1st International Workshop on Combustion Kinetics: From Fundamentals to Applications
In conjunction with the 15th Asia-Pacific Conference on Combustion
18 May 2025, Singapore
Keynote Speaker
Speaker Coordination
Prof. Wang Hai
Stanford University
Talk topic: Challenges and Opportunities in Submicrosecond Combustion Kinetics
Abstract: Submicrosecond high-temperature reaction kinetics are relevant to phenomena ranging from detonation to reentry problems, with applications in detonation safety, detonation-based energy conversion, and hypersonics. The detonation front typically spans the timescale of microseconds and involves non-equilibrium thermodynamics (e.g., vibrational relaxation) and molecular ballistic energy transfer. This talk will focus on the chemistry of the detonation front, including the role of chemistry in the detonation cellular structure, the effect of vibrational relaxation on hydrogen-oxygen detonation cell size, Zeldovich supercollisions, and the applicability of current combustion chemistry understanding in detonation simulations. It is suggested that combustion kinetics under the extreme conditions of detonation remain poorly characterized. The challenges and opportunities leading to an improved understanding of combustion chemistry for detonation simulations are discussed.
Short Biography: Hai Wang is Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University. Prior to his appointment at Stanford, he was the Northrop Chair in Engineering and Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at USC. He received his Ph.D. in Fuel Science from Penn State in 1992. He was a Professional Research Staff at Princeton University from 1994 to 1996 before starting his faculty career at the University of Delaware. He is best known for his work on the mechanisms of PAH and carbon formation in reacting flows and development of chemical kinetic models for fuel pyrolysis and combustion. He has made contributions in the application of ab initio quantum chemistry and reaction rate theory in chemical kinetics. He developed stochastic methods for detailed modeling and uncertainty quantification. He contributed to the transport theories of nanoparticles and large molecules, atmospheric heterogeneous chemistry, and nanomaterials synthesis and its applications in solar cells and lithium-ion batteries. He was the recipient of the AIAA Propellant and Combustion Award in 2018, and the Humboldt Research Award in 2019. He is a Fellow of US ASME and an inaugural Fellow the Combustion Institute. He served as the Co-Editor-in-Chief of Progress in Energy and Combustion Science from 2014 to 2024. He is currently the President of the Combustion Institute, an international, non-profit, educational and scientific society.
Prof. Wenming Yang
National University of Singapore
Talk topic: Development of the next generation ammonia marine engine with high efficiency and near zero GHG emissions
Abstract: Ammonia has been deemed as one of the most promising alternative fuels for marine transportation due to its inherit advantages of carbon free and renewable, however, ammonia’s wide application is still facing some bottleneck problems such as high unburnt ammonia, low thermal efficiency, high N2O and NOx emissions etc. To address these issues, we have proposed a revolutionary concept termed as In-cylinder reforming gas recirculation (IRGR) which is able to simultaneously improve the efficiency and significantly reduce the major emissions such as unburnt ammonia, N2O and NOx emissions, thereby breaking through all the major challenges faced by ammonia marine engine. The technology has the potential to remarkably change the landscape of marine transportation and realize net-zero GHG emissions.
Short Biography: Dr Wenming Yang is currently the Dean’s Chair Professor in the department of Mechanical Engineering at National University of Singapore. He is also the editor-in-chief of Energy Engineering and Associate Editor for the ASME Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbine and Power, Alexandria Engineering Journal etc. His research interests include: Sustainable marine transportation, fuel design and its application in internal combustion engines etc. He has authored more than 400 papers in peer-reviewed reputable journals (such as Nature Communication, Applied Energy etc) and international conferences, of which, more than 340 papers are SCI index. His papers have been cited by more than 19200 times with a H-index of 73. He has won a series of awards including the Dean’s Chair professor, 4 times of scientific progress award (2nd prize) by the Ministry of Education of China and the Society of Mechanical Engineering of China. He is also a regular reviewer for a lot of peer-reviewed reputable journals such as Nature, Nature Energy, Joule, Nano Energy, Progress in Energy and Combustion Sciences etc.
Prof. Philippe Dagaut
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Talk topic: On the formation of highly oxygenated and highly unsaturated products in cool flames
Abstract: We oxidized limonene and three isomers of methylcyclohexene with O2-N2 mixtures in a jet-stirred reactor at 1-10 bar, in the cool flame regime, and fuel-lean conditions. Samples of the reacting mixtures were collected, dissolved in acetonitrile, and analyzed by high-resolution mass spectrometry (Orbitrap with 3 ionization sources: HESI, APCI, and APPI). A huge set of oxidation products, including highly oxygenated chemicals, aromatic and polyunsaturated products was obtained.
Short Biography: P. Dagaut has completed his Ph.D. in 1986. He his Research Director at CNRS (Orleans, France). He is past-President of the Combustion Institute (2020-2024). He has been Editor of Combustion and Flame and of the Proceedings of the Combustion Institute. His research topics include chemical kinetics of combustion, pollutants formation and remediation, biofuels, SAF, and commercial fuels combustion. He is co-author of more than 350 peer reviewed papers with a h-index of 77 (Scopus).
Prof. Aamir Farooq
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Talk topic: Combustion Kinetics: From Fundamentals to Applications
Abstract:
Short Biography: Dr. Farooq received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University in 2010 and subsequently joined King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). He is the principal investigator of the Farooq’s group for Advanced Sensing Technology and Energy Research (FASTER). His research interests include sustainable fuels, chemical kinetics, precision spectroscopy, and laser-based sensors. He has authored over 200 refereed journal articles and has delivered invited talks at several international conferences. At KAUST, he received the Distinguished Teaching Award, recognizing him as the best instructor over two-year period. In 2019, Dr. Farooq was honored with the prestigious Hiroshi Tsuji Early Career Research Award by Elsevier and the Combustion Institute. In 2020, he received the Research Excellence award by the Combustion Institute. He was elected as a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2022 and a fellow of the Combustion Institute in 2024. Recently, he became the inaugural director of the Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship (TIE) program at KAUST.
Prof. Song Cheng
Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Talk topic: Combustion Kinetics: From Fundamentals to Applications
Abstract:
Short Biography: Prof Song CHENG is now an Assistant Professor in Thermo-fluids and Combustion at The Departmental of Mechanical Engineering of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). Prof Cheng received his Ph.D. degree from the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Melbourne. He was appointed a Visiting Researcher in the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the University of California, Berkeley from 2017 to 2018, and worked at the Energy Systems Division of Argonne National Laboratory from 2019 to 2021. Since joining PolyU, Prof Cheng has won many awards and secured fundings from The Research Grant Council of HKSAR, The Chief Executive’s Policy Unit of HKSAR, The Environmental Protection Department of HKSAR, The Natural Science Foundation of China, The Natural Science foundation of Guangdong, etc. Currently, Prof Cheng leads the Ultra-High-Pressure Combustion Laboratory and the Laser-Diagnosing Advanced Propulsion Laboratory at PolyU, with research interests toward comprehending the fundamental physics and chemistries involved in extreme and carbon-free energy utilization.
Prof. Hisashi Nakamura
Tohoku University
Talk topic: Chemical kinetics and laminar flame studies of ammonia and their contributions to the development of practical systems
Abstract: Ammonia is now recognized as an important chemical for storing and transporting renewable energy. In recent years, ammonia combustion for energy utilization has attracted attention in order to compensate for fluctuations in electricity produced from renewable energy sources and to achieve the decarbonization of large-scale transportation and high-temperature heating processes that are difficult to electrify. This presentation introduces background, our recent studies on chemical kinetics and laminar flames of ammonia using a micro flow reactor with a controlled temperature profile and counterflow flame burner, and their contributions to the development of practical systems. The presentation also introduces generation method of small ammonia reaction models using genetic algorithms.
Short Biography: Hisashi Nakamura received his PhD degree in Engineering from Tohoku University in 2006. He became an Assistant Professor of Institute of Fluid Science, Tohoku University in 2007 and was promoted to an Associate Professor in 2015. He was a visiting researcher at Combustion Chemistry Centre, University of Galway (National University of Ireland, Galway at that time) for one year from Sep. 2011, and has been a visiting scholar at Turbomachinery Laboratory, Texas A&M University for several weeks each year from 2022 to 2024. His research interest includes combustion in the areas of laminar flames and chemical kinetics for hydrocarbons, low-carbon fuels, battery electrolytes, refrigerants, and fire retardants. He received the title of Distinguished Researcher of Tohoku University in 2020.
Prof. Zhiwu Wang
Northwestern Polytechnical University
Talk topic: Deflagration to Detonation Transition Promoted by Transverse Jet
Abstract: Pulse detonation engine (PDE) has many advantages compared to conventional propulsion systems. However, the low resistance, short distance, and rapid initiation of the detonation wave still restrict the application of PDE. The transverse jet initiation technology can achieve better initiation performance with less total pressure loss. To reveal the mechanism of deflagration to detonation transition (DDT) promoted by transverse jet, the flame acceleration of H2/Air under transverse jet was investigated. In addition, to grasp the key control factors affecting the initiation performance of the transverse jet, the influence of the arrangement, position parameters, and injection pressure of the jet, as well as the initial pressure, temperature, and equivalence ratio of the pre-filled mixture on the DDT process were systematically studied.
Short Biography: Dr. Zhiwu Wang is a professor and Ph.D. supervisor at Northwestern Polytechnical University, served as the vice dean of School of Power and Energy. His research focuses on “combustion and detonation propulsion”. He has published more than 100 papers in top journals such as Applied Thermal and Engineering, Aerospace Science and Technology, Energy, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, and so on. He has also been granted 16 patents and has published 1 monograph funded by the National Publishing Funding. In addition, he has won two Second Prize for Progress in Science and Technology, First Prize for Outstanding Contribution to “China Heart in Aviation Power” and other honors and awards.
Prof. JAI-ICK YOH
Seoul National University
Talk topic: From Batteries to Metalized Energetics: Voltage-Driven Combustion and Thermal Runaway Phenomena
Abstract: This study explores voltage-driven combustion in metalized solid propellants and lithium-ion batteries, highlighting their potential for controlled thrust generation and thermal runaway. By varying voltage, ignition and reaction rates of metalized propellants can be efficiently controlled, enabling targeted thrust output. Similarly, lithium-ion batteries are engineered to undergo thermal runaway, storing electrical energy while also serving as a chemical energy source for propulsion. The paper delves into the chemical kinetics of these systems, while the agglomeration process of metal oxides during combustion is also investigated, which significantly influences reaction rates. Numerical modeling of metalized combustion is conducted to predict and optimize thrust performance in the voltage-driven combustion system.
Short Biography: Dr. Jai-ICK Yoh is a Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Seoul National University, where he has been teaching since 2005. He is currently the President of the Korean Society of Combustion, a role he assumed in January 2024. Prior to his academic position in Korea, he was a Staff Scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory from 2002 to 2005. He earned his Ph.D. in Engineering Mechanics from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2001 and his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley in 1992.
Schedule Planning
Morning Session: Arrange the 5 talks (20 minutes presentation + 10 minutes Q&A) with a half-hour break in between (Group photo + Poster session).
Start at 9:00 AM and conclude the morning session by 12:00 PM.
Afternoon Session: Similar structure as the morning with a half-hour break. Start at 2:00 PM and end by 5:00 PM.
Registration and Submission
Registration and Fees
Fees: SGD 250 for teachers and postdocs, SGD 150 for students.
Registration Process: Online registration to handle payments and gather attendee information, together with ASPACC registration.
Poster Sessions
Schedule: Allocate whole day for poster sessions with interaction times during breaks.
Submission and Review: The submission procedure will start soon.