Alasdair Cairns

Contact

• workRoom C48 Coates
  University Park
  Nottingham
  NG7 2RD
  UK
• work+44(0)115 74 84379
• Alasdair.Cairns1@nottingham.ac.uk

Biography

Professor of Mechanical Engineering with a background in low carbon propulsion systems within both academia and industry.

• 2016 - Professor & Director of Powertrain Research Centre, University of Nottingham
• 2016 - 2016 Deputy Head of Mechanical Engineering Department, Brunel
• 2014 - 2016 Director of Teaching and Learning, Brunel University London
• 2013 - 2016 Professor of Automotive Engineering, Brunel University London
• 2010 - 2013 Senior Lecturer, Brunel University London
• 2006 - 2009 Principal Research & Development Engineer, MAHLE Powertrain Ltd.
• 2003 - 2006 Senior Research & Development Engineer, Cosworth Technology Ltd.
• 2000 - 2002 Development Engineer, Cosworth Technology Ltd.

Professor Alasdair Cairns is a member of the Fluids and Thermal Engineering Research Group.

Expertise Summary

• Hybrid propulsion systems integration
• Low carbon engines and fuels (heavy duty and light duty, hydrogen, ammonia, bio and synthetic fuels)
• Powertrain thermal management (e-machine, batteries, IC engines)
• Advanced combustion systems (HCCI/CAI, turbulent jet ignition, dual fuel)
• Sustainable electrical machines and drives (design, operation, manufacture)

Teaching Summary

My teaching covers Level 3 Automotive Technology, Level 4 IC Engines and Major Individual Projects.

Research Summary

My interests generally cover sustainable propulsion, with active research in the following areas:

• Fuels for sustainable heavy duty IC engines (ammonia, hydrogen, bio/synthetic)
• Advanced powertrain thermal management (batteries, electric machines, fuel cells and IC engines)
• Life cycle analysis of propulsion (thermal and electrified solutions)
• Automotive energy recovery systems (thermal and kinetic)
• Powertrain lightweighting

Recent Publications

• MADDUMAGE, W., CAIRNS, A. and PAYKANI, A., 2023. Numerical Study of Oil Jet Cooling in Electric Traction Motors with Hairpin Windings
• PFAU, S. A., ROCCA, A. L., HAFFNER-STATON, E., FAY, M. W. and CAIRNS, A., 2022. Linking operating conditions of a GDI engine to the nature and nanostructure of ultrafine soot particles: Combustion and Flame Combustion and Flame. 245,
• HAFFNER-STATON, E., AVANZINI, L., LA ROCCA, A., PFAU, S. A. and CAIRNS, A., 2022. Automated particle recognition for engine soot nanoparticles: Journal of Microscopy Journal of Microscopy.
• LA ROCCA, A., LA ROCCA, S., ZOU, T., LIU, C., MOSLEMIN, M., GERADA, C. and CAIRNS, A., 2022. Performance Assessment of Standard Cooling Strategies for Hairpin Windings

• View all publications

Future Research

We are a large and active group with broad interests across sustainable propulsion. I welcome enquiries from potential PhD candidates from Home, EU and international countries who are interested in the following research areas:

• Fuels for sustainable heavy duty IC engines (ammonia, hydrogen, bio/synthetic)
• Advanced powertrain thermal management (batteries, electric machines, fuel cells and IC engines)
• Life cycle analysis of propulsion (thermal and electrified solutions)
• Automotive energy recovery systems (thermal and kinetic)
• Powertrain lightweighting

• MADDUMAGE, W., CAIRNS, A. and PAYKANI, A., 2023. Numerical Study of Oil Jet Cooling in Electric Traction Motors with Hairpin Windings
• PFAU, S. A., ROCCA, A. L., HAFFNER-STATON, E., FAY, M. W. and CAIRNS, A., 2022. Linking operating conditions of a GDI engine to the nature and nanostructure of ultrafine soot particles: Combustion and Flame Combustion and Flame. 245,
• HAFFNER-STATON, E., AVANZINI, L., LA ROCCA, A., PFAU, S. A. and CAIRNS, A., 2022. Automated particle recognition for engine soot nanoparticles: Journal of Microscopy Journal of Microscopy.
• LA ROCCA, A., LA ROCCA, S., ZOU, T., LIU, C., MOSLEMIN, M., GERADA, C. and CAIRNS, A., 2022. Performance Assessment of Standard Cooling Strategies for Hairpin Windings
• HEGAB, A., DAHUWA, K., ISLAM, R., CAIRNS, A., KHURANA, A., SHRESTHA, S. and FRANCIS, R., 2021. Plasma electrolytic oxidation thermal barrier coating for reduced heat losses in IC engines: Applied Thermal Engineering Applied Thermal Engineering. 196,
• BUNCE, M., CAIRNS, A. and BLAXILL, H., 2020. The use of active jet ignition to overcome traditional challenges of pre-chamber combustors under low load conditions: International Journal of Engine Research International Journal of Engine Research.
• MOSLEMIN KOUPAIE, M., CAIRNS, A., XIA, J., VAFAMEHR, H. and LANZANOVA, T., 2019. Cyclically resolved flame and flow imaging in an alcohol fuelled SI engine: Fuel Fuel. 237, 874-887
• KOUPAIE, M. M., CAIRNS, A., VAFAMEHR, H. and LANZANOVA, T. D. M., 2019. A study of hydrous ethanol combustion in an optical central direct injection spark ignition engine: Applied Energy Applied Energy. 237, 258-269
• JUSTUS, J., CAIRNS, A. and PESIRIDIS, A., 2019. Hydraulic kinetic energy recovery boosting system for future passenger cars
• HAFFNER-STATON, E., LA ROCCA, A., CAIRNS, A. and FAY, M., 2019. Morphological Characterization of Gasoline Soot-in-Oil: Development of Semi-Automated 2D-TEM and Comparison with Novel High-Throughput 3D-TEM: SAE 14th International Conference on Engines and Vehicles, ICE 2019 2019-September(September),
• KARVOUNTZIS-KONTAKIOTIS, A., VAFAMEHR, H., CAIRNS, A. and PECKHAM, M., 2018. Study on pollutants formation under knocking combustion conditions using an optical single cylinder SI research engine: Energy Energy. 158, 899-910
• NWOVU, S. O., CAIRNS, A. and VAFAMEHR, H., 2018. Effects of direct injection di on knocking combustion in spark ignition SI engine operated on 75-ron and ethanol fuels
• VAFAMEHR, H., CAIRNS, A., SAMPSON, O., KOUPAIE, M.M., 2016. The competing chemical and physical effects of transient fuel enrichment on heavy knock in an optical spark ignition engine Applied Energy. 179, 687-697
• MOXEY, B.G., CAIRNS, A., ZHAO, H., 2016. A comparison of butanol and ethanol flame development in an optical spark ignition engine Fuel. 170, 27-38
• MAY, I., PEDROZO, V., ZHAO, H., CAIRNS, A., WHELAN, S., WONG, H., BENNICKE, P., 2016. Characterization and Potential of Premixed Dual-Fuel Combustion in a Heavy Duty Natural Gas/Diesel Engine SAE Technical Papers. 2016-April(April),
• PEDROZO, V.B., MAY, I., DALLA NORA, M., CAIRNS, A., ZHAO, H., 2016. Experimental analysis of ethanol dual-fuel combustion in a heavy-duty diesel engine: An optimisation at low load Applied Energy. 165, 166-182
• ZHOU, L., XIA, J., SHINJO, J., CAIRNS, A., CRUFF, L., BLAXILL, H., 2016. Development of a hybrid multi-scale simulation approach for spray processes Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering. 230(3), 322-331
• ATTAR, M.A., ZHAO, H., HERFATMANESH, M.R., CAIRNS, A., 2015. Turbulent flame boundary and structure detection in an optical DISI engine using tracer-based two-line PLIF technique Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science. 68, 545-558
• ZHOU, L., XIA, J., SHINJO, J., CAIRNS, A., CRUFF, L., BLAXILL, H., 2015. Towards High-fidelity Multi-scale Simulation of Spray Atomization In: 309-312
• ZHOU, L., XIA, J., SHINJO, J., CAIRNS, A., CRUFF, L., BLAXILL, H., 2015. Towards High-fidelity Multi-scale Simulation of Spray Atomization In: 309-312
• ZHOU, L., XIA, J., SHINJO, J., CAIRNS, A., CRUFF, L., BLAXILL, H., 2015. Development of a multi-scale approach for the transition field of a liquid jet In:
• CAIRNS, A., ZHANG, Y., DINGLE, S., ZHAO, H., 2014. The effects of dual-coil ignition and axial swirl on spark-assisted controlled autoignition Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering. 228(9), 991-1002
• ANBARI ATTAR, M., HERFATMANESH, M.R., ZHAO, H., CAIRNS, A., 2014. Experimental investigation of direct injection charge cooling in optical GDI engine using tracer-based PLIF technique Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science. 59, 96-108
• MOXEY, B.G., CAIRNS, A., ZHAO, H., 2014. A Study of Turbulent Flame Development with Ethanol Fuels in an Optical Spark Ignition Engine SAE Technical Papers. 2014-October,
• DINGLE, S.F., CAIRNS, A., ZHAO, H., WILLIAMS, J., WILLIAMS, O., ALI, R., 2014. Lubricant induced pre-ignition in an optical SI engine SAE Technical Papers. 1,
• LIU, Q., CAIRNS, A., ZHAO, H., ANBARI ATTAR, M., CRUFF, L., BLAXILL, H., 2014. The Effects of Charge Homogeneity and Repeatability on Particulates Using the PLIF Technique in an Optical DISI Engine SAE International Journal of Engines. 7(1), 500-518
• ZHANG, Y., ZHAO, H., OJAPAH, M., CAIRNS, A., 2013. CAI combustion of gasoline and its mixture with ethanol in a 2-stroke poppet valve di gasoline engine Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering. 189 LNEE(VOL. 1), 67-81
• ZHANG, Y., ZHAO, H., OJAPAH, M., CAIRNS, A., 2013. 2-stroke CAI operation on a poppet valve di engine fuelled with gasoline and its blends with ethanol SAE Technical Papers. 2,
• XIA, J., ZHAO, H., MEGARITIS, A., LUO, K.H., CAIRNS, A., GANIPPA, L.C., 2013. Inert-droplet and combustion effects on turbulence in a diluted diffusion flame Combustion and Flame. 160(2), 366-383
• CAIRNS, A., ZHAO, H., TODD, A., ALEIFERIS, P., 2013. A study of mechanical variable valve operation with gasoline-alcohol fuels in a spark ignition engine Fuel. 106, 802-813
• ZHANG, Y., OJAPAH, M., CAIRNS, A., ZHAO, H., 2012. 2-stroke CAI combustion operation in a GDI engine with poppet valves SAE Technical Papers.
• LABECKI, L., CAIRNS, A., XIA, J., MEGARITIS, A., ZHAO, H., GANIPPA, L.C., 2012. Combustion and emission of rapeseed oil blends in diesel engine Applied Energy. 95, 139-146
• ZHANG, Y., ZHAO, H., OJAPAH, M., CAIRNS, A., 2012. Effects of injection timing on CAI operation in a 2/4-stroke switchable GDI engine SAE International Journal of Engines. 5(2),
• ZHANG, Y., ZHAO, H., OJAPAH, M., CAIRNS, A., 2011. Experiment and analysis of a direct injection gasoline engine operating with 2-stroke and 4-stroke cycles of spark ignition and controlled auto-ignition combustion SAE Technical Papers.
• ZHANG, Y., ZHAO, H., OJAPAH, M., CAIRNS, A., 2011. Analysis of CAI/HCCI combustion in a 2-stroke poppet valve engine In: 127-134
• CAIRNS, A., TODD, A., ALEIFERIS, P., FRASER, N., MALCOLM, J., 2010. A study of alcohol blended fuels in an unthrottled single cylinder spark ignition engine SAE Technical Papers.
• CAIRNS, A., TODD, A., ALEIFERIS, P., MALCOLM, J., 2009. A comparison of inlet valve operating strategies in a single cylinder spark ignition engine In: 3-17
• CAIRNS, A., TODD, A., HOFFMAN, H., ALEIFERIS, P., MALCOLM, J., 2009. Combining unthrottled operation with internal EGR under port and central direct fuel injection conditions in a single cylinder SI engine SAE Technical Papers.
• STANSFIELD, P., CAIRNS, A., FRASER, N., BLAXILL, H., GOLD, M., ROGERSON, J., WILLIAMS, J., 2009. A study of gasoline-alcohol blended fuels in a turbo charged DISI engine In: 243-258
• CAIRNS, A., STANSFIELD, P., FRASER, N., BLAXILL, H., GOLD DR., M., ROGERSON, J., GOODFELLOW, C., 2009. A study of gasoline-alcohol blended fuels in an advanced turbocharged DISI engine SAE International Journal of Fuels and Lubricants. 2(1), 41-57
• CAIRNS, A., BLAXILL, H., FRASER, N., 2009. Exhaust gas recirculation boosted direct injection gasoline engines
• CAIRNS, A., FRASER, N., BLAXILL, H., 2008. Pre versus post compressor supply of cooled EGR for full load fuel economy in turbocharged gasoline engines SAE Technical Papers.
• ALEIFERIS, P.G., MALCOLM, J.S., TODD, A.R., CAIRNS, A., HOFFMANN, H., 2008. An optical study of spray development and combustion of ethanol, iso-octane and gasoline blends in a DISI engine SAE Technical Papers.
• MALCOLM, J.S., ALEIFERIS, P.G., TODD, A.R., CAIRNS, A., HUME, A., BLAXILL, H., HOFFMAN, H., RUECKAUF, J., 2008. A study of alcohol blended fuels in a new optical spark-ignition engine In: 223-234
• CAIRNS, A., BLAXILL, H., 2007. The effects of two-stage cam profile switching and external EGR on SI-CAI combustion transitions SAE Technical Papers.
• GANSER, J., BLAXILL, H., CAIRNS, A., 2007. High performance-EGR on the turbo supercharged Otto engine [Hochlast-AGR am Turboaufgeladenen Ottomotor] MTZ Motortechnische Zeitschrift. 68(7-8), 564-569
• BLAXILL, H., CAIRNS, A., 2007. Production-feasible controlled auto-ignition AutoTechnology. 7(JUNE), 28-31
• CAIRNS, A., BLAXILL, H., IRLAM, G., 2006. Exhaust gas recirculation for improved part and full load fuel economy in a turbocharged gasoline engine SAE Technical Papers.
• HATTRELL, T., SHEPPARD, C.G.W., BURLUKA, A.A., NEUMEISTER, J., CAIRNS, A., 2006. Burn rate implications of alternative knock reduction strategies for turbocharged SI engines SAE Technical Papers.
• CAIRNS, A., BLAXILL, H., 2006. A comparison of knock reduction strategies in a turbocharged direct fuel injection gasoline engine In: 81-87
• CAIRNS, A., BLAXILL, H., 2005. Lean boost and external exhaust gas recirculation for high load controlled auto-ignition SAE Technical Papers.
• CAIRNS, A., BLAXILL, H., 2005. The effects of combined internal and external exhaust gas recirculation on gasoline controlled auto-ignition SAE Technical Papers.
• CAIRNS, A., BLAXILL, H., IRLAM, G., LUMSDEN, G., FRASER, N., 2005. Low cost solutions for improved fuel economy in gasoline engines In: 88-94
• CAIRNS, A., SHEPPARD, C.G.W., 2000. Cyclically resolved simultaneous flame and flow imaging in a SI engine SAE Technical Papers.