Dr Michael Evans

• Biography/ Background

  General Biography

  Dr Michael Evans is a Research Associate in the School of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Adelaide, having completed his Ph.D. (with a Dean's Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence) in 2017 and Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical and Aerospace) and Bachelor of Science (Theoretical and Experimental Physics) with 1st class Honours in 2013. Michael's Ph.D. research focussed on the differences in, and transition between, conventional and MILD (moderate or intense low oxygen dilution) combustion. Michael's research is undertaken using experimental laser diagnostics and numerical simulations on cluster computing systems. Michael has complemented his work at the University of Adelaide with research visits to the Politecnico di Milano in Italy and Stanford University in the United States of America. Michael won an Endeavour Postgraduate Award in 2015 to fund the latter of these trips - one of only two successful engineering applicants nation-wide [official project press release] [UoA news article] [School news article]. Michael's current research interests are focussed on both the combustion of liquid fuels and the extension of his Ph.D. work. 

  Outside of the university environment, Michael has over ten years experience teaching swimming in paid and volunteer capacities. He has worked as both an instructor and instructor-in-charge for a private swim-school, a disability support organisation, a Royal Life Saving Society (SA) volunteer programme and the annual VACSWIM programme. Between 2010 and 2015, in addition to working for a private swim-school, Michael worked as a swimming instructor and pool lifeguard in programmes tailored for adults with intellectual disabilities.

  ResearchGate profile

  Google Scholar profile

  Scopus Profile

  LinkedIn Profile

  Research/Engineering Experience

  January 2017 to current	Research Associate	School of Mechanical Engineering – University of Adelaide, project entitled: Advanced Experimental and Modelling Study to Better Predict Spray Flames
  Semester 1 – 2017	Lecturer/Course Coordinator	The University of Adelaide – MECH ENG 4118/7059 Finite Element Analysis of Structures
  March 2014 to March 2017 Submitted, October 2016 Accepted without changes, March 2017	Ph.D. Student	School of Mechanical Engineering – University of Adelaide, project entitled: Flame Stabilisation in the Transition to MILD Combustion Awarded: Dean's Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence
  April 2015 to October 2015	Endeavour Postgraduate Scholar	Department of Mechanical Engineering – Stanford University, with the: Flow Physics and Computational Engineering (FPCE) Research Group, in the Center for Turbulence Research (CTR)
  September 2014 to November 2014	Visiting Research Student	Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering – Politecnico di Milano (POLIMI), with the: Chemical Reaction Engineering and Chemical Kinetics (CRECK) Research Group
  Semester 1 – 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016	Tutor/Marker	The University of Adelaide – MECH ENG 4118/7059 (2014) Finite Element Analysis of Structures
  Semester 1 – 2014	Tutor	The University of Adelaide – MECH ENG 4111/7045 (2014) CFD for Engineering Applications
  March 2013 to Nov 2013	Honours Student	School of Mechanical Engineering  – University of Adelaide, on project: Jet Flame Modelling Winner: Best Energy Related Project
  Semester 2 – 2013	Marker	The University of Adelaide – MECH ENG 4120/7023 (2014) Fracture Mechanics
  March 2013 to June 2013	Visiting Honours Student	Department of Physics – University of Adelaide, on project: Effects of Surface Finish on Parasitic Mode Suppression for Optimisation of a Diode Pumped 1319nm Laser
  May 2012 to June 2013	Student Researcher	The University of Adelaide – GRE pipelines research (EPCRC ref: RP3-05)
  Nov 2010 to Feb 2011	Vacation Student	DSTO – Vacation Student (Work Experience)

• Awards & Achievements

  David Warren Travelling Fellowship	2018
  Dean's Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence	2017
  Endeavour Postgraduate Scholarship  [link1] [link2] [link3]	2015
  Best Energy Related Project (for Jet Flame Modelling) [link] Sponsor: Australian Institute of Energy (AIE)	2013
  2nd Place, AIAA RegionVII-AU Student Conference [link]	2013
  Fred Jacka Memorial Prize (for Experimental Physics III) Sponsor: University of Adelaide – School of Chemistry and Physics	2012
  ECMS Dean’s Certificate of Merit	2008, 2010, 2011, 2012

• Teaching Interests

  Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

  Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

• Research Interests

  MILD Combustion and Autoignition

  Spray and Droplet Combustion

  Computational Modelling of Reacting Flows

  Experimental Investigation and Laser Diagnostics of Flames

  High Pressure Combustion

  Reynolds-Averaged, Finite-Rate Combustion Models

• Research Funding

  Overseas Conference Leave Scheme	The University of Adelaide	2018	3500 AUD
  David Warren Travelling Fellowship	Combustion Institute (ANZ section)	2018	1500 AUD
  Presenter Travel Grant	Combustion Institute (ANZ section)	2018	300 AUD
  Student Presenter Support	Combustion Institute (ANZ section)	2016	250 AUD
  Student Presenter Support	Combustion Institute	2016	800 USD
  Endeavour Postgraduate Scholarship	Australian Government	2015	69 500 AUD
  Student Presenter Support	Combustion Institute (ANZ section)	2013, 2015	2 × 200 AUD
  Australian Postgraduate Award	The University of Adelaide	2014 – 2017	77 500 AUD
  Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology (DFEEST) Defence Scholarship	The University of Adelaide	2013	5 000 AUD
  QANTAS Travel Grant	Campus Travel	2013	100 AUD
  Summer Vacation Scholarship	Defence, Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO)	2010 – 2011	4 200 AUD
  Headstart Scholarship	The University of Adelaide	2008	5 800 AUD
  	Approximate Total Value:		168 000 AUD

• Publications

  Journal Articles

  1. Evans, MJ & Medwell PR (2019). Understanding and interpreting laser diagnostics in flames: A review of experimental measurement techniques. Frontiers in Mechanical Engineering - Thermal and Mass Transport, vol 5, article 65. (Invited Review)

  2. Foo, KK, Evans, MJ, Sun, Z, Medwell, PR, Alwahabi, ZT, Nathan, GJ & Dally, BB (2019). Calculated Concentration Distributions and Time Histories of Key Species in an Acoustically Forced Laminar Flame. Combustion and Flame, vol 204, pp 189–203.

  3. Evans, MJ, Medwell, PR, Sun, Z, Chinnici, A, Ye, J, Chan, QN & Dally, BB (2019). Downstream Evolution of n-Heptane/Toluene Flames in Hot and Vitiated Coflows. Combustion and Flame, vol 202, pp 78–89.

  4. Evans, MJ, Sidey, JAM, Ye, J, Medwell, PR, Dally, BB & Mastorakos, E (2019). Temperature and Reaction Zone Imaging in Turbulent Swirling Dual-Fuel Flames. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, vol 37, no 2, pp 2159–2166.

  5. Evans, MJ, Petre, C, Medwell, PR & Parente, A (2019). Generalisation of the Eddy-Dissipation Concept for Jet Flames with Low Turbulence and Low Damköhler Number. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, vol 37, no 4, pp 4497–4505.

  6. Ye, J, Medwell, PR, Kleinheinz, K, Evans, MJ, Dally, BB & Pitsch, HG (2018). Structural Differences of Ethanol and DME Jet Flames in a Hot Diluted Coflow. Combustion and Flame, vol 192, pp 473–494.

  7. Ye, J, Medwell, PR, Evans, MJ & Dally, BB (2017). Characteristics of Turbulent n-Heptane Jet Flames in a Hot and Diluted Coflow. Combustion and Flame, vol 183, pp 330–342.
     

  8. Evans, MJ, Chinnici, A, Medwell, PR & Ye, J (2017). Ignition Features of Methane and Ethylene Fuel-Blends in Hot and Diluted Coflows. Fuel, vol 203, pp 279–289.

  9. Evans, MJ, Medwell, PR, Tian, ZF, Ye, J, Frassoldati, A & Cuoci, A (2017). Effects of Oxidant Stream Composition on Non-Premixed Laminar Flames with Heated and Diluted Coflows. Combustion and Flame, vol 178, pp 297–310.

  10. Evans, MJ, Medwell, PR, Wu, H, Stagni, A & Ihme, M (2017). Classification and Lift-Off Height Prediction of Non-Premixed MILD and Autoignitive Flames. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, vol 36, no 3, pp 4297–4304.

  11. Medwell, PR, Evans, MJ, Chan, QN & Katta, VR (2016). Laminar Flame Calculations for Analysing Trends in Autoignitive Jet Flames in a Hot and Vitiated Coflow. Energy and Fuels, vol 30, no 10, pp 8680–8690.

  12. Ye, J, Medwell, PR, Dally, BB & Evans, MJ (2016). The Transition of Ethanol Flames from Conventional to MILD Combustion. Combustion and Flame, vol 171, pp 173–184.

  13. Evans, MJ, Medwell, PR, Tian, ZF, Frassoldati, A, Cuoci, A & Stagni, A (2016). Ignition Characteristics in Spatially Zero-, One- and Two-Dimensional Laminar Ethylene Flames. AIAA Journal, vol 54, no 10, pp 3255–3264.

  14. Evans, MJ, Medwell, PR & Tian, ZF (2015). Modelling Lifted Jet Flames in a Heated Coflow using an Optimised Eddy Dissipation Concept Model. Combustion Science and Technology, vol 187, no 7, pp 1093–1109. [accepted manuscript]

  Edited Proceedings

  1. Medwell, PR, Alwahabi, ZT, Evans, MJ, Chan, QN, Chinnici, A, Tian, ZF & Dally, BB (2019). Proceedings of the 2019 Australian Combustion Symposium. Part of Proceedings of the Australian Combustion Symposium. ISSN: 1839-8162 (Online).

  Book Chapters

  1. Shaw, IJ, Kildare, JAC, Evans, MJ, Chinnici, A, Sparks, CAM, Rubaiyat, SNH, Chin, RC & Medwell, PR. A Theoretical Review of Rotating Detonation Engines. IntechOpen. London. United Kingdom. In Press.

  Conference Papers

  1. Evans, MJ, Medwell, PR & Chan, QN (2019). Preliminary Observations of Turbulent Flames in a Confined and Pressurised Jet in Hot and Vitiated Coflow Burner. In Proceedings of the 2019 Australian Combustion Symposium, Adelaide, Australia. 4-6 December 2019.

  2. Kildare, JAC, Evans, MJ, Chinnici, A & Medwell, PR (2019). Classification of MILD and autoignitive ethylene flames diluted with N₂, O₂ and CO₂. In Proceedings of the 2019 Australian Combustion Symposium, Adelaide, Australia. 4-6 December 2019.

  3. Proud, DB, Evans, MJ, Medwell, PR & Vandenbussche, F (2019). Numerical Modelling of Mild Combustion at Elevated Pressures. In Proceedings of the 2019 Australian Combustion Symposium, Adelaide, Australia. 4-6 December 2019.

  4. Chinnici, A & Evans, MJ (2019). Influence of steam dilution on flame structure and soot formation of hot, diluted ethylene flames. In Proceedings of the 2019 Australian Combustion Symposium, Adelaide, Australia. 4-6 December 2019.

  5. Shaw, IJ, Evans, MJ, Chin, RC & Medwell, PR (2019). Computational Fluid Dynamics Modelling of Rotating Detonation Engines. In Proceedings of the 2019 Australian Combustion Symposium, Adelaide, Australia. 4-6 December 2019.

  6. Evans, MJ, Chinnici, A, Medwell, PR & Dally, BB (2019). Autoignition of Hydrogen/Ammonia Blends at Elevated Pressures and Temperatures. In Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Hydrogen Safety, Adelaide, Australia. 24–26 September 2019.

  7. Evans, MJ, Ye, J, Kruse, S, Medwell, PR, Sun, Z, Dally, BB & Pitsch, H (2019). Measurements of Oxygenated C8/Toluene Flames in Hot and Vitiated Coflows. In Proceedings of the 12th Asia-Pacific Conference on Combustion, Fukuoka, Japan. 1–5 July 2019.

  8. Foo, KK, Evans, MJ, Medwell, PR, Nathan, GJ & Dally, BB (2019). Computational study of enhanced soot production in a time-varying laminar non-premixed flame. In Proceedings of the 12th Asia-Pacific Conference on Combustion, Fukuoka, Japan. 1–5 July 2019.

  9. Evans, MJ, Medwell, PR & Chan, QN (2019). Commissioning a Confined and Pressurised Jet in Hot and Vitiated Coflow Burner. In Proceedings of the 11th Mediterranean Combustion Symposium, Tenerife, Spain. 16–20 June 2019.

  10. Kirch, T, Evans, MJ, Medwell, PR, Rapp, VH, Birzer, CH & Gadgil, AJ (2018). Mixing uniformity of emissions for point-wise measurements in exhaust ducts. In Proceedings of the 21st Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, Adelaide, Australia. 10-13 December 2018. ISBN: 978-0-646-59784-3.

  11. Rowhani, A, Chinnici, A, Evans, MJ, Medwell, PR, Nathan, GJ & Dally, BB (2018). Variation of residence time in non-premixed turbulent bluff-body ethylene flames as a function of burner diameter. In Proceedings of the 21st Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, Adelaide, Australia. 10-13 December 2018. ISBN: 978-0-646-59784-3.

  12. Evans, MJ, Petre, C & Parente, A (2017). Generalisation of the eddy-dissipation concept for low turbulence, low Damköhler number jet flames. In Proceedings of the 11th Asia-Pacific Conference on Combustion, Sydney, Australia. 10-14 December 2017. ISSN: 2208-875X.

  13. Evans, MJ, Medwell, PR, Sun, ZW & Dally, BB (2017). Temperature imaging of gaseous n-heptane flames in hot vitiated coflows. In Proceedings of the 11th Asia-Pacific Conference on Combustion, Sydney, Australia. 10-14 December 2017. ISSN: 2208-875X.

  14. Evans, MJ, Medwell, PR & Ye, J (2015). Laser-Induced Fluorescence of Hydroxyl in Ethylene Jet Flames in Hot and Diluted Coflows. In Proceedings of the 7th Australian Conference on Laser Diagnostics in Fluid Mechanics and Combustion, Melbourne, Australia. 9-11 December 2015. ISBN: 978-0-646-94892-8.

  15. Ye, J, Medwell, PR, Evans, MJ & Dally, BB (2015). Quantitative Rayleigh temperature imaging in turbulent flames of prevaporised n-heptane. In Proceedings of the 7th Australian Conference on Laser Diagnostics in Fluid Mechanics and Combustion, Melbourne, Australia. 9-11 December 2015. ISBN: 978-0-646-94892-8.

  16. Evans, MJ, Medwell, PR, Wu, H, Stagni, A & Ihme, M (2015). Classification of Non-Premixed MILD and Autoignitive Flames. In Proceedings of the Australian Combustion Symposium, Melbourne, Australia. 7-9 December 2015. ISSN: 1839-8170 (Print), 1839-8162 (Online).

  17. Medwell, PR, Evans, MJ, Chan, QN & Katta, VR (2015). The adequacy of laminar flame calculations for identifying MILD combustion. In Proceedings of the Australian Combustion Symposium, Melbourne, Australia. 7-9 December 2015. ISSN: 1839-8170 (Print), 1839-8162 (Online).

  18. Ye, J, Medwell, PR, Evans, MJ & Dally, BB (2015). The impact of carrier gas on ethanol flame behaviour in a Jet in Hot Coflow (JHC) burner. In Proceedings of the Australian Combustion Symposium, Melbourne, Australia. 7-9 December 2015. ISSN: 1839-8170 (Print), 1839-8162 (Online).

  19. Wu, H, Evans, M & Ihme, M (2015). LES of Mild Combustion using Pareto-efficient Combustion Adaptation. In 68th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Fluid Dynamics, vol. 60, no. 21, Boston, Massachusetts. 22-24 November 2015, Abstract ID: BAPS.2015.DFD.D5.4.

  20. Evans, MJ, Medwell, PR, Tian, ZF, Frassoldati, A, Cuoci, A & Stagni, A (2015). Ignition Characteristics in Spatially Zero-, One- and Two-Dimensional Laminar Ethylene Flames. In 22nd AIAA Computational Fluid Dynamics Conference, Dallas, Texas, United States of America. 22-26 June 2015. ISBN: 978-1-62410-366-7 (Online).

  21. Evans, MJ, Tian, ZF & Medwell, PR (2013). Modelling Ethylene–Hydrogen Jet Flames in the MILD Combustion Regime. In MODSIM2013, 20th International Congress on Modelling and Simulation, Adelaide, Australia. 1-6 December 2013, pp 1554–1560. ISBN: 978-0-9872143-3-1.

  22. Evans, MJ, Medwell, PR & Tian, ZF (2013). Parametric study of EDC model constants for modelling lifted jet flames in a heated coflow. In Proceedings of the Australian Combustion Symposium, Perth, Australia. 6-8 November 2013, pp 348–352. ISSN: 1839-8170 (Print), 1839-8162 (Online).

  Technical Papers

  1. Codrington, J, Evans, M & Orman, M (2013). Resistance of screwed GRE pipe joints to rapid temperature fluctuations. Project RP3-05: GRE pipeline research. Energy Pipelines CRC, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. 

  Invited Talks

  1. Evans, MJ, Medwell, PR, Parente, A  (2019). Advances in the eddy dissipation concept for improved prediction in distributed combustion regimes. For presentation at the “17th International Conference on Numerical Combustion,” Aachen, Germany. 6–8 May 2019.

  2. Evans, M & Medwell, P (2019). Laser diagnostics of simple and complex fuels in hot & diluted coflows, and future challenges. Presented at the “1st Workshop on MILD combustion: modelling challenges, experimental configurations and diagnostic tools,” Naples, Italy. 24 Jan. 2019. (Full financial support provided from workshop organisers.)

  3. Evans, M (2015). Experiments and Regimes in MILD Combustion. Stanford University, California, USA. 10 August 2015. 

  4. Evans, M (2014). Open-, laminar-, edcSMOKE and the Transition to MILD Combustion. Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy. 12 November 2014. 

  5. Evans, M (2014). Modelling Challenges in Turbulent MILD Combustion. Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy. 15 September 2014.

  Competitive

  1. Evans, MJ, Medwell, PR & Tian, ZF (2013). Modelling Ethylene–Nitrogen Jet Flames in a Heated Coflow. Presented at AIAA Region VII–AU Student Conference, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. 27-29 November 2013. (2nd Place)

• Professional Associations

  The Combustion Institute

  American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)

  Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS)

Entry last updated: Thursday, 20 Feb 2020