Dr Steven Metcalf

Biography

Research Interests

• Thermal energy modelling
• Thermochemical and PCM heat storage
• Low-temperature heat networks
• Electric heat pumps
• Thermally driven heat pumps and refrigeration
• Vehicle air conditioning and thermal management

Teaching Interests

Module leader:

• ES2H3 Applied Thermodynamics
• ES3B5 Engines and Heat Pumps

Co-lecturer:

• ES2F8 Applied Thermodynamic Engineering

Steven is available to supervise students with a keen interest in sustainable technologies (particularly those interested in laboratory-based practical projects), including individual and group undergraduate projects and MSc projects.

Selected Publications

Locke, J.A, Shire, G.S.F.S., Metcalf, S.J., Moss, R.W., Critoph, R.E., Binary salt mixture barium bromide-barium chloride for sorption applications, Applied Thermal Engineering, 2025.

Atkinson, G.H., Critoph, R.E., Metcalf, S.J., Shire, G.S.F.S., An experimental analysis of a sodium bromide-manganese chloride resorption heat pump, Applied Thermal Engineering, 2025.

Locke, J.; Metcalf, S.; Shire, S.; Moss, R.; Critoph, R., MnCl2-MnBr2: New tailored sorbents for thermal transformation, heat pumps and thermochemical storage, Journal of Energy Storage, 2025.

Locke J.A., Atkinson G.H., Shire G.S.F.S, Metcalf, S.J., Critoph, R.E, Experimental evaluation of barium bromide-ammonia equilibrium lines, Applied Thermal Engineering, 2025.

Atkinson, G.H., Metcalf, S.J., Critoph, R.E., Shire, G.S.F., van der Pal, M., Design and manufacture of a proof-of-concept resorption heat pump using ammonia-salt chemisorption reactions, (2023) Cleaner Energy Systems, Volume 6.

Moss, R.W., Atkinson, G.H., Metcalf, S.J., Critoph, R.E., Performance characterisation and design considerations for a domestic ammonia/salt resorption heat pump, (2023) Cleaner Energy Systems, Volume 7.

Metcalf, S., Rivero-Pacho, Á., Critoph, R., Design and large temperature jump testing of a modular finned-tube carbon–ammonia adsorption generator for gas-fired heat pumps, (2021) Energies, 14 (11)

Albers, A. et al, IEA Annex 43 Final Report: Fuel driven sorption heat pumps, (2020) Heat Pump Centre, Report no. HPT-AN43-1, ISBN 978-91-89167-50-6

Gluesenkamp, K.R., Frazzica, A., Velte, A., Metcalf, S., Yang, Z., Rouhani, M., Blackman, C., Qu, M., Laurenz, E., Rivero‐Pacho, A., Hinmers, S., Critoph, R., Bahrami, M., Füldner, G., Hallin, I., Experimentally measured thermal masses of adsorption heat exchangers, (2020) Energies, 13 (5)

Critoph, R.E., Metcalf, S.J., UK Summary Report on IEA Heat Pump Technology Collaboration Programme (TCP) Annex 43: Thermally Driven Heat Pumps, (2019) BEIS, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fuel-driven-heat-pumps

Rivero-Pacho, A.M., Critoph, R.E., Metcalf, S.J., Alternative monolithic/composite carbons for adsorption generators and simulation for optimal performance, (2017) Applied Thermal Engineering, 126, pp. 350-357

Rivero-Pacho, A.M., Critoph, R.E., Metcalf, S.J., Modelling and development of a generator for a domestic gas-fired carbon-ammonia adsorption heat pump, (2017) Renewable Energy, 110, pp. 180-185

Rivero Pacho, A.M., Critoph, R.E., Metcalf, S.J., Study of Thermal Conductivity and Geometry Wall Contact Resistance Effect of Granular Active Carbon for Refrigeration and Heat Pumping Systems, (2016) Heat Transfer Engineering, 37 (7-8), pp. 720-728

Wang, L.W., Metcalf, S.J., Critoph, R.E., Tamainot-Telto, Z., Thorpe, R., Two types of natural graphite host matrix for composite activated carbon adsorbents, (2013) Applied Thermal Engineering, 50 (2), pp. 1652-1657

Kühn, A. (Ed.), Thermally driven heat pumps for heating and cooling, Technische Universität Berlin, (2013) ISBN 978-3-7983-2596-8

Metcalf, S.J., Critoph, R.E., Tamainot-Telto, Z., Optimal cycle selection in carbon-ammonia adsorption cycles, (2012) International Journal of Refrigeration, 35 (3), pp. 571-580

Wang, L.W., Metcalf, S.J., Critoph, R.E., Thorpe, R., Tamainot-Telto, Z., Development of thermal conductive consolidated activated carbon for adsorption refrigeration, (2012) Carbon, 50 (3), pp. 977-986

Wang, L.W., Metcalf, S.J., Critoph, R.E., Thorpe, R., Tamainot-Telto, Z., Thermal conductivity and permeability of consolidated expanded natural graphite treated with sulphuric acid, (2011), Carbon, 49 (14), pp. 4812-4819

Metcalf, S.J., Tamainot-Telto, Z., Critoph, R.E., Application of a compact sorption generator to solar refrigeration: Case study of Dakar (Senegal), (2011) Applied Thermal Engineering, 31 (14-15), pp. 2197-2204

Wang, L.W., Tamainot-Telto, Z., Thorpe, R., Critoph, R.E., Metcalf, S.J., Wang, R.Z., Study of thermal conductivity, permeability, and adsorption performance of consolidated composite activated carbon adsorbent for refrigeration, (2011) Renewable Energy, 36 (8), pp. 2062-2066

Wang, L.W., Tamainot-Telto, Z., Metcalf, S.J., Critoph, R.E., Wang, R.Z., Anisotropic thermal conductivity and permeability of compacted expanded natural graphite, (2010) Applied Thermal Engineering, 30 (13), pp. 1805-1811

Veselovskaya, J.V., Critoph, R.E., Thorpe, R.N., Metcalf, S., Tokarev, M.M., Aristov, Yu.I., Novel ammonia sorbents "porous matrix modified by active salt" for adsorptive heat transformation: 3. Testing of "BaCl2/vermiculite" composite in a lab-scale adsorption chiller, (2010) Applied Thermal Engineering, 30 (10), pp. 1188-1192

Critoph, R.E., Metcalf, S.J., Tamainot-Telto, Z., Proof of concept car adsorption air-conditioning system using a compact sorption reactor, (2010) Heat Transfer Engineering, 31 (11), pp. 950-956.

Tamainot-Telto, Z., Metcalf, S.J., Critoph, R.E., Zhong, Y., Thorpe, R., Carbon-ammonia pairs for adsorption refrigeration applications: ice making, air conditioning and heat pumping, (2009) International Journal of Refrigeration, 32 (6), pp. 1212-1229

Tamainot-Telto, Z., Metcalf, S.J., Critoph, R.E., Novel compact sorption generators for car air conditioning, (2009) International Journal of Refrigeration, 32 (4), pp. 727-733

Critoph, R.E., Metcalf, S.J., Specific cooling power intensification limits in ammonia-carbon adsorption refrigeration systems, (2004) Applied Thermal Engineering, 24 (5-6), pp. 661-678

Projects and Grants