Mr Steven Morris
Teams and roles for Steven Morris
Managerial, Professional and Specialist Staff
Overview
I am a Chartered Engineer with 30 years experience as a Mechanical Engineer. Over the last 18 years I have had the privilege of managing one of Cardiff University's large scale off-site labs called the Gas Turbine Research Centre (https://cu-gtrc.co.uk).
The Centre continues to provide me with stimulating challenges and I have been fortunate to work with exceptional academics and researchers in the field of low carbon heat and power. This exciting work reaches a national and global audience and directly addresses the need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels to ensure a sustainable future for us and future generations.
I am currently involved in several research projects to further develop our understanding of hydrogen and ammonia for heat and power applications.
Publication
2026
- Alnaeli, M. et al. 2026. High-temperature degradation of Hastelloy C276 in methane and 99% cracked ammonia combustion: surface analysis and mechanical property evolution at 4 bar. Processes 14 (2) 235. (10.3390/pr14020235)
- Psomoglou, I. et al. 2026. Influence of AM generated burner surface roughness on NOx emissions and operability of hydrogen-rich fuels. Combustion Science and Technology 198 (1), pp.36-55. (10.1080/00102202.2024.2390699)
- Vivoli, R. et al. 2026. Surface roughness effects on the operability and performance of a hydrogen jet burner. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power 148 (1) 011014. (10.1115/1.4069474)
2025
- Hewlett, S. et al. 2025. The effects of secondary air staging location, pressure and humidification on NOx emissions for a high ammonia blend in premixed swirl combustion. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2025: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition Memphis, Tennessee, USA 16-20 June 2025. Proceedings of the Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition. Vol. 2.Coal, Biomass, Hydrogen & Alternative Fuels American Society of Mechanical Engineers(10.1115/gt2025-151612)
- Mazzotta, L. et al., 2025. Nitrogen oxides emission measurement and numerical validation for cracked ammonia combustion in a semi industrial burner design. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power 147 (12) GTP-25-1241. (10.1115/1.4069482)
- Mazzotta, L. et al., 2025. NOx emission measurement and numerical validation for cracked ammonia combustion in a semi industrial burner design. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2025: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition Memphis, Tennessee, USA 16–20 June 2025. Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo 2025: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Expositio. Vol. 2.Memphis: American Society of Mechanical Engineers. , pp.V002T03A013. (10.1115/gt2025-153573)
- Vivoli, R. et al. 2025. Insights from swirl number and ambient pressure variations with a hydrogen/ammonia swirl stabilized diffusion flame. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 190 151941. (10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.151941)
- Vivoli, R. et al. 2025. Surface roughness effects on the operability and performance of a hydrogen jet burner. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2025: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition Memphis, Tennessee, USA 16-20 June 2025. Proceedings of the Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition. Vol. 3A.Combustion, Fuels & Emissions American Society of Mechanical Engineers. (10.1115/gt2025-151389)
- Weller, L. et al., 2025. Laser induced grating spectroscopy measurements of temperature and water vapour in turbulent lean premixed methane-hydrogen-air flames at pressure. Applied Physics B: Lasers and Optics 131 (11) 201. (10.1007/s00340-025-08573-1)
- White, B. et al. 2025. Does swirl number affect the radiative and convective heat transfer from diffusion hydrogen-methane blended flames?. Thermal Science and Engineering Progress 61 103568. (10.1016/j.tsep.2025.103568)
2024
- Castellani, S. et al., 2024. Numerical modelling of swirl stabilised lean-premixed H2-CH4 flames with the artificially thickened flame model. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power 146 (6) 061019. (10.1115/1.4063829)
- Chaib, O. et al., 2024. Spatial temperature measurements in a swirl-stabilized hydrogen-air diffusion flame at elevated pressure using laser-induced grating spectroscopy. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power 146 (11) 111020. (10.1115/1.4065996)
- Goktepe, B. et al. 2024. Plasma-assisted ammonia combustion: the effect of equivalence ratio on NO emissions. Presented at: Cardiff University Engineering Research Conference 2023 Cardiff, UK 12-14 July 2023. Published in: Spezi, E. and Bray, M. eds. Proceedings of the Cardiff University Engineering Research Conference 2023. Cardiff: Cardiff University Press. , pp.176-180. (10.18573/conf1.an)
- Mazzotta, L. et al., 2024. Modeling ammonia-hydrogen-air combustion and emission characteristics of a generic swirl burner. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power 146 (9) 091022. (10.1115/1.4064807)
- Meloni, R. et al., 2024. Large Eddy Simulations for the prediction of fuel-bound NOx emissions: Application to NH3 and NH3-CH4 blends at different operating conditions. Presented at: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition London, UK 24-28 June 2024. Turbo Expo: Power for Land, Dea, and Air. Vol. 3A.ASME. (10.1115/GT2024-123875)
- Pugh, D. et al. 2024. Influence of variable swirl on emissions in a non-premixed fuel-flexible burner at elevated ambient conditions. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power 146 (6) 061006. (10.1115/1.4063786)
2023
- Castellani, S. et al., 2023. Numerical modelling of swirl stabilised lean-premixed H2-CH4 flames with the artificially thickened flame model. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2023: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition 26-30 June 2023. Turbo Expo: Power for Land, Sea, and Air. Vol. 3A.ASME. (10.1115/GT2023-101994)
- Mazzotta, L. et al., 2023. Modelling ammonia-hydrogen-air combustion and emission characteristics of a generic swirl burner. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2023: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition 26-30 June 2023. Turbo Expo: Power for Land, Sea, and Air. Vol. 2.ASME. (10.1115/GT2023-102803)
- Pugh, D. et al. 2023. Influence of variable swirl on emissions in a non-premixed fuel-flexible burner at elevated ambient conditions. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2023: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition 26-30 June 2023. ASME Turbo Expo 2023: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition: Combustion, Fuels, and Emissions. Vol. 3A.ASME. (10.1115/GT2023-102457)
- Weller, L. et al., 2023. Spatial temperature and water molar concentration measurements using thermal and electrostrictive ligs during operation of a swirl burner at pressure. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power 146 (5) 051021. (10.1115/1.4063865)
- Weller, L. et al., 2023. Spatial temperature and water molar concentration measurements using thermal and electrostrictive LIGS during operation of a swirl burner at pressure. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2023: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition 26-30 June 2023. Turbo Expo: Power for Land, Sea and Air. Vol. 4.ASME. (10.1115/GT2023-101185)
2021
- Pugh, D. et al. 2021. Emissions performance of staged premixed and diffusion combustor concepts for an NH3/air flame with and without reactant humidification. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2020: Turbomachinery Technical Conference & Exposition Virtual 21-25 September 2020. ASME Turbo Expo 2020: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition. Vol. 4A.ASME. (10.1115/GT2020-14953)
- Pugh, D. et al. 2021. Emissions performance of staged premixed and diffusion combustor concepts for an NH3/air flame with and without reactant humidification. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power 143 (5) 051012. (10.1115/1.4049451)
- Runyon, J. et al. 2021. Experimental and kinetic evaluation of pressurized lean premixed hydrogen-air flame stability with carbon dioxide and steam dilution. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2020: Turbomachinery Technical Conference & Exposition Virtual 21-25 September 2020. Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2020Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition. Vol. 4B.ASME. (10.1115/GT2020-16083)
2020
- Runyon, J. et al. 2020. Characterization of Additive Layer Manufacturing Swirl Burner Surface Roughness and Its Effects on Flame Stability Using High-Speed Diagnostics.. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power 142 (4) 041017. (10.1115/1.4044950)
2019
- Runyon, J. et al. 2019. Characterization of ALM swirl burner surface roughness and its effect on flame stability using high-speed diagnostics. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2019 Phoenix, Arizona, USA 17-21 June 2019. ASME Turbo Expo 2019: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition: Volume 4A: Combustion, Fuels, and Emissions. , pp.GT2019-90215-V04AT04A008. (10.1115/GT2019-90215)
2018
- Mashruk, S. et al. 2018. Methodology and comparison of quantitative NO-LIF imaging in a bunsen burner with numerical simulation results. Presented at: 19th International Symposium on Applications of Laser and Imaging Techniques to Fluid Mechanics (LXLASER 2018) Lisbon, Portugal 16-19 July 2018. Proceedings of the19th International Symposium on Applications of Laser and Imaging Techniques to Fluid Mechanics. Lisbon: Instituto Superior Técnico.
- Pugh, D. et al. 2018. Catalytic influence of water vapor on lean blowoff and NOx reduction for pressurised swirling syngas flames. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power 140 (6) 061502. (10.1115/1.4038417)
2017
- Pugh, D. G. et al. 2017. Dissociative influence of H2O vapour/spray on lean blowoff and NOx reduction for heavily carbonaceous syngas swirling flames. Combustion and Flame 177 , pp.37-48. (10.1016/j.combustflame.2016.11.010)
- Pugh, D. et al. 2017. Catalytic influence of water vapor on lean blowoff and NOx reduction for pressurised swirling syngas flames. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2017: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition North Carolina, USA 26-30 June 2017. Volume 4B: Combustion, Fuels and Emissions. ASME. , pp.V04BT04A033. (10.1115/GT2017-64609)
- Runyon, J. et al. 2017. Experimental analysis of confinement and swirl effects on premixed ch4-h-2 flame behavior in a pressurized generic swirl burner. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2017: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition North Carolina, USA 26-30 June 2017. ASME Turbo Expo 2017: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition. Vol. 4B.ASME. (10.1115/GT2017-64794)
2016
- Marsh, R. et al. 2016. Premixed methane oxycombustion in nitrogen and carbon dioxide atmospheres: measurement of operating limits, flame location and emissions. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute 36 (3), pp.3949-3958. (10.1016/j.proci.2016.06.057)
2015
- Runyon, J. et al. 2015. Development and commissioning of a chemiluminescence imaging system for an optically-accessible high-pressure generic swirl burner. Presented at: 7th European Combustion Meeting (ECM 2015) Budapest, Hungary 31 Mar - 2 Apr 2015. EMC 2015: 7th European Combustion Meeting, March 30 - April 2, 2015, Budapest, Hungary. Vol. P3-29. , pp.1-6.
- Sevcenco, Y. et al. 2015. Integrating hypersonics into a combustion test facility with 3D viewing capability. Presented at: 20th AIAA International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference Glasgow, UK 6-9 Jul, 2015. 20th AIAA International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics(10.2514/6.2015-3654)
- Valera Medina, A. et al. 2015. Ammonia, methane and hydrogen for gas turbines. Energy Procedia 75 , pp.118-123. (10.1016/j.egypro.2015.07.205)
2014
- Lewis, J. et al. 2014. The use of CO2 to improve stability and emissions of IGCC combustors. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2014 Dusseldorf, Germany 16-19 June 2014. Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo 2014: Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition. Vol. 4A.ASME - The American Society of Mechanical Engineers. , pp.GT2014-25446. (10.1115/GT2014-25446)
- Lewis, J. et al. 2014. Augmenting the structures in a swirling flame via diffusive injection. Journal of Combustion 2014 280501. (10.1155/2014/280501)
2012
- Lewis, J. et al., 2012. The effect of variable fuel composition on a swirl-stabilised producer gas combustor. Energy Conversion and Management 64 , pp.52-61. (10.1016/j.enconman.2012.06.016)
Articles
- Alnaeli, M. et al. 2026. High-temperature degradation of Hastelloy C276 in methane and 99% cracked ammonia combustion: surface analysis and mechanical property evolution at 4 bar. Processes 14 (2) 235. (10.3390/pr14020235)
- Castellani, S. et al., 2024. Numerical modelling of swirl stabilised lean-premixed H2-CH4 flames with the artificially thickened flame model. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power 146 (6) 061019. (10.1115/1.4063829)
- Chaib, O. et al., 2024. Spatial temperature measurements in a swirl-stabilized hydrogen-air diffusion flame at elevated pressure using laser-induced grating spectroscopy. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power 146 (11) 111020. (10.1115/1.4065996)
- Lewis, J. et al., 2012. The effect of variable fuel composition on a swirl-stabilised producer gas combustor. Energy Conversion and Management 64 , pp.52-61. (10.1016/j.enconman.2012.06.016)
- Lewis, J. et al. 2014. Augmenting the structures in a swirling flame via diffusive injection. Journal of Combustion 2014 280501. (10.1155/2014/280501)
- Marsh, R. et al. 2016. Premixed methane oxycombustion in nitrogen and carbon dioxide atmospheres: measurement of operating limits, flame location and emissions. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute 36 (3), pp.3949-3958. (10.1016/j.proci.2016.06.057)
- Mazzotta, L. et al., 2024. Modeling ammonia-hydrogen-air combustion and emission characteristics of a generic swirl burner. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power 146 (9) 091022. (10.1115/1.4064807)
- Mazzotta, L. et al., 2025. Nitrogen oxides emission measurement and numerical validation for cracked ammonia combustion in a semi industrial burner design. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power 147 (12) GTP-25-1241. (10.1115/1.4069482)
- Psomoglou, I. et al. 2026. Influence of AM generated burner surface roughness on NOx emissions and operability of hydrogen-rich fuels. Combustion Science and Technology 198 (1), pp.36-55. (10.1080/00102202.2024.2390699)
- Pugh, D. et al. 2021. Emissions performance of staged premixed and diffusion combustor concepts for an NH3/air flame with and without reactant humidification. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power 143 (5) 051012. (10.1115/1.4049451)
- Pugh, D. G. et al. 2017. Dissociative influence of H2O vapour/spray on lean blowoff and NOx reduction for heavily carbonaceous syngas swirling flames. Combustion and Flame 177 , pp.37-48. (10.1016/j.combustflame.2016.11.010)
- Pugh, D. et al. 2018. Catalytic influence of water vapor on lean blowoff and NOx reduction for pressurised swirling syngas flames. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power 140 (6) 061502. (10.1115/1.4038417)
- Pugh, D. et al. 2024. Influence of variable swirl on emissions in a non-premixed fuel-flexible burner at elevated ambient conditions. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power 146 (6) 061006. (10.1115/1.4063786)
- Runyon, J. et al. 2020. Characterization of Additive Layer Manufacturing Swirl Burner Surface Roughness and Its Effects on Flame Stability Using High-Speed Diagnostics.. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power 142 (4) 041017. (10.1115/1.4044950)
- Valera Medina, A. et al. 2015. Ammonia, methane and hydrogen for gas turbines. Energy Procedia 75 , pp.118-123. (10.1016/j.egypro.2015.07.205)
- Vivoli, R. et al. 2025. Insights from swirl number and ambient pressure variations with a hydrogen/ammonia swirl stabilized diffusion flame. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 190 151941. (10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.151941)
- Vivoli, R. et al. 2026. Surface roughness effects on the operability and performance of a hydrogen jet burner. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power 148 (1) 011014. (10.1115/1.4069474)
- Weller, L. et al., 2025. Laser induced grating spectroscopy measurements of temperature and water vapour in turbulent lean premixed methane-hydrogen-air flames at pressure. Applied Physics B: Lasers and Optics 131 (11) 201. (10.1007/s00340-025-08573-1)
- Weller, L. et al., 2023. Spatial temperature and water molar concentration measurements using thermal and electrostrictive ligs during operation of a swirl burner at pressure. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power 146 (5) 051021. (10.1115/1.4063865)
- White, B. et al. 2025. Does swirl number affect the radiative and convective heat transfer from diffusion hydrogen-methane blended flames?. Thermal Science and Engineering Progress 61 103568. (10.1016/j.tsep.2025.103568)
Conferences
- Castellani, S. et al., 2023. Numerical modelling of swirl stabilised lean-premixed H2-CH4 flames with the artificially thickened flame model. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2023: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition 26-30 June 2023. Turbo Expo: Power for Land, Sea, and Air. Vol. 3A.ASME. (10.1115/GT2023-101994)
- Goktepe, B. et al. 2024. Plasma-assisted ammonia combustion: the effect of equivalence ratio on NO emissions. Presented at: Cardiff University Engineering Research Conference 2023 Cardiff, UK 12-14 July 2023. Published in: Spezi, E. and Bray, M. eds. Proceedings of the Cardiff University Engineering Research Conference 2023. Cardiff: Cardiff University Press. , pp.176-180. (10.18573/conf1.an)
- Hewlett, S. et al. 2025. The effects of secondary air staging location, pressure and humidification on NOx emissions for a high ammonia blend in premixed swirl combustion. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2025: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition Memphis, Tennessee, USA 16-20 June 2025. Proceedings of the Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition. Vol. 2.Coal, Biomass, Hydrogen & Alternative Fuels American Society of Mechanical Engineers(10.1115/gt2025-151612)
- Lewis, J. et al. 2014. The use of CO2 to improve stability and emissions of IGCC combustors. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2014 Dusseldorf, Germany 16-19 June 2014. Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo 2014: Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition. Vol. 4A.ASME - The American Society of Mechanical Engineers. , pp.GT2014-25446. (10.1115/GT2014-25446)
- Mashruk, S. et al. 2018. Methodology and comparison of quantitative NO-LIF imaging in a bunsen burner with numerical simulation results. Presented at: 19th International Symposium on Applications of Laser and Imaging Techniques to Fluid Mechanics (LXLASER 2018) Lisbon, Portugal 16-19 July 2018. Proceedings of the19th International Symposium on Applications of Laser and Imaging Techniques to Fluid Mechanics. Lisbon: Instituto Superior Técnico.
- Mazzotta, L. et al., 2023. Modelling ammonia-hydrogen-air combustion and emission characteristics of a generic swirl burner. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2023: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition 26-30 June 2023. Turbo Expo: Power for Land, Sea, and Air. Vol. 2.ASME. (10.1115/GT2023-102803)
- Mazzotta, L. et al., 2025. NOx emission measurement and numerical validation for cracked ammonia combustion in a semi industrial burner design. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2025: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition Memphis, Tennessee, USA 16–20 June 2025. Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo 2025: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Expositio. Vol. 2.Memphis: American Society of Mechanical Engineers. , pp.V002T03A013. (10.1115/gt2025-153573)
- Meloni, R. et al., 2024. Large Eddy Simulations for the prediction of fuel-bound NOx emissions: Application to NH3 and NH3-CH4 blends at different operating conditions. Presented at: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition London, UK 24-28 June 2024. Turbo Expo: Power for Land, Dea, and Air. Vol. 3A.ASME. (10.1115/GT2024-123875)
- Pugh, D. et al. 2021. Emissions performance of staged premixed and diffusion combustor concepts for an NH3/air flame with and without reactant humidification. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2020: Turbomachinery Technical Conference & Exposition Virtual 21-25 September 2020. ASME Turbo Expo 2020: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition. Vol. 4A.ASME. (10.1115/GT2020-14953)
- Pugh, D. et al. 2017. Catalytic influence of water vapor on lean blowoff and NOx reduction for pressurised swirling syngas flames. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2017: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition North Carolina, USA 26-30 June 2017. Volume 4B: Combustion, Fuels and Emissions. ASME. , pp.V04BT04A033. (10.1115/GT2017-64609)
- Pugh, D. et al. 2023. Influence of variable swirl on emissions in a non-premixed fuel-flexible burner at elevated ambient conditions. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2023: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition 26-30 June 2023. ASME Turbo Expo 2023: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition: Combustion, Fuels, and Emissions. Vol. 3A.ASME. (10.1115/GT2023-102457)
- Runyon, J. et al. 2019. Characterization of ALM swirl burner surface roughness and its effect on flame stability using high-speed diagnostics. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2019 Phoenix, Arizona, USA 17-21 June 2019. ASME Turbo Expo 2019: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition: Volume 4A: Combustion, Fuels, and Emissions. , pp.GT2019-90215-V04AT04A008. (10.1115/GT2019-90215)
- Runyon, J. et al. 2017. Experimental analysis of confinement and swirl effects on premixed ch4-h-2 flame behavior in a pressurized generic swirl burner. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2017: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition North Carolina, USA 26-30 June 2017. ASME Turbo Expo 2017: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition. Vol. 4B.ASME. (10.1115/GT2017-64794)
- Runyon, J. et al. 2015. Development and commissioning of a chemiluminescence imaging system for an optically-accessible high-pressure generic swirl burner. Presented at: 7th European Combustion Meeting (ECM 2015) Budapest, Hungary 31 Mar - 2 Apr 2015. EMC 2015: 7th European Combustion Meeting, March 30 - April 2, 2015, Budapest, Hungary. Vol. P3-29. , pp.1-6.
- Runyon, J. et al. 2021. Experimental and kinetic evaluation of pressurized lean premixed hydrogen-air flame stability with carbon dioxide and steam dilution. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2020: Turbomachinery Technical Conference & Exposition Virtual 21-25 September 2020. Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2020Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition. Vol. 4B.ASME. (10.1115/GT2020-16083)
- Sevcenco, Y. et al. 2015. Integrating hypersonics into a combustion test facility with 3D viewing capability. Presented at: 20th AIAA International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference Glasgow, UK 6-9 Jul, 2015. 20th AIAA International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics(10.2514/6.2015-3654)
- Vivoli, R. et al. 2025. Surface roughness effects on the operability and performance of a hydrogen jet burner. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2025: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition Memphis, Tennessee, USA 16-20 June 2025. Proceedings of the Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition. Vol. 3A.Combustion, Fuels & Emissions American Society of Mechanical Engineers. (10.1115/gt2025-151389)
- Weller, L. et al., 2023. Spatial temperature and water molar concentration measurements using thermal and electrostrictive LIGS during operation of a swirl burner at pressure. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2023: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition 26-30 June 2023. Turbo Expo: Power for Land, Sea and Air. Vol. 4.ASME. (10.1115/GT2023-101185)
Research
My research interest is the decarbonisation of heat and power processes e.g. burners, furnaces, reciprocating engines and gas turbines, through the use of zero carbon fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia. My research aligns the UK Government's Net Zero 2050 targets.
Biography
I have a first class honours degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bath University with 7 years industrial experience prior to taking up employment with Cardiff University in 2002 when I was appointed as a Senior Project Engineer at the Centre for Energy, Waste and Environment (CREWE) within the School of Engineering with the responsibility for establishing and managing industrial collaboration.
During this time I managed:
- UKAS-accredited, £100k turnover, Solar Energy Testing Service (SETS)
- 3M EU programme POWERFLAM2, comprising 12 European partners concerned with co-firing coal with biomass and waste products
Won three consecutive Cardiff Innovation Network awards for early stage collaboration:
- 2003 – Computer modelling to optimise the heat exchanger of a food waste processing machine for ITT Ltd.
- 2004 – Computer modelling to optimise the suspension system of a domestic washing machine for Andrew Reason Ltd
- 2005 – The design of a sustainable power solution for a low motion surveillance buoy for Ledwood Engineering Ltd
And in 2005 I assisted in the development of a successful £7.9M ERDF bid to establish the Cardiff University Gas Turbine Research Centre (GTRC) and was appointed its manager in 2006.
I project managed the installation and commissioning of the GTRC facility, a £7.9M project and once up and running I maintained control of the GTRC finances (Turnover approximately £1M)and responsibility of managing the GTRC personnel and test programmes.
Over the last 18 years I have had the privilege of managing the GTRC, one of Cardiff University's large scale off-site labs (https://cu-gtrc.co.uk).
The Centre continues to provide me with stimulating challenges and I have been fortunate to work with exceptional academics and researchers in the field of low carbon heat and power. This exciting work reaches a national and global audience and directly addresses the need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels to ensure a sustainable future for us and future generations.
I am currently involved in several research projects to further develop our understanding of hydrogen and ammonia for heat and power applications.
Honours and awards
- ASME turbo expo 2023 - Best Paper Award - Combustion, Fuel and Emissions
Professional memberships
- Institute of Occupational Safety and Health - Technical Member TechIOSH
- Institute of Mechanucal Engineers - Chartered Engineer
Committees and reviewing
- Cardiff School of Engineering Health and Safety Committee
Contact Details
Research themes
Specialisms
- energy systems
- Ammonia
- Hydrogen
- Occupational and workplace health and safety
- Mechanical engineering