Doctoral projects
Doctoral project 1
Project title:
Extension of the method of characteristics for the design of two-phase supersonic turbines in partial-evaporation organic Rankine cycle systems.
Doctoral candidate:
Andrea Cioffi, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
Main supervisor:
Prof. Fredrik Haglind, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
Co-supervisors:
Dr Nishith Babubhai Desai, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
Dr Roberto Agromayor, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
Dr Federico Bassi, Exergy, Italy
Project description:
The extended method of characteristics presents a computationally efficient design approach with the potential to improve efficiency and streamline the design process of two-phase supersonic turbines. The successful implementation of this methodology will lead to substantial performance gains in partial evaporation organic Rankine cycle power systems and other technologies relying on two-phase expansion.
Doctoral project 2
Project title:
Design and analysis of two-phase turbo-expanders for liquid air energy storage systems
Doctoral candidate:
Alberto Bergamin, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
Main supervisor:
Prof. Fredrik Haglind, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
Co-supervisors:
Dr Nishith Babubhai Desai, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
Dr Roberto Agromayor, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
Dr Karthik Bhairapurada, Enogia, France
Project description:
The PhD project focuses on the understanding of flow physics in two-phase turbines specifically for liquid air energy storage systems. By utilizing the Eulerian-Eulerian two-fluid model, the research seeks to enhance flow predictions by addressing how the different flow phenomena influence machine performance. Key outcomes include improved modeling techniques, detailed flow field analysis, and optimized turbine stage designs.
Doctoral project 3
Project title:
Analysis of two-phase flows and metastable effects in supercritical carbon dioxide compressors
Doctoral candidate:
Jiawei He, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
Main supervisor:
Prof. Fredrik Haglind, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
Co-supervisors:
Dr Nishith Babubhai Desai, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
Dr Roberto Agromayor, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
Dr Federico Bassi, t Exergy International Srl, Italy
Project description:
This PhD project focuses on understanding two-phase flow physics and metastable effects in supercritical carbon dioxide compressors. A key objective is to develop a robust computational fluid dynamic methodology that accounts for the non-ideal thermodynamics of supercritical carbon dioxide and the potential onset of phase change utilizing both the Eulerian-Eulerian source model and Eulerian-Eulerian two-fluid model. Key outcomes include proposing a low-loading leading-edge impeller design to mitigate the adverse effects of two-phase flows.
Doctoral project 4
Project Title:
Multi-fidelity Aero-thermodynamic Modeling of Two-phase Flows in Supercritical CO₂ Compressors
Doctoral Candidate:
Muhammad Salman Ali Shahid, Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Main Supervisor:
Prof. Giacomo Persico, Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Co-Supervisors:
Dr Lorenzo Toni, Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Dr Nowell, Imperial College London, UK
Project Description:
The PhD project focuses on understanding the aero-thermodynamic behavior of two-phase flows in supercritical carbon dioxide compressors. By developing and validating high-fidelity Computational Fluid Dynamics models, the research aims to capture phase transition effects, such as cavitation and condensation, in high-speed flows. The project integrates multi-fidelity modeling techniques to improve flow predictions and optimize compressor designs for enhanced efficiency and operational stability. Key outcomes include advanced two-phase flow modeling, experimental validation, and the development of optimization strategies for next-generation turbomachinery.
Doctoral project 5
Project title:
Modelling and design of novel two-phase ejectors and expanders for trans-critical heat-pumps
Doctoral candidate:
Ahmed Mohamed Awad Mohamed Harbi, Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Main supervisor:
Prof. Giacomo Persico, Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Co-supervisors:
Dr Alessandro Romei, Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Dr Ekaterini Kriezi, Danfoss A/S – Danfoss, Denmark
Project description:
This research aims at enhancing two-phase flow modeling and optimization of ejectors and turbo-expanders for trans-critical heat pumps. It focuses on selecting appropriate physical models, implementing and validating two-phase flow models for carbon dioxide and other refrigerants, optimizing ejector geometries using FORMA, and developing a novel two-phase turbo-expander. Expected outcomes include improved predictive modeling, optimized ejector performance, and enhanced turbo-expander efficiency by elaborating novel machinery concepts.
Doctoral project 6
Project title:
Prediction of high-speed droplet impact erosion on turbomachinery blades for two-phase flow conditions
Doctoral candidate:
Andrés Vignolo Cortabarria
Main supervisor:
Prof. David Nowell
Co-supervisors:
Dr Christoph Schwingshackl
Project description:
The PhD project aims at understanding erosion caused by high-speed liquid impingement, particularly in the context of turbomachinery blades under two-phase flow conditions. The objective is two-fold. On the one hand, to develop an improved understanding of the physics of high-speed liquid impingements by means of high-order computational mechanics tools. On the other hand, to improve methodologies for predicting erosion rates in practical engineering applications, for which physics-enriched data-driven methodologies could be useful (e.g. Deep Learning techniques).
Doctoral project 7
Project title:
Dynamic performance changes due to blade erosion and impact on blade life.
Doctoral candidate:
Alex Mathew, Imperial College London, UK
Main supervisor:
Dr Christoph Schwingshackl, Imperial College London, UK
Co-supervisors:
Prof. David Nowell, Imperial College London, UK
Dr Bharat Lad, Rolls Royce PLC, UK
Project description:
The research project focuses on the effect of erosion on the dynamic behaviour of turbomachinery blades over its lifetime, due to the loss of mass and stiffness. The project will initially review existing approaches to predict the impact of erosion on the vibration response of blades, before developing multiple strategies for an effective computation of the dynamics over the lifetime of the blade. Novel reduced order models will be explored, including finite element coarsening and homogenization of field objectives to model the change in geometry over time, and this will then be with Harmonic Balance techniques, to compute the evolution of the dynamic responses over the lifetime of the product. The computed cyclic stresses will then be merged with high cycle fatigue analysis to study the impact of erosion on the life of the eroded blade.
Doctoral project 8
Project title:
Reliability modelling and predictive maintenance for two-phase turbomachinery
Doctoral candidate:
Pu Huang, CentraleSupélec, Université Paris-Saclay, France
Main supervisor:
Prof. Zhiguo Zeng, CentraleSupélec, Université Paris-Saclay, France
Co-supervisor(s):
Prof. Anne Barros, CentraleSupélec, Université Paris-Saclay, France
Project description:
This PhD project focuses on developing reliability assessment methods and predictive maintenance modelling for two-phase turbomachinery. It aims to identify failure mechanisms, create quantitative reliability models, and optimize maintenance strategies. The project will evaluate the models through case studies, comparing them with existing methods and validating them with literature and industry data. Key outputs include advanced reliability models and optimized maintenance frameworks for improved turbomachinery performance.
Doctoral project 9
Project title:
Robust simulation-optimization for reliable two-phase turbomachinery
Doctoral candidate:
Matteo Battisti, CentraleSupelec – Université Paris Saclay, France
Main supervisor:
Prof. Anne Barros, CentraleSupelec – Université Paris Saclay, France
Co-supervisors:
Prof. Yiping Fang, CentraleSupelec – Université Paris Saclay, France
Project description:
The PhD project focuses on optimization methods dedicated to maintenance decision-making under uncertainties. Key outcomes include a new reliability centred robust maintenance optimization model that integrates effective statistical models for uncertain data presentation, mathematically rigorous analyses of the problem structure and complexity and effective solution algorithm for the proposed problem.
Doctoral project 10
Project title:
Design and optimization of an axial-centrifugal pump stage for boiling organic Rankine cycle fluid
Doctoral candidate:
Saeed Jamali Keisari, Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Main supervisor:
Dr Federico bassi, Exergy International, Italy
Tutor:
Prof. Giacomo Persico, Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Co-supervisors:
Prof. Fredrik Haglind, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
Project description:
The PhD project focuses on the aero-thermodynamics of two-phase flow in turbomachinery, specifically in the design and optimization of an axial-centrifugal pump stage for boiling organic Rankine cycle fluid. By employing advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics modeling and thermodynamic analysis, the research aims to enhance pump performance by addressing critical challenges such as cavitation, phase change dynamics, and efficiency optimization. Key outcomes include improved pump design methodologies, refined multiphase flow modeling, and enhanced organic Rankine cycle system performance.
Doctoral project 11
Project title:
Advanced mean-line models for two-phase turbines in partial evaporation organic Rankine cycle systems
Doctoral candidate:
Srinivas Prakash Diwanji, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
Main supervisor:
Prof. Fredrik Haglind, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
Co-supervisors:
Dr Nishith Babubhai Desai, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
Dr Roberto Agromayor, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
Dr Karthik Bhairapurada, Enogia, France
Project description:
This project aims to develop advanced mean-line models for two-phase turbine designs by creating a scientific foundation on multi-phase flow physics and enhancing existing mean-line models using Automatic Differentiation techniques for exact derivatives. This will improve numerical stability, convergence, and enable the simulation of complex two-phase flow behaviours. Key objectives include implementing Automatic Differentiation for better convergence, extending the model to predict converging-diverging blade row performance, comparing the model with other one-dimentional models and experimental data, improving modelling of two-phase flow mechanisms (e.g., liquid film deposition and phase-change processes), integrating the model with optimization algorithms for preliminary design, and validating it against computational fluid dynamics simulations or experimental data. The project will contribute to develop advanced loss models for two-phase flow and an optimized one-dimensional design tool for two-phase turbomachinery.
Doctoral project 12
Project title:
Reliability based design optimization for two-phase turbo machinery through physics-informed machine learning
Doctoral candidate:
Mennatallah Gouda, Centrale Supélec, France
Main supervisor:
Prof. Anne Barros, Centrale Supélec, France
Co-supervisors:
Dr Yiping Fang, Centrale Supélec, France
Dr Zhiguo Zeng, Centrale Supélec, France
Project description:
The project focuses on advancing reliability-based design optimization through physics-informed machine learning, with applications in two-phase turbomachinery. By integrating digital twins and uncertainty modeling, the research aims to develop innovative optimization methods and efficient solution algorithms. The project will evaluate these models through case studies, comparing their performance with existing approaches and validating them using literature data and industry benchmarks.