Biography

Stan is Stream Leader for the School's Mechanical Engineering discipline. He is also the academic lead for Intercalated Year degrees and course co-ordinator of the Advanced Mechanical Engineering MSc degree. His own background is in 'thermo-fluids', working on the thermophysical behaviour of two-phase flows, be that heat transfer in thermosyphons or the mechanics of flowing slurries. His current research work is based around engineering systems for efficient use of low to medium temperature heat.

Research Interests

Current research includes the use of thermochemical reactions for heat recovery, storage and upgrading. He also works on solar energy systems (both thermal and PV), phase change materials and thermally driven cooling technology. Work on Solar Energy, Thermal Systems and Energy Storage is central to much of the research carried out within the University of Warwick's Global Research Priority (GRP) on Energy, for which Stan is the academic thematic lead for Heating & Cooling.

The Sustainable Thermal Energy Technologies research group undertakes research and design in low carbon energy technologies essential to underpin a sustainable built environment. A £2M investment from InnovateUK for the extension and refurbishment of our laboratories has brought new capabilities in many areas of analysis. Our facilities and capabilities brochure gives an indication of the equipment we have and what we can do.

A highlight of the research in which Stan has been involved is Warwick's flagship project I-STUTE, one of EPSRC's centres for End Use Energy Demand. This work is now being built upon by the program grant LoT-NET, which aims to develop the technologies required to enable low temperature heat networks.

Current research projects include:

• Circular microgrids: circular economy pathways for renewable microgrids in AfricaLink opens in a new window [UKRI]

• Instantaneous domestic hot water system for heat pumps [Industry funded]
• Heat Pump with Fully Integrated Thermochemical Store (HP-FITS) [EPSRC]
• Decarbonisation of Low Temperature Process Heat Industry (DELTA-PHI) [EPSRC]
• Low Temperature Heat Recovery and Distribution Network Technologies (LoT-NET) [EPSRC]

Previous research projects have included:

• Sorption Heat Pump Systems [EPSRC]
• Self-Powered Active Cooling and Cleaning for Solar PV Efficiency Improvement [JUICE]
• Thermal Energy Research Accelerator (T-ERA) [InnovateUK]
• Multi-scale ANalysis for Facilities for Energy STorage (Manifest) [EPSRC]
• Small Smart Sustainable Systems for future Domestic Hot Water (4S-DHW) [EPSRC]
• Industrial Demand Reduction through Innovative Storage Technologies (IDRIST) [EPSRC]
• High Performance Vacuum Flat Plate Solar Thermal Collectors for Hot Water and Process Heat [EPSRC]
• Heat networks operation controls - a step change for efficiency and waste recovery [DECC]
• PCM store optimised for integration with domestic heat pumps (HPTS) [DECC]
• Monitoring and assessment of the performance of PV arrays [NewWorldSolar]
• Development of a refrigerated container utilizing a solar adsorption refrigeration system [ATMI]
• Development of cost effective foam external wall insulation system for mass adoption in the UK retrofit market [TSB]
• Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Glasshouse Production Through the Use of Knowledge Transfer and Novel Engineering Solutions [DEFRA]
• Solar snow-melter for the Antarctic [British Antarctic Survey (BAS) & CKSolar]
• Solar thermal collector design and testing [CKSolar]

Teaching Interests

• ES2C5 Dynamics & Fluid Mechanics
• ES3B5 Engines & Heat Pumps
• ES4E0 Renewable Energy

Selected Publications

Projects and Grants

PhD projects

Applications are welcomed from those wishing to study towards a PhD and can be via the online application system. Applicants should include a description of the proposed research topic, which can be discussed prior to submission of the application. It may be beneficial (in terms of available resource) for proposed PhD study to be aligned with the topic of a current research project. Please have a look at the web pages for the Sustainable Thermal Energy Technologies research group for some background into the sorts of thing in which we are interested.

Views from recent STET graduates:

• Dr Yemi Jegede
• Dr Bash Jimoh

Some examples of general areas for PhD research topics:

• thermal energy storage (domestic/ industrial/ grid scale)
• district heating systems (technologies/ controls)
• integration & utilisation of solar thermal systems
• industrial waste heat

Examples of undergradute student projects

• Renewable energy in Tanzania
• Community engagement in sustainability
• Thermochemical energy storage materials
• Optimising wind turbine performance
• Hybrid energy systems for Tanzania
• Advanced Solar Shading system for buildings
• Modified evacuated tube solar collector

What are project students doing now?:

Sally Biddlecombe went on to work in sustainability with Arup's building services team.

Rob Sharpley went on to work with chocolate (-another type of phase change material!) for Nestle.