Research

Production and combustion of low and zero-carbon fuels

To meet the carbon neutrality target, one of the urgent needs is the energy sector to transition from being fossil-fuel reliant to embracing sustainable carbon-free solutions. Zero-carbon fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia, biofuels and emerging low carbon fuels adaptable to current or new energy systems are envisaged to be important, especially for sector that cannot adopt electrification, such as metallurgy, gas turbine power generation, marine transport etc. Here, we examine clean production pathways for carbonless fuel, i.e. thermochemical conversion method such as pyrolysis, or electrochemistry method such as plasma-assisted catalytic conversion methods. Further, our lab is equipped with advanced laser diagnostics and burners to investigate clean combustion technologies.

Advanced laser diagnostics equipment and combustion facility for ammonia/hydrogen combustion testings.

Thermochemical conversion research facility for biomass valorisation for syngas production: Prototype developed from the Omnipreneurship Awards 2020 Sustainability Branch (finalist).

Publications

1. T Xie, CT Chong, S Wang, T Seljak, JH Ng, S Karmarkar, B Tian, Flow field, flame structure and emissions quantifications of oxygenated glycerol in a swirl flame combustor, Fuel, 321:124052, 2022

2. CT Chong, B Tian, JH Ng, L Fan, S Ni, KY Wong, S Hochgreb, Quantification of carbon particulates produced under open liquid pool and prevaporised flame conditions: Waste cooking oil biodiesel and diesel blends, Fuel, 270:117469, 2020

3.  BHH Goh, CT Chong, Y Ge, HC Ong, J-H Ng, B Tian, A Veeramuthu, S Lim, T Seljak, V Jozsa, Progress in utilisation of waste cooking oil for sustainable biodiesel and biojet fuel production, Energy Conversion and Management, 223:113296, 2020 (ESI Highly cited paper)

4.  GR Mong, CT Chong, JH Ng, WWF Chong, SS Lam, HC Ong, FN Ani, Microwave pyrolysis for valorisation of horse manure biowaste, Energy Conversion and Management, 220:113074, 2020

5.  CT Chong, GR Mong, JH Ng, WWF Chong, FN Ani, SS Lam, HC Ong, Pyrolysis characteristis and kinetic studies of horse manure using thermogravimetric analysis, Energy Conversion and Management; 180:1260-1267, 2019 (ESI Highly cited paper)

Research
Production and combustion of low and zero-carbon fuels

To meet the carbon neutrality target, one of the urgent needs is the energy sector to transition from being fossil-fuel reliant to embracing sustainable carbon-free solutions. 
Biojet fuels production, application and sustainability

The aviation sector has identified sustainable aviation fuel with low carbon footprint as the primary method for decarbonisation. One of the aims of the group is to produce a novel technical pathway to produce sustainable aviation fuels from local resources. 
Flame synthesis of nanomaterials production for energy application

Flame synthesis is an alternative method to produce nanomaterials with the advantage of short production time and industrial scalability. In our previous work, the technique of rich-premixed flame synthesis method to produce carbon nanotubes on a nickel catalyst-laden substrate.