Iain Burns

MEng Chemical Engineering (University of Strathclyde)

PhD Chemical Engineering (University of Cambridge)

My research involves the development and application of optical techniques for the characterisation of reacting flows.  We use light sources ranging from compact diode lasers and LEDs to high-power pulsed lasers.  This experimental work is supported by data analysis and modelling to extract physically meaningful information from the measured signals.

We use these techniques to investigate the formation of soot in combustion processes.  Soot (also known as black carbon) is a significant agent of climate forcing. Experimental characterisation of well-defined laboratory flames is essential to understanding the mechanism of soot formation and thus to predict and minimise its emission from combustion processes. 

• Laser induced fluorescence
• Cavity ring-down spectroscopy
• Laser induced incandescence
• Light scattering
• Combustion
• Laminar flames
• Temperature measurement
• Trace gas detection
• Soot and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
• Direct flame fuel cells
• Crystallisation

I lead research on the development and application of custom measurement techniques for imaging reacting flows, including under harsh conditions of luminosity, turbidity and high temperature.  This includes measurement of:

• Temperature
• Concentration of trace gases
• Concentration of particulates
• Particle size

This has obvious relevance to a wide range of industrial problems and we are keen to build new partnerships to exploit these possibilities. 

Our work has application to industrial partners in the areas of Energy and Advanced Manufacturing including, but not restricted to:

• Combustion and gasification
• Fuel cells
• Pharmaceutical processes

I currently teach mass transfer, vapour-liquid separations and adsorption processes to Year 3 and process measurements to final year MEng students.

I supervise research and industrial projects for full-time and distance-learning MEng and MSc students, chemical engineering design projects and undergraduate summer research projects.

I have previously lectured on process design, engineering maths, thermodynamics and chemical reactor engineering so I have broad experience of teaching the core components of the Chemical Engineering undergraduate curriculum.