About
Edward Richardson is Professor of Applied Thermodynamics within Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Southampton.
He leads research into high-fidelity computational modelling of thermal and fluid processes in propulsion and energy conversion systems. Edward’s research uses data generated with the world’s largest supercomputers to develop design methods for safe, efficient and innovative application of alternative fuels, including hydrogen. His research has been supported by the UK’s EPSRC, the European Union, the US Department of Energy, and through industrial collaboration in the aerospace, maritime and automotive sectors. Richardson is Director of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Next Generation Computational Modelling.
Prior to joining the University of Southampton in 2010, Edward undertook three years of post doctoral research at the Combustion Research Facility, Sandia National Laboratories, California, and completed Marie Curie Early Stage Research Training at the European Centre for Research and Training in Advanced Scientific Computation (CERFACS) in Toulouse, France. Richardson received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Cambridge University in 2007.
Research
Research groups
Research interests
- Thermal energy systems for power and propulsion.
- Turbulent combustion simulation, theory and modelling.
- Dispersion and explosion of alternative fuels and other pollutant releases.
- Design and optimisation of thermal energy systems.
- Analysis and modelling of combsution noise.
Research projects
Active projects
Completed projects
Publications
Teaching
Ed is currently teaching Propulsion for second-year students and Aircraft Propulsion for MSc and final-year MEng students. Previously, he has taught Part 1 Mechanical Systems Analysis and Part 2 Thermodynamics for the Mechanical Engineering programme. He typically supervises 6-7 individual UG and PG projects and one Group Design Project every year.
His UG/PG projects are typically in simulation and modelling of thermofluid processes and systems for power and propulsion, including for land, marine and aircraft applications. These generally involve development of computational models using CFD or system modelling tools, or bespoke Python/Matlab codes, and using these models to investigate and develop novel energy or propulsion technologies. Typical projects in the past have involved development of concepts and designs for heat recovery machines, adaptive gas turbine cycles for more-electric aircraft, and investigation of turbulent phenomena in low-emission combustion systems.
Ed has supervised a range of Group Design Projects, most recently projects developing and building an afterburner for a micro-jet engine, a thermofluidic pump for waste heat applications, and an app for competitive cyclists providing real time feedback on their body position and aerodynamic performance.
Biography
Prizes
- EPSRC Career Acceleration Fellowship (2010)
- Best Science Visualization Videos of 2009 (2009)
- Distinguished Paper Award - Turbulent Combustion (2013)
- Hinshelwood Prize (2014)