Annual Meeting, 3, 1835-1840.
  • Wilson CW, Hilton M & Lettington A (1998) Gas turbine exhaust emissions monitoring using non-intrusive infrared spectroscopy. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 120(3), 514-518.
  • Wilson CW, Adshead P, Brundish KD & Gray CR (1998) The initial design of a fluidically controlled fuel injector for gas turbine combustion systems. Proceedings of the 14th annual conference of ILASS Europe
  • Wilson CW, brundish KD, Nash S, Tippets JR & Woodhouse R (1998) Initial development of a fluidically controlled fuel injector, 98-3908
  • Wilson CW, Hicks RA & Whiteman M (1998) The effect of the fuel injector internal geometry upon the primary zone aerodynamics(98-GT-232)
  • Wilson CW, Hicks RA & Whiteman M (1998) The effect of the fuel injector internal geometry upon the primary zone aerodynamics(98-GT-232)
  • Wilson CW, Brundish KD, Moncrief J & Wooton T (1998) DIAL measurements on a gas turbine exhaust. AGARD CP-598
  • Hicks RA, Whiteman M & Wilson CW (1998) Effect of the fuel injector internal geometry upon the primary zone aerodynamics. American Society of Mechanical Engineers (Paper)(GT)
  • Wilson CW, Djuric Z & Balachandran W (1997) Modelling of electrohydrodynamic processes within a charge injected fuel spray nozzle. Proceedings of the 13th annual conference of ILASS International Symposium
  • Wilson CW, Gray CR, Seoud RE & Whiteman M (1997) Modelling of the internal aerodynamic flow field of a variable geometry air-spray fuel injector. Proceedings of the 13th annual conference of ILASS Europe
  • Wilson CW, Brundish KD, Foster TJ, Gray CR & Seoud RE (1997) The Use of Axial Fuel Staging in Gas Turbine Combustion Systems for Reduced Emissions. Proceedings of the Technologies and Combustion for a Clean Environment
  • Wilson CW & Foster TJ (1997) Detailed chemical modelling and experimental measurements of emissions from a reheated gas turbine engine with application to future supersonic aircraft
  • Foster TJ & Wilson CW (1997) Detailed chemical modelling predictions of emissions from a reheated gas turbine engine with application to future supersonic aircraft. American Society of Mechanical Engineers (Paper)
  • Wilson CW, Wray AP & Carrotte J (1993) The development of a large annular facility for testing gas turbine combustor diffuser systems
  • Wilson CW, Jasuja AK & Tam CK (1992) Examination of detailed structure of a pressure atomised spray using laser diagnostics. Proceedings of the 8th annual conference of ILASS Europe
  • Wilson CW, Low HC & Menzies K (1990) Soot formation and deposition rates in gas turbine combustors
  • Wilson CW (1990) Application of a commercially available thermal imager to a film-cooled panel temperature measurement. Proc. SPIE, 262(1320)
  • Wilson CW & Low HC (1989) Carbon deposition in gas turbine combustors
  • Wilson CW, Low HC, Bradley D & Abdel Gayed RG (1989) Evaluation of Novel Igniters in a Turbulent Bomb Facility and a Tubo-Annular Gas Turbine Combustor
  • Wilson CW, blakey S, Chung W & Li H () INFLUENCE OF FUEL COMPOSITION, ENGINE POWER AND OPERATION MODE ON EXHAUST GAS PARTICULATE SIZE DISTRIBUTION FROM AN APU ENGINE. Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2013: Power for Land, Sea and Air GT2013(94854)
  • Wilson CW & Brundish KD () Combustion tests of a fluidically controlled variable swirl fuel injector concept. Proceedings of the 5th international conference on Technologies and Combustion for a Clean Environment, 2, 757-762.
  • Wilson CW, Hurley CD & Whiteman M () The Calculation of Thermodynamic Non Equilibrium Combustion Product Compositions. ASME paper no. 99-GT-275

Reports

  • Wilson CW, blakey S, spalton T, chung W, christe S, raper D & li H (2012) Task 3330 APU engine tests
  • Wilson CW & blakey SG (2012) D2.2.3 Comparison of alternative fuels thermal stability measured in the AFTSTU with Jet A-1
  • Wilson CW & shah S (2012) D2.2.4 material property analysis of hot end materials subjected to alternative fuel combustion gases
  • Wilson CW & Liu Y (2012) Elastomer Compatibility Testing for the QSTP Research Network Program Final Report
  • Wilson CW & alborzi E (2012) D3.3.2: Report on the Chemical Kinetic Schemes of Coking & Validation Regarding the Measured Data
  • Wilson CW & alborzi E (2012) D3.3.2: Report on the Chemical Kinetic Schemes of Coking & Validation Regarding the Measured Data
  • Wilson CW & spiridon S (2011) Oil oxidation kinetic laws for the different oil phases
  • Wilson CW & spiridon S (2011) Methodology for the Development of a Lubricant Ageing Computer Model
  • Wilson CW, Zarzalis N, Habisreuther P, Vukadnovic C, Kiousis P, Kurtenbach P, Wiesen P, Panidis T & yue L (2011) D4000-5 Engine Report on xTL composition of combustion performance
  • Wilson CW, Zarzalis N, Habisreuther P, Vukadnovic C, Kiousis P, Kurtenbach P, Wiesen P, Panidis T & yue L (2011) D4000-5 Engine Report on xTL composition of combustion performance
  • Wilson CW, lobo P, whitefield P, hagen D, Rye L, blakey S, williams P, christie S, raper D, uryga-bugajska I & pourkashanian M () SAE E31 Methodology Development and Associated PM Emissions Characteristics of Aircraft APUs burning Conventional and Alternative Aviation Fuels