Inna Gorbatenko

Background

I graduated in 2012 from University of Leeds with a BSc (Hons) in Aviation Technology and Management. During this time I developed a strong interest in Fluid Dynamics. My first year project of Integrated MSc/PhD in Fluid Dynamics programme was Capillary Driven Jet Break-up, which is of significant importance to many industrial applications, such as inkjet printing, three-dimensional printing and printing functional materials for flexible electronics. This project aimed to contribute to the fundamental understanding of complexities involved in the mechanism of instability and breakup of jets of viscoelastic fluids and to explore regime of very short relaxation time and low viscosity complex fluids using the numerical simulations, theoretical predictions and innovative experimental technique.

Research Interests

My research interest is the turbulent combustion and autoignition of alternative engine fuels. Alcohols such as bio-methanol, bio-ethanol and bio-butanol, which can be also seen as renewable source of energy depending on both the feedstock and production route, can be added to traditional fossil fuels and help in reducing emissions and improving the efficiency of engines. My research investigates the effects of the alcohol fuel addition to gasoline and Toluene Reference Fuel (TRF) mixtures on ignition delay times and excitation times through the experimental work and numerical simulations. This will enable us to improve our understanding of the conditions which lead to detonation and use this knowledge to design fuels applicable for various engine operations and energy conservation strategies.

Why I chose the CDT in Fluid Dynamics

Fluid Dynamics is a broad interdisciplinary field that is involved or can be related with almost everything in our lives. It is applicable in transport, manufacture, medicine, meteorology, defence, oceanography and energy. The ability to understand and predict fluid flows is significant to innovation and to tackle problems which society might encounter. CDT in Fluid Dynamics at University of Leeds is unique opportunity to gain the deep understanding on the particular subject area and to improve the current methodology.