Program Overview

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Research profile

In the Advanced Powertrain and Fuels area, we have particular strengths in improving the efficiency and reducing emissions of existing engines through developing advanced combustion processes and their controls and boosting technologies. We are equipped with the most advanced camless and direct injection research engines, as well as state-of-art laser and optical equipment for the study of fuels and engines: in particular marrying experimental and modelling methods and through the utilisation of advanced laser measurement techniques in transparent optical engines. The research on regenerative engine braking is feeding strongly into our commercialisation activities. We have particular interests in developing efficient bio-fuel supply chains, as well as a number of novel technologies for manufacturing bio-fuel from industrial waste and new combustion technologies optimised for bio-fuels.

As one of the largest and most active engine research groups in the UK, our research on internal combustion engines goes back to the late 1960s.

The faculty working on Advanced Powertrain and Fuels at Brunel have been recognised for their outstanding skills. In 2015, Prof Zhao was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, joining other distinguished academics from renowned research institutions and technologists from world-leading engineering companies. Hua was honoured for his fundamental and applied research into novel engine combustion concepts, air hybrid engine and vehicle technologies, and advanced laser diagnostics for the development of high efficiency and ultra-low emission powertrains for the automotive industry.

Find out about the exciting research we do in this area. Browse profiles of our experts, discover the research groups and their inspirational research activities you too could be part of. We’ve also made available extensive reading materials published by our academics and PhD students.

Learn more about research in this area.

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Browse the work of subject-relevant research groups

Assessment of Structures and Materials under Extreme Conditions

Bioprocess and Biopharmaceutical Engineering

Advanced Powertrain and Fuels

Biomedical Engineering

Brunel Innovation Centre

Brunel Composites Centre

Digital Manufacturing

Design and Manufacturing

Brunel Centre for Advanced Solidification Technology (BCAST)

Flood, Coastal and Water Engineering

Sustainable Energy Use in Food Chains

Non-traditional Manufacturing Technologies

Energy Efficient and Sustainable Technologies

Resilient Structures and Construction Materials

Institute of Materials and Manufacturing

Flood Risk and Resilience

Experimental Techniques Centre

Wolfson Centre for Sustainable Materials Development and Processing

Organ-on-a-Chip

Two Phase Flow and Heat Transfer

Mechanics of Solids and Structures

Equitable Development and Resilience

Institute of Digital Futures

Geotechnical and Environmental Engineering

Heat Pipe and Thermal Management

Quality Engineering and Smart Technology

Institute of Energy Futures

Resource Efficient Future Cities

Robotics and Automation

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