According to a statement, FLITES (Fibre-Laser Imaging of Gas Turbine Exhaust Species) aims to establish a world-leading capability to map several exhaust species from aircraft using tomographic imaging.
Together with academic and commercial partners, including the universities of Southampton and Strathclyde, Rolls-Royce, Shell, Covesion, Fianium and OptoSci, Manchester academics will lead the four-year study focusing on CO2 emissions and how they can be lowered.
The Manchester researchers, based in the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, aim to produce the first-ever images of the distribution of chemical species in aero-engine exhaust plumes.
They will use fibre lasers developed at Southampton University and electronic architectures for spectroscopic measurement from Strathclyde University.
The FLITES team has been awarded £1.8m by the EPSRC, with the companies providing more than £500,000 in support.
It is expected that the research project will enhance turbine-related research and development capacity in both academia and industry by opening up access to exhaust plume chemistry.
Project lead Prof Hugh McCann said: ‘There has never been any research using turbine emissions data to determine the condition and behaviour of internal engine components, especially the combustor.
‘FLITES will open a new door to penetrate the complex phenomena that dictate the performance and limitations of advanced aero engines and will help to really pin down the performance benefits of novel biofuels.’
Five ways to prepare for your first day
If I may add my own personal Tip No. 6 it goes something like this: From time to time a more senior member of staff will start explaining something...