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Dr Daniel Pugh
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Teams and roles for Daniel Pugh
Senior Lecturer
Overview
I am a Senior Lecturer at Cardiff University and Director of the School of Engineering's Gas Turbine Research Centre. My research focusses on the development and characterisation of alternative fuels for transport and power applications.
My PhD was attained through an EPSRC-funded project to evaluate an energy intensive site and determine if centralised electricity generation and steam distribution is preferable to local consumption of waste heat and by-product fuels.
Within Cardiff’s Centre for Research into Energy, Waste and the Environment, my contemporary work encompasses fundamental aspects of combustion within decarbonised fuel energy systems, and minimising the production of harmful emissions. I have experience with a range of energy transfer applications including carbon-free fuels such as H2 and NH3, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), waste by-product fuels, and Aerospace applications.
I have contributed research to projects funded by EPSRC, Innovate UK, WEFO, and BEIS, enabled through the development of experimental facilities and advanced diagnostics at the Gas Turbine Research Centre. This has resulted in me receiving the 2020 Hinshelwood prize for meritorious work in the field of combustion.
Publication
2026
- Giles, A. et al. 2026. Operability study with spatial resolved temperature and water molar concentration measurements of a new pressurised optical modular staged combustor. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power 148 (3) 031010. (10.1115/1.4069603)
- 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
- Davies, J. et al. 2025. Emissions analyses of humidified cracked ammonia swirling flames. Combustion and Flame 274 113984. (10.1016/j.combustflame.2025.113984)
- Davies, J. et al. 2025. Experimental and numerical investigation of NH3/H2/N2 combustion in a premixed/stratified swirl burner. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power 147 (1) 011006. (10.1115/1.4066207)
- Davies, J. et al. 2025. Control of emissions from cracked ammonia swirling flames by heat loss management. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 168 151061. (10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.151061)
- Giles, A. et al. 2025. Operability study with spatial resolved temperature and water molar concentration measurements of a new pressurised optical modular staged combustor. 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/gt2025-152180)
- 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)
- 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. Modeling of roughness effects on generic gas turbine swirler via a detached eddy simulation low-y+ approach. Energies 18 (19) 5240. (10.3390/en18195240)
- 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)
2024
- Davies, J. et al. 2024. Experimental and numerical investigation of NH3/H2/N2 combustion in a premixed/stratified swirl burner. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2024: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition London, UK 24-28 June 2024. Ceramics and Ceramic Composites; Coal, Biomass, Hydrogen, and Alternative Fuels. Vol. 2.(10.1115/GT2024-127419)
- O’Malley, E. et al. 2024. A deep learning-based method for non-intrusive load monitoring and load disaggregation of 11kV/400V electrical Substations. Presented at: 18th International Conference on Energy Sustainability Anaheim, California 15-17 July 2024. ASME 2024 18th International Conference on Energy Sustainability. American Society of Mechanical Engineers(10.1115/es2024-130477)
- 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
- Alnasif, A. et al. 2023. Evolution of ammonia reaction mechanisms and modeling parameters: A review. Applications in Energy and Combustion Science 15 100175. (10.1016/j.jaecs.2023.100175)
- Mashruk, S. et al. 2023. Numerical analysis on the evolution of NH2 in ammonia/hydrogen swirling flames and detailed sensitivity analysis under elevated conditions. Combustion Science and Technology 195 (6), pp.1251-1278. (10.1080/00102202.2021.1990897)
- 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)
2022
- Harper, J. et al. 2022. Influence of alternative fuel properties and combustor operating conditions on the nvPM and gaseous emissions produced by a small-scale RQL combustor. Fuel 315 123045. (10.1016/j.fuel.2021.123045)
- Mashruk, S. et al. 2022. Evolution of N2O production at lean combustion condition in NH3/H2/air premixed swirling flames. Combustion and Flame 244 112299. (10.1016/j.combustflame.2022.112299)
- Valera Medina, A. et al. 2022. Ammonia. In: O'Connor, J. , Noble, B. and Lieuwen, T. eds. Renewable Fuels: Sources, Conversion, and Utilization. Cambridge University Press. , pp.245-274. (10.1017/9781009072366.011)
- Zitouni, S. et al. 2022. Lewis number effects on lean premixed combustion characteristics of multi-component fuel blends. Combustion and Flame 238 111932. (10.1016/j.combustflame.2021.111932)
2021
- Crayford, A. et al. 2021. Influence of humidity and fuel hydrogen content on ultrafine non-volatile particulate matter formation in RQL gas turbine technology. Presented at: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition (TURBO EXPO 2020) Virtual 21-25 September 2020. Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo 2020. Vol. 4A.Combustion, Fuels, and Emissions (10.1115/GT2020-15168)
- Giles, A. et al. 2021. A waste heat recovery strategy and its deployment: an integrated steelworks case study. Proceedings of the ICE - Waste and Resource Management 174 (1), pp.3-11. (10.1680/jwarm.20.00011)
- Hewlett, S. G. et al. 2021. Industrial wastewater as an enabler of green ammonia to power via gas turbine technology. Presented at: Turbomachinery Technical Conference & Exposition (TURBO EXPO 2020) Virtual 21-25 September 2020. Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2020 Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition. ASME. , pp.GT2020-14581. (10.1115/GT2020-14581)
- 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)
- Pugh, D. et al. 2021. An investigation of ammonia primary flame combustor concepts for emissions reduction with OH*, NH2* and NH* chemiluminescence at elevated conditions. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute 38 (4), pp.6451-6459. (10.1016/j.proci.2020.06.310)
- 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
- Hewlett, S. et al. 2019. Gas turbine co-firing of steelworks ammonia with coke oven gas or methane: A fundamental and cycle Analysis. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2019 Phoenix, Arizona, USA 17-21 June 2019. ASME Turbo Expo 2019: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition: Volume 3: Coal, Biomass, Hydrogen, and Alternative Fuels; Cycle Innovations; Electric Power; Industrial and Cogeneration; Organic Rankine Cycle Power Systems. ASME. , pp.GT2019-91404. (10.1115/GT2019-91404)
- Pugh, D. et al. 2019. Influence of steam addition and elevated ambient conditions on NOx reduction in a staged premixed swirling NH3/H2 flame. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute 37 (4), pp.5401-5409. (10.1016/j.proci.2018.07.091)
- 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)
- Valera Medina, A. et al. 2019. Premixed ammonia/hydrogen swirl combustion under rich fuel conditions for gas turbines operation. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 44 (16), pp.8615-8626. (10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.02.041)
2018
- 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)
- Runyon, J. et al. 2018. Lean methane flame stability in a premixed generic swirl burner: Isothermal flow and atmospheric combustion characterization. Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science 92 , pp.125-140. (10.1016/j.expthermflusci.2017.11.019)
- Upadhyay, A. et al., 2018. A new RAM normalized 1f-WMS technique for the measurement of gas parameters in harsh environments and a comparison with 2f/1f. IEEE Photonics Journal 10 (6) 6804611. (10.1109/JPHOT.2018.2883548)
- Valera-Medina, A. et al. 2018. Investigation of combustion of emulated biogas in a gas turbine test rig. Journal of Thermal Science 27 (4), pp.331-340. (10.1007/s11630-018-1024-1)
2017
- Buffi, M. et al., 2017. Emissions characterization tests for hydrotreated renewable jet fuel from used cooking oil and its blends. Applied Energy 201 , pp.84-93. (10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.05.104)
- 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)
- Valera Medina, A. et al. 2017. Ammonia-methane combustion in tangential swirl burners for gas turbine power generation. Applied Energy 185 (2), pp.1362-1371. (10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.02.073)
- Valera Medina, A. et al. 2017. Preliminary study on lean premixed combustion of ammonia-hydrogen for swirling gas turbine combustors. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 42 (38), pp.24495-24503. (10.1016/j.ijhydene.2017.08.028)
2016
- Buffi, M. et al., 2016. Evaluation of combustion behavior of renewable jet fuel in a combustor rig: influence of HEFA and its blends on flame stability and emissions compared to aviation kerosene. Presented at: 24th European Biomass Conference Amsterdam, The Netherlands 6-9 June 2016.
- Kurji, H. et al. 2016. Combustion characteristics of biodiesel saturated with pyrolysis oil for power generation in gas turbines. Renewable Energy 99 , pp.443-451. (10.1016/j.renene.2016.07.036)
- 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)
- Pugh, D. G. et al. 2016. Parametric investigation of water loading on heavily carbonaceous syngases. Combustion and Flame 164 , pp.126-136. (10.1016/j.combustflame.2015.11.009)
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.
- Runyon, J. et al. 2015. Methane-oxygen flame stability in a generic premixed gas turbine swirl combustor at varying thermal power and pressure. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2015: Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition Montreal, Quebec, Canada 15–19 June 2015. Conference Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2015: Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition. Vol. 4B.Combustion, Fuels and Emissions New York: ASME(10.1115/GT2015-43588)
- 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
- Pugh, D. et al. 2014. Laminar flame speed and markstein length characterisation of steelworks gas blends. Applied Energy 136 , pp.1026-1034. (10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.04.044)
- Pugh, D. et al. 2014. Variation in laminar burning velocity and Markstein length with water addition for industrially produced syngases. Presented at: urbo Expo 2014: Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition Dusseldorf, Germany 16-20 June 2014. ASME Turbo Expo 2014: Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition: Volume 4A: Combustion, Fuels and Emissions. ASME. , pp.V04AT04A030. (10.1115/GT2014-25455)
2013
- Pugh, D. 2013. Combustion characterisation of compositionally dynamic steelworks gases. PhD Thesis , Cardiff University.
- Pugh, D. et al. 2013. Thermal distributive blast furnace gas characterisation, a steelworks case study. Applied Thermal Engineering 53 (2), pp.358-365. (10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2012.05.014)
- Pugh, D. et al. 2013. Sensitivity to change in laminar burning velocity and Markstein length resulting from variable hydrogen fraction in blast furnace gas for changing ambient conditions. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 38 (8), pp.3459-3470. (10.1016/j.ijhydene.2012.12.081)
- Syred, N. et al. 2013. Effect of inlet and outlet configurations on blow-off and flashback with premixed combustion for high hydrogen content fuels in a generic swirl burner. Presented at: ICAE 2013 Pretoria, South Africa 12-15 November 2013.
2012
- Pugh, D. et al. 2012. Laminar burning velocity and Markstein length characterisation of compositionally dynamic blast furnace gas. Presented at: Turbo Expo 2012: Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition Copenhagen, Denmark 11-15 June 2012. ASME Turbo Expo 2012: Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition Volume 2: Combustion, Fuels and Emissions, Parts A and B. ASME. , pp.1257-1266. (10.1115/GT2012-69667)
Articles
- Alnasif, A. et al. 2023. Evolution of ammonia reaction mechanisms and modeling parameters: A review. Applications in Energy and Combustion Science 15 100175. (10.1016/j.jaecs.2023.100175)
- Buffi, M. et al., 2017. Emissions characterization tests for hydrotreated renewable jet fuel from used cooking oil and its blends. Applied Energy 201 , pp.84-93. (10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.05.104)
- Davies, J. et al. 2025. Emissions analyses of humidified cracked ammonia swirling flames. Combustion and Flame 274 113984. (10.1016/j.combustflame.2025.113984)
- Davies, J. et al. 2025. Experimental and numerical investigation of NH3/H2/N2 combustion in a premixed/stratified swirl burner. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power 147 (1) 011006. (10.1115/1.4066207)
- Davies, J. et al. 2025. Control of emissions from cracked ammonia swirling flames by heat loss management. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 168 151061. (10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.151061)
- Giles, A. et al. 2026. Operability study with spatial resolved temperature and water molar concentration measurements of a new pressurised optical modular staged combustor. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power 148 (3) 031010. (10.1115/1.4069603)
- Giles, A. et al. 2021. A waste heat recovery strategy and its deployment: an integrated steelworks case study. Proceedings of the ICE - Waste and Resource Management 174 (1), pp.3-11. (10.1680/jwarm.20.00011)
- Harper, J. et al. 2022. Influence of alternative fuel properties and combustor operating conditions on the nvPM and gaseous emissions produced by a small-scale RQL combustor. Fuel 315 123045. (10.1016/j.fuel.2021.123045)
- Kurji, H. et al. 2016. Combustion characteristics of biodiesel saturated with pyrolysis oil for power generation in gas turbines. Renewable Energy 99 , pp.443-451. (10.1016/j.renene.2016.07.036)
- 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)
- Mashruk, S. et al. 2022. Evolution of N2O production at lean combustion condition in NH3/H2/air premixed swirling flames. Combustion and Flame 244 112299. (10.1016/j.combustflame.2022.112299)
- Mashruk, S. et al. 2023. Numerical analysis on the evolution of NH2 in ammonia/hydrogen swirling flames and detailed sensitivity analysis under elevated conditions. Combustion Science and Technology 195 (6), pp.1251-1278. (10.1080/00102202.2021.1990897)
- 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)
- Pugh, D. et al. 2019. Influence of steam addition and elevated ambient conditions on NOx reduction in a staged premixed swirling NH3/H2 flame. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute 37 (4), pp.5401-5409. (10.1016/j.proci.2018.07.091)
- Pugh, D. et al. 2014. Laminar flame speed and markstein length characterisation of steelworks gas blends. Applied Energy 136 , pp.1026-1034. (10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.04.044)
- Pugh, D. et al. 2013. Thermal distributive blast furnace gas characterisation, a steelworks case study. Applied Thermal Engineering 53 (2), pp.358-365. (10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2012.05.014)
- Pugh, D. et al. 2013. Sensitivity to change in laminar burning velocity and Markstein length resulting from variable hydrogen fraction in blast furnace gas for changing ambient conditions. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 38 (8), pp.3459-3470. (10.1016/j.ijhydene.2012.12.081)
- Pugh, D. et al. 2021. An investigation of ammonia primary flame combustor concepts for emissions reduction with OH*, NH2* and NH* chemiluminescence at elevated conditions. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute 38 (4), pp.6451-6459. (10.1016/j.proci.2020.06.310)
- Pugh, D. G. et al. 2016. Parametric investigation of water loading on heavily carbonaceous syngases. Combustion and Flame 164 , pp.126-136. (10.1016/j.combustflame.2015.11.009)
- 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)
- Runyon, J. et al. 2018. Lean methane flame stability in a premixed generic swirl burner: Isothermal flow and atmospheric combustion characterization. Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science 92 , pp.125-140. (10.1016/j.expthermflusci.2017.11.019)
- Upadhyay, A. et al., 2018. A new RAM normalized 1f-WMS technique for the measurement of gas parameters in harsh environments and a comparison with 2f/1f. IEEE Photonics Journal 10 (6) 6804611. (10.1109/JPHOT.2018.2883548)
- Valera Medina, A. et al. 2019. Premixed ammonia/hydrogen swirl combustion under rich fuel conditions for gas turbines operation. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 44 (16), pp.8615-8626. (10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.02.041)
- Valera Medina, A. et al. 2017. Ammonia-methane combustion in tangential swirl burners for gas turbine power generation. Applied Energy 185 (2), pp.1362-1371. (10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.02.073)
- 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)
- Valera Medina, A. et al. 2017. Preliminary study on lean premixed combustion of ammonia-hydrogen for swirling gas turbine combustors. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 42 (38), pp.24495-24503. (10.1016/j.ijhydene.2017.08.028)
- Valera-Medina, A. et al. 2018. Investigation of combustion of emulated biogas in a gas turbine test rig. Journal of Thermal Science 27 (4), pp.331-340. (10.1007/s11630-018-1024-1)
- 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. Modeling of roughness effects on generic gas turbine swirler via a detached eddy simulation low-y+ approach. Energies 18 (19) 5240. (10.3390/en18195240)
- 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)
- Zitouni, S. et al. 2022. Lewis number effects on lean premixed combustion characteristics of multi-component fuel blends. Combustion and Flame 238 111932. (10.1016/j.combustflame.2021.111932)
Book sections
- Valera Medina, A. et al. 2022. Ammonia. In: O'Connor, J. , Noble, B. and Lieuwen, T. eds. Renewable Fuels: Sources, Conversion, and Utilization. Cambridge University Press. , pp.245-274. (10.1017/9781009072366.011)
Conferences
- Buffi, M. et al., 2016. Evaluation of combustion behavior of renewable jet fuel in a combustor rig: influence of HEFA and its blends on flame stability and emissions compared to aviation kerosene. Presented at: 24th European Biomass Conference Amsterdam, The Netherlands 6-9 June 2016.
- Crayford, A. et al. 2021. Influence of humidity and fuel hydrogen content on ultrafine non-volatile particulate matter formation in RQL gas turbine technology. Presented at: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition (TURBO EXPO 2020) Virtual 21-25 September 2020. Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo 2020. Vol. 4A.Combustion, Fuels, and Emissions (10.1115/GT2020-15168)
- Davies, J. et al. 2024. Experimental and numerical investigation of NH3/H2/N2 combustion in a premixed/stratified swirl burner. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2024: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition London, UK 24-28 June 2024. Ceramics and Ceramic Composites; Coal, Biomass, Hydrogen, and Alternative Fuels. Vol. 2.(10.1115/GT2024-127419)
- Giles, A. et al. 2025. Operability study with spatial resolved temperature and water molar concentration measurements of a new pressurised optical modular staged combustor. 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/gt2025-152180)
- Hewlett, S. G. et al. 2021. Industrial wastewater as an enabler of green ammonia to power via gas turbine technology. Presented at: Turbomachinery Technical Conference & Exposition (TURBO EXPO 2020) Virtual 21-25 September 2020. Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2020 Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition. ASME. , pp.GT2020-14581. (10.1115/GT2020-14581)
- 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)
- Hewlett, S. et al. 2019. Gas turbine co-firing of steelworks ammonia with coke oven gas or methane: A fundamental and cycle Analysis. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2019 Phoenix, Arizona, USA 17-21 June 2019. ASME Turbo Expo 2019: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition: Volume 3: Coal, Biomass, Hydrogen, and Alternative Fuels; Cycle Innovations; Electric Power; Industrial and Cogeneration; Organic Rankine Cycle Power Systems. ASME. , pp.GT2019-91404. (10.1115/GT2019-91404)
- O’Malley, E. et al. 2024. A deep learning-based method for non-intrusive load monitoring and load disaggregation of 11kV/400V electrical Substations. Presented at: 18th International Conference on Energy Sustainability Anaheim, California 15-17 July 2024. ASME 2024 18th International Conference on Energy Sustainability. American Society of Mechanical Engineers(10.1115/es2024-130477)
- 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)
- Pugh, D. et al. 2014. Variation in laminar burning velocity and Markstein length with water addition for industrially produced syngases. Presented at: urbo Expo 2014: Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition Dusseldorf, Germany 16-20 June 2014. ASME Turbo Expo 2014: Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition: Volume 4A: Combustion, Fuels and Emissions. ASME. , pp.V04AT04A030. (10.1115/GT2014-25455)
- Pugh, D. et al. 2012. Laminar burning velocity and Markstein length characterisation of compositionally dynamic blast furnace gas. Presented at: Turbo Expo 2012: Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition Copenhagen, Denmark 11-15 June 2012. ASME Turbo Expo 2012: Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition Volume 2: Combustion, Fuels and Emissions, Parts A and B. ASME. , pp.1257-1266. (10.1115/GT2012-69667)
- 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. 2015. Methane-oxygen flame stability in a generic premixed gas turbine swirl combustor at varying thermal power and pressure. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2015: Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition Montreal, Quebec, Canada 15–19 June 2015. Conference Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2015: Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition. Vol. 4B.Combustion, Fuels and Emissions New York: ASME(10.1115/GT2015-43588)
- 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)
- Syred, N. et al. 2013. Effect of inlet and outlet configurations on blow-off and flashback with premixed combustion for high hydrogen content fuels in a generic swirl burner. Presented at: ICAE 2013 Pretoria, South Africa 12-15 November 2013.
- 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)
Thesis
- Pugh, D. 2013. Combustion characterisation of compositionally dynamic steelworks gases. PhD Thesis , Cardiff University.
Research
I undertake research into the development and characterisation of alternative fuels for transport and power generation, encompassing fundamental aspects of combustion within energy systems, and minimising the production of harmful emissions.
This is enabled through the continued development of experimental facilities at Cardiff’s Gas Turbine Research Centre (GTRC).
Projects
I have contributed to the following projects:
Evaluation of a large energy intensive site to determine if centralised electricity generation and steam distribution is preferable to local generation | EPSRC | 01/10/2009 - 31/03/2013 |
H2-IGCC Low Emission Gas Turbine Technology for Hydrogen-rich Syngas | European Commission (FP7) | 01/11/2009 - 31/12/2013 |
BP acetic acid burning | BP Amoco Chemical Company | 01/02/2012 - 31/08/2013 |
BRISK- The European Research Infrastructure for Thermochemical Biomass Conversion | European Commission (FP7) | 01/10/2011 - 30/09/2015 |
Flexible and Efficient Power Plant: Flex-E-Plant | EPSRC via Loughborough | 01/03/2013 - 30/09/2017 |
Selective exhaust gas recirculation for carbon capture with gas turbines | EPSRC | 01/10/2014 - 30/09/2017 |
Decoupled Green Energy Supply | TSB (Innovate UK) | 01/01/2015 - 31/12/2017 |
Advanced gas turbine cycles for high efficiency and sustainable future conventional generation | EPSRC via Imperial College London | 01/04/2015 - 31/03/2018 |
FLEXIS (Flexible Integrated Systems) | WEFO | 01/07/2015 - 28/02/2021 |
Hy4Heat Programme WP6 | BEIS | 01/08/2018 - 01/02/2020 |
Research Areas
Research into the development and application of zero-carbon fuels is crucially important for the development of future energy systems. The video below demonstrates a model gas turbine flame fuelled by H2/NH3 with minimised NOx production (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proci.2018.07.091)
Gas Turbine flame fuelled by H2/NH3
At GTRC we employ advanced diagnostic techniques to better understand the performance of alternative fuels in applied systems. The video below shows a high-frequency thermoacoustic flame instability with a CH4/H2 flame captured with OH* chemiluminescence.
Thermoacoustic Flame instability captured with OH* chemiluminescence
Biography
Education
- 2013: PhD (Mechanical Engineering) Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- 2009: MEng (Integrated Engineering) Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
Honours and awards
- Won the 2020 Hinshelwood Prize - peer reviewed by the Combustion Institute
Professional memberships
- Member of the British Section of the Combustion Institute
- Advanced HE Fellowship (FHEA)
Academic positions
- 2020 - present: Lecturer of fluid mechanics, Cardiff University
- 2017 - 2020: Research Fellow, Cardiff University
- 2013 - 2017: Research Associate, Cardiff University
I was intially employed as a Research Assistant following the completion of undergraduate work undertaken for my Integrated Engineering degree. The project required the characterisation of ferrous oxidation rates, in particular the demonstration and measurement of an autocatalytic influence within colloidal ferric solutions. The study was well received and led to the application and procurement of additional funding and further research preceding the completion of my Master’s degree.
I subsequently applied to undertake doctoral research on an EPSRC funded project, monitoring/optimising on-site energy generation and usage for a large integrated facility. My remit within the multidisciplinary team was the study of gases indigenous to the integrated steel-making process, leading to research in the field of fundamental and applied combustion. At this time, I began to work with Master’s and Undergraduate students on their projects; developing an understanding of the reaction kinetics associated with flame propagation and employing alternative fuels. Results allowed for a detailed understanding of combustion behaviour in relation to reducing operational instability within practical industrial systems.
After attaining my PhD, I took the position of first Research Associate, then Fellow at the School of Engineering’s Gas Turbine Research Centre investigating aspects of fundamental and applied combustion. The role required the operation and design of experimental facilities and test programmes that contributed towards both collaborative projects funded by external bodies, and my own novel research. I have contributed to projects awarded from multiple funding bodies including EPSRC, Technology Strategy Board (Innovate UK) and the EU, collaborating with leading industrial partners.Contemorary work has focussed on fundamental and applied combustion. Studied aspects include: Swirling and counterflow flames at elevated conditions for gas turbine applications, alternative zero-carbon and bio-derived fuels, staged/diffusion flames, harmful emissions reduction, laminar and turbulent flame propagation, and chemical kinetics with the validation and development of reaction mechanisms.
Supervisions
I am interested in supervising PhD students in the areas of:
- The application of zero-carbon fuels such as H2 and NH3
- Fundamental combustion
- Emissions reduction
- The development of advanced diagnostic techniques
- The development of additive manufacturing for combustion applications
Current supervision
