Welcome to the Laser Diagnostics Laboratory for Energy and Propulsion Research
We study energy conversion in advanced propulsion and power generation systems with a focus on hypersonic airbreathing propulsion and advanced gas turbines. Additionally, we investigate new power systems based on novel energy conversion pathways including thermal, electrochemical, and catalytic processes and chemistry of alternative jet fuels. Often, the work is based on the application of novel laser and optical diagnostics. We work closely with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Army Research Laboratory (ARL), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Argonne National Laboratory, and Illinois Fire Services Institute (IFSI) to develop both novel diagnostics strategies and apply them in research.
Our group is part of the following research programs:
- Academic lead for the UAS Propulsion Center (CUP).
- Member of Army Research Laboratory – Central.
- Member of the FAA Center of Excellence – ASCENT (National Jet Fuel Combustion Program)
- PI for the FAA National Alternative Jet Fuel Database
- Member of the DOE PSAAP Phase III Center: CEESD (Scramjet Design)
- PI for the M7ai Hypersonic Scramjet combustion test program
Featured (above image) Ongoing research activity sample in propulsion and energy research. Please check the research tabs for more details.
News
M1 Gas Turbine Campaign at Argonne APS Complete
Students Eric Wood and Caleb Trotter along with Dr. Eric Mayhew (ARL) and Dr. Alan Kastengren (Argonne) successfully completed the recent campaign at the Argonne Advanced Photon Source to carry out X-ray radiography in the M1 gas turbine combustor. Current tests were geared towards understanding lean blow out and ignition physics at high altitude conditions … Continue reading M1 Gas Turbine Campaign at Argonne APS Complete
Shruti Ghanekar recognized for her contributions in Fire Safety Research
Shruti Ghanekar was recognized for her contributions to improving Firefighter Safety and presented the Award for Student Excellence in Furthering Firefighter Life Safety by the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute. Shruti’s graduate research is focused on developing infrared absorption spectroscopy based measurement systems and deploying them in residential fire environments to quantify and study species … Continue reading Shruti Ghanekar recognized for her contributions in Fire Safety Research
Our Group Part of $7.5M MURI Award in Hypersonics
Our research group is part of a team that has been awarded a $7.5M MURI award to study turbulence and chemistry interaction in hypersonic propulsion systems. The announced was made today at https://www.cto.mil/2021-muri/. Our group with work with the University of Queensland in Australia to conduct laser and optical measurements in supersonic reactive flow paths.