Internal Combustion Engines 2017

Dr Bob Moran: Deputy Head, Office for Low Emission Vehicles, UK

Bob works with the UK’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), a cross Government policy unit working to position the UK as a global leader in the design, development, manufacture and deployment of ultra low emission vehicles and associated technologies.

OLEV comprises people from the Department for Transport and Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to simplify policy development and speed up delivery of this important shared agenda.

By supporting the early market for electric and other ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs), OLEV aims to secure the greatest possible industrial benefits for the UK from the inevitable transition to ultra low emission vehicles, decarbonise the UK’s vehicle fleet by 2050 and in doing so improve air quality and energy security. OLEV leads UK policy on regulations and standards that set road vehicle CO2 emissions performance targets for manufacturers.

Bob joined OLEV in 2011 having previously worked with the Department for Transport and Ford Motor Company.  He was awarded a Ph.D. in Biomechanical Engineering from Edinburgh University in 2002 having graduated from there with an Honours degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1997.

Tony Harper: Director of Research Engineering, Jaguar Land Rover

Tony Harper is Director of Research Engineering for Jaguar Land Rover. Tony joined Jaguar as a Graduate Engineer in 1986 with an honours degree in Aeronautical Engineering at Imperial College London. In the early 1990's, Tony was involved in the development and use of Knowledge Based Engineering systems. In 1999, Tony was appointed as head of Jaguar’s Vehicle Engineering team responsible for Concept Design, Packaging, Aerodynamics and Vehicle Computer Aided Engineering. In 2006, Tony joined JLR’s Product Development Operations to head up the Research and Advanced group. He’s a Chartered Engineer, fellow of the IMechE, an honorary fellow of the University Of Warwick, an elected member of the UK Automotive Council Technology group, sits on numerous advisory councils and has recently become a Fellow of The Royal Academy of Engineering.

Peter King: Partner, Rotary Engine Development Agency

Peter King was born and educated in Australia. He studied aeronautical engineering at RMIT University in Melbourne, graduating in 1970. He worked for Ansett Airlines in Australia, and Hawker Siddeley and British Aircraft Corporation in England, before joining the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as an engineering officer in 1977. His RAAF experience included aircraft operation, airworthiness, and procurement. He studied Aerosystems Engineering at the Royal Air Force College in Cranwell (UK) resulting in a Master of Science degree conferred by Loughborough University in 1982.  After leaving the RAAF in 1999, Peter worked for six years as a consultant to the Australian Department of Defence on aircraft engineering and procurement.  

In 2001 Peter joined with Peter Szorenyi in the development of the Szorenyi Rotary Engine. Peter Szorenyi was an RAAF colleague also studying Aerosystems Engineering at the RAF College in Cranwell who later discovered the mathematical shape that could be used as the profile of a stator for a four-chamber rotary engine. A prototype engine was built and a proof-of-concept test achieved in 2008. Peter King has pursued the development of the engine since the death of Peter Szorenyi in 2011.

Mark Peckham: Director, Cambustion

Mark Peckham graduated from University of Edinburgh in 1990 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and went on to complete a PhD at Cambridge University in 1993 on the subject of in-cylinder [HC] sampling with a fast FID.

After a brief time at Ricardo, he joined Cambustion where he has been a director since 1997. He is mostly involved in technical support and sales of the fast response gas analyzers and DPF testing systems. He also publishes technical papers involving the application of this equipment to combustion and emissions control systems.

Roger Cracknell: Technology Expert – Combustion Chemistry, Retail Fuels Technology Group, Shell Global Solutions

Roger Cracknell has a PhD in Chemistry from Imperial College London. He joined Shell in 1994 following postdoctoral research in Imperial College and Cornell University. In 2015 he was appointed to the role of Technology Expert for Combustion Chemistry within Shell. Roger is a Fellow of the Society of Automotive Engineers, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, a Visiting Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Leeds, and Honorary Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Birmingham. He has co-authored 150 peer reviewed journal or conference publications.

Steve Sapsford: Director – Business Strategy, Ricardo UK

Steve Sapsford joined Ricardo in 1986 after graduating in Mechanical Engineering from Southampton University and worked initially in 1-D gas dynamics simulation.  He then moved to the Refinement Centre where he worked on the application of 1-D gas dynamics to exhaust and intake noise prediction using WAVE.  He formed the CFD applications group in 1993 working principally on coolant, in-cylinder and manifold flows. In 2005, Steve went on to run Ricardo Software, supplying many OEMs and motorsport companies with analysis software to optimise engine performance and design, and then, in 2007, he was promoted to Global Product Group Director for all gasoline engine business in 2007. In 2010 he became the Global Market Sector Director for high performance vehicles, and in 2014 he became the Business Strategy Director for the Technical Consulting business.

Michael David Bassett: Chief Engineer - Research & Advanced Engineering, MAHLE Powertrain

Mike Bassett graduated from Bristol University in 1993, where he studied Mechanical Engineering. He then studied for a PhD at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST), focusing on the 1D modelling of internal combustion engines. Mike joined Lotus Engineering in 2000, where he worked in the Software Development Department. He moved to MAHLE Powertrain in 2007 to join the performance analysis group and is currently Chief Engineer in the Research and Advanced Engineering Group, where he is responsible for leading MAHLE Powertrain’s research activities in the UK.

Vinícius Bernardes Pedrozo: PhD Candidate, Brunel University London, United Kingdom

Vinícius Pedrozo is currently a 4th year PhD student at Brunel University London, where he investigates the use of low carbon fuels in a heavy-duty compression ignition engine. His past experience includes 3 years at Fiat Chrysler Latin America and FPT Industrial as an Engine Calibration Engineer. He holds a Bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Federal University of Santa Maria, in Brazil.

Nearchos Stylianidis: PhD Student, Northumbria University, United Kingdom

Nearchos Stylianidis is a third year PhD student from Northumbria University at Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.  The main subject of his research is the development of a reduced chemical kinetics mechanism of multicomponent syngas combustion in a dual fuel engine. He holds a MSc degree in renewable and sustainable energy technologies from Northumbria Univesity and a BSc degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Leicester. Nearchos is currently working on the final part of his research, which is the development of a reduced n-heptane/syngas chemical kinetics mechanism.

Xinyan Wang: Research Assistant, Brunel University London, United Kingdom

Dr. Xinyan Wang got his PhD degree in State Key Laboratory of Engines (SKLE) at Tianjin University, China. Currently he is working as a research assistant in the Centre for Advanced Powertrain and Fuels at Brunel University London. His research interest and experience include the modelling and experimental studies of fossil and alternative fuels and advanced combustion concepts for high-efficiency and low-emission combustion engines. He has authored over 20 journal articles and conference papers.

Hartwig Busch: Director, Applied Low Carbon Technology Centre (ALCTC), Coventry University

Hartwig Busch graduated from RWTH Aachen University in 2000 with a degree in mechanical engineering. In 2001 joined the institute for combustion engines of RWTH Aachen to work in the field of passenger car Diesel engines as a research assistant and obtained his PhD in 2009. In 2008 he joined FEV as project manager in the business unit Diesel Engines and worked on combustion system and function development. In 2012 he joined Jaguar Land Rover as Technical Specialist for Diesel Combustion and P&E, in 2014 he took on the role as principal engineer for Performance and Emissions development. From January 2017 Hartwig Busch is Director at the centre for advanced low-carbon propulsion systems at Coventry University.

Rodney Glynn Williams: Delivery Manager Innovation Diesel, Shell Global Solutions (UK)

Rod Williams has held a number of roles in engine and vehicle technology and fuels development over the past 25 years. He is chartered with the IMechE and has a bachelor’s degree in Plant and Process Engineering. He is published with SAE, IMechE, TAE, TRA and ETH in the area of fuel-engine interaction.  Latterly his roles have included diesel engine technology management, project leader for Shell V-Power Diesel development and he is currently manager of diesel Joint Development Activities in Shell.  Rod chairs the Concawe diesel fuel & emissions group and is presenting on Concawe’s behalf.

Michael Bunce: Technical Specialist - Research, MAHLE Powertrain

Michael Bunce is a Research Technical Specialist at MAHLE Powertrain in the US. His research activities include alternative fuels and advanced combustion projects. He has been leading the research on the MAHLE Jet Ignition system for the past 5 years. Prior to working for MAHLE Powertrain, he was a Post-Graduate Researcher at Oak Ridge National Lab.r reviewed journal or conference publications.

Andrew Auld: Project Engineer, Ricardo

Andrew currently works for Ricardo in the UK in the Engine Performance Development department. He has a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from Loughborough University. He has been involved with a number engine design and specification projects across a wide variety of engine types. Most recently he has been focused on future powertrain and aftertreatment systems for commercial vehicles. His current responsibilities are project lead for Ricardo within the REWARD project and technical lead for Ricardo within the HDGAS project – both Horizon 202O European co-funded research projects.

Dengquan Feng: PhD Candidate, State Key Laboratory of Engines, Tianjin University, China

Dengquan Feng is a 4th year Ph.D. student in SKLE at Tianjin University. Now he is currently studying in the Centre for Advanced Powertrain and Fuels at Brunel University as a visiting researcher, sponsored by Chinese Scholarship Council. His research experience includes experimental study on the cause of low speed pre-ignition, including lubricant oil induced low speed pre-ignition and the relationship with super knock. Now he is working on an optical SI engine to study the combustion process of pre-ignition with high-speed imaging. He holds a Master and Bachelor degree in power machinery and engineering from Tianjin University.

Adriaan Van Niekerk: PhD Student, University of the West of England

Adriaan van Niekerk joined the University of the West of England (UWE) in 2016 as part of the Graduate Tutor scheme. His research focuses on the reduction of diesel engine emissions as well as increasing the UK’s renewable energy share in the transport industry. Research topics include binary and trinary blends between diesel, biodiesel and ethanol as well as low temperature combustion for vehicles being tested on the WLTC and RDE legislative driving cycles.

Carsten Weber: Head of Powertrain Systems Research & Advanced Engineering, FORD of Europe

After graduation from the University of Aachen in Mechanical Engineering focused on combustion engines with a Master Degree Carsten Weber joined Ford in 1994. He started his career in the area of engine and powertrain testing before he moved into the field of Powertrain Research and Advanced engineering to lead the concept development of a new small engine. After that he worked for 3 year in England in the role of a Chief Program Engineer for the mid-size gasoline engines. Since his return to Cologne he is leading the local Research and Advanced Engineering activities in the field of Powertrain Systems incl. the ongoing development of the successful 1.0Ltr. EcoBoost Engine.

Alan Tolley: Group Director - Engines, JCB

Alan Tolley is the Group Director for Engines at JC Bamford Excavators with responsibility for engine product development, planning and strategy. He joined JCB in 1998 to lead the development of the JCB Dieselmax engine and establishment of the JCB  engine business. Prior to joining JCB, he worked on engine development for Ford Motor Company Tractor Operations. This became Ford New Holland, then New Holland and finally part of the European Engine Alliance. Before joining Ford in 1986, he worked with Perkins at Peterborough and in Cape Town. He was awarded MA in physics from University of Oxford in 1978 and is a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

Paul Freeland: Principal Engineer, Cosworth Ltd

Paul Freeland has over 25 years’ experience in vehicle powertrain development, beginning his career in the F1 Engine build department at Cosworth between 1990-1991. Paul studied Mechanical Engineering at Coventry University. He has since worked as Engine Development Engineer at Tickford, Cosworth Technology, MAHLE Powertrain developing high efficiency IC engines for OE manufacturers such as Ford, Audi and became Head of Gasoline R&D group at MAHLE in 2010, leading R&D for advanced powertrain concepts. Paul moved back to Cosworth Limited in 2015, leading a variety of projects for high efficiency automotive powertrains, and started work on the UK-ABSC consortium project in 2016, looking to optimise HV battery systems for automotive applications.

Richard Osborne: Global Technical Expert - Gasoline Combustion, Ricardo

Richard Osborne graduated from Oxford University with an MEng in Engineering Science in 1999. He joined the Gasoline Engines department at Ricardo in the same year, and has been working on the development of gasoline engines and their combustion systems since then. He now holds the position of Global Technical Expert – Gasoline Combustion at Ricardo, and has experience in engine downsizing and boosting, lean burn combustion systems, variable valvetrains, and homogeneous charge compression ignition. He gained his PhD from the University of Brighton in 2010 with a thesis entitled ‘Controlled Auto-Ignition Processes in the Gasoline Engine’.

Richard David Burke: Lecturer, Powertrain and Vehicle Research Centre, University of Bath, United Kingdom

Richard Burke is Senior Lecturer at the University of Bath and a Fellow of the IMechE. He completed his PhD at the University of Bath in 2011 on optimising the thermal, friction and control systems of a Diesel engine during warm-up. He now leads a number of research programmes working on different engine and powertrain systems.

Yong Qian: PhD Student, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, People’s Republic of China

John Martin: Director, Research and Business Development, Integral Powertrain

Ian Pennington: Test Methodology, Engine Engineering, Ford Motor Company

Hannah Jane Willmott: PhD Student, University of Bath