Department of Engineering / Research / Academic Divisions / Energy, Fluids and Turbomachinery

Department of Engineering

Energy, Fluids and Turbomachinery

Energy, Fluids and Turbomachinery

Strategic Aim: Building on research in fluid mechanics and thermodynamics to develop a systems view of energy generation and utilisation, particularly in ground and air transport, to mitigate environmental impact.

This Division's research focus includes acoustics, aerodynamics, combustion, energy use and generation, fluid mechanics and turbomachinery. The Head of Division is Professor Holger Babinsky. The research spans from fundamental investigations of turbulent flows to a wide range of applications, including aircraft, internal combustion engines and environmental fluid dynamics. Much of the research is aimed towards reducing pollutants and noise, and is characterised by the closest integration between experiment and modelling. Further details are given under the three main research groups listed on the left.

The Division has significant collaborations with a variety of different industries. In particular, the University Gas Turbine Partnership (UGTP), a collaboration between the University of Cambridge and Rolls-Royce plc, involves over 20 academic staff in the Division. Its remit is to provide an integrated approach to the fluid mechanics and thermodynamics of gas turbines, compression and other systems critical to Rolls-Royce by linking research in the areas of turbomachinery, aerodynamics, noise and vibration, combustion, heat transfer and advanced cycles.

Other major collaborations include those with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and the Dyson Foundation.