Host Institution: Politecnico di Milano (Italy)
Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano
Phone: +39 02 2399 3205
warumporn.pejpichestakul@polimi.it
Research interests
My main research is focused on combustion of natural gas, in particular the formation of pollutant species such as NOx, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and carbonaceous particles (soot) in laminar flames. Particular attention is being given to study the main chemical and physical pathways of pollutant species from the combustion of natural gas, in order to be used for improving the design of equipment for combustion of natural gas, characterized by low emissions of pollutants.
Education
Selected publications
Project title: Chemical and physical pathways of pollutant formation in laminar flames burning natural gas
Objectives. The understanding of combustion in practical combustors is essential to the goals of reducing pollution and increasing energy efficiency. However, three-dimensional models of these systems with detailed chemistry and complex transport phenomena are beyond our current computational capabilities. Instead, one can study flames with complex chemistry in simpler laminar configurations to provide insight into the chemical and physical processes occurring in many engineered systems.
Laminar flames (both premixed and diffusive) are commonly used to investigate chemical kinetic processes which are important in combustion because they can be described through relatively simple mathematical models. When analyzed in close conjunction with experimental data, these models can provide detailed information on flame structure and elementary reaction paths.
Thus, the objective of this work is to study the physical and kinetic mechanisms leading to the formation of pollutant species such as NOx, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and carbonaceous particles (soot) in laminar flames fed with natural gas in operating conditions close to those of interest. This knowledge can then be used for improving the design of equipment for combustion of natural gas, characterized by low emissions of pollutants. The study will be focused on simplified geometries, like counter flow flames, premixed flat flames, and axisymmetric coflow flames.
Expected results. Deeper understanding of the main chemical and physical pathways explaining the formation of pollutant species from the combustion of natural gas.
Planned secondment. BE-ULB (8-10 months): Chemical kinetic mechanism uncertainty quantification in combustion problems, including reactors and laminar flames. The primary objectives is to determine which reactions contribute most to the uncertainty in the predictions and whose rates may require further refinement.
One of the originalities is to link the different teams together with four additional industrial partners in order to suggest and develop new complementary perspectives combining mathematics and physics, chemistry and fluid mechanics, computation and experiments, all these different approaches aiming at a final real scale application for industrial use by companies.
One innovative aspect of the program is to offer an extensive and prospective view of research to candidates with the goal to prepare them to become the researchers of tomorrow. The candidates' education will not be only a scientific research program, but also instruction on how to develop their understanding of research, their own responsibilities and their professional abilities.
Mobility is essential for research. Candidates will spend a first year mainly dedicated to their learning and knowledge development in one or the two co-tutelle institutions, followed by 1 or 2 semesters of intensive exchanges between the two. Then candidates will take a step back during the last semester for the synthesis of the work.