Disha Roy
DC13: Fuel injection strategies for LNH3 and NH3-H2 blends for DFICE with ML
My research focuses on fuel injection strategies for liquid ammonia and ammonia – hydrogen blends in dual-fuel internal combustion engines. These fuels are promising for future low-carbon and zero-carbon propulsion, particularly in heavy-duty and marine applications. However, their engine use presents challenges linked to ignition, combustion stability, spray formation, phase change and real-fluid thermophysical behaviour.
The project builds on PC-SAFT/VLE-based thermodynamic and transport-property data for NH₃-H₂ mixtures under engine-relevant pressure, temperature, composition and phase-state conditions. My work will implement these machine-learning-based property models into the City’s CFD solver to accurately and efficiently simulate real-fluid ammonia–hydrogen injection, in-nozzle flow, spray formation and mixing.
Numerical simulations will then resolve both in-nozzle flow and fuel injection, with validation against network and literature data. Injection strategies including liquid ammonia direct injection, dissolved hydrogen in liquid ammonia, and ammonia–hydrogen dual-fuel configurations, will be investigated. The resulting CFD simulation database will support reduced-order model development using open-source tools, enabling faster and more reliable simulation methods for future ammonia–hydrogen engine concepts.
Supervisor Gerard Mouokue hosted by
1st secondment: academia hosted by
About me
I hold a MSc. in Mechanical Engineering, specialising in Energetics and Propulsion, from École Centrale de Nantes, France, and a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering from Manipal Institute of Technology, India.
During my master’s research internship at LHEEA/CNRS in collaboration with CMA CGM at Nantes, I developed a digital twin of a methanol-diesel dual-fuel Compression Ignition marine engine using GT-Power. The work involved experimental data post-processing, design of the methanol fumigation system via port-injection, heat-transfer model calibration, predictive combustion model development followed by optimization and validation against engine test data. This experience strengthened my interest in engine simulation, alternative fuels, and the role of digital tools in accelerating low-emission propulsion development.
Before my Master’s degree, I worked as a Mechanical Research Engineer at Raphe mPhibr in India, where I contributed to the design, analysis, and testing of UAV propulsion and structural systems. My work included mechanical design, CFD/FEA analysis, powertrain and test-bench development, and prototype validation. This gave me hands-on experience across the full engineering cycle, from concept development to experimental testing.
Within the DT-HATS doctoral network, I aim to deepen my expertise in CFD, combustion modelling, machine learning, and ammonia–hydrogen propulsion technologies. I am excited to contribute to an international research network focused on sustainable engine systems and to develop simulation tools that can support the transition towards cleaner heavy-duty and marine transport.
I am motivated by the challenge of turning complex combustion and fluid-dynamic phenomena into reliable simulation tools for cleaner propulsion systems. Through DT-HATS, I am excited to work at the convergence of CFD, machine learning, and ammonia-hydrogen engine technology.