Contact Professor Bobby Sethi
- Tel: +44 (0) 1234 758270
- Email: v.sethi@cranfield.ac.uk
- Twitter: @BobbySethi10
- ORCID
Areas of expertise
- Conventional & Advanced Fuels
- Gas Turbines & Propulsion
Background
General Background
Prof. Sethi is the Chair of the Cranfield University Hydrogen Strategy Committee. He is a Professor in Low Emissions Technologies and Combustion and the Head of the Low Emissions Technologies and Combustion Group in the Centre for Propulsion and Thermal Power Engineering. He joined Cranfield University as a member of staff in 2008. His research focuses on investigating the technical and economic benefits, environmental impact and risks associated with novel, more efficient gas turbine technologies, alternative fuels and asset management strategies. He is currently also leading the numerical and experimental low emissions combustion research, teaching and continued professional development activity for both aero and stationary gas turbines. He has been particularly successful in securing significant research income from the European Union and more recently from IUK, ATI and FlyZero for projects related to reducing the impact of aviation on the environment. He has secured research income of more than £7.5 million.
Education
Prof. Sethi received a BEng Honours degree from the University of Nottingham in 2002. He subsequently joined Phoenix Aviation Ltd in Nairobi, Kenya as an aircraft maintenance engineer. In 2004, he received an MSc Thermal Power 'Aerospace Propulsion' degree from Cranfield University where he was also awarded the "British Aerospace Companies" Prize. Prof. Sethi completed his PhD in the Department of Power and Propulsion at Cranfield University in 2008. His PhD thesis is entitled "Advanced Performance Simulation of Gas Turbine Components and Fluid Thermodynamic Properties". His research was part of the European Cycle Program of the EU FP6 project VIVACE.
Teaching and Student Supervision
Prof. Sethi is the module lead of the 'Combustors' module of the MSc Thermal Power course and the Course Director for the 'Gas Turbine Combustion' CPD course. He has supervised over 130 MSc students and 25 PhD students to completion.
Publications
Prof. Sethi has published 35 peer-reviewed journal papers and over 80 peer-reviewed conference papers.
Awards and Honours
Overall Project coordinator for the ~~4M ENABLEH2 EU H2020 project (2018-2022)
CU's Low NOx H2 Combustion facility / ENABLEH2 featured in BBC (Look East), The Times,
The Guardian, RAeS, ICAO, ACI and ATI and European Commission publications (2018 - 2021)
Academic champion of a RAEng CU-Siemens Visiting Professor in Low Emissions Combustion Modelling (2018 - Date)
Lead of the H2 theme of UK-ARC (https://www.ukarc.ac.uk/) (from 2021)
Associate Editor of the RAeS 'Aeronautical Journal' (2020)
Technical Panel member for 'Freedom Flight Prize'
Chairing dedicated sessions on H2 for aviation at EASN and ASME Turbo Expo conferences (2018 - 2022).
Winner of the Student Led Teaching Award for 'SATM Best Lecturer' (2017)
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (from 2016)
Keynote presentation for the Kenya Aeronautical Society at the International Civil Aviation Day Kenyan Conference held in Nairobi, Kenya (2011)
Winner of ASME Turbo Expo and SAWE Best Paper Prizes (2009 and 2010)
Winner of the British Aerospace Companies Prize - MSc Thermal Power course (2004)
Current activities
Head of the Low Emissions Technology and Combustion (LETC) Group - Propulsion Engineering Centre
The LETC group, headed by Prof. Sethi comprises 10 members of CU staff ranging from early career researchers to senior academics as well as 7 visiting academics/professors. The research portfolio and thought leadership of the group spans across four main themes; 1. Gas turbine combustion for aero and stationary gas turbines, 2. Hydrogen and alternative fuels for civil aviation 3. Technoeconomic Environmental Risk Assessment (TERA) of novel aircraft, rotorcraft and propulsion system technologies and asset management strategies to reduce the environmental impact of aviation. 4. Gas turbine operations: flexibility, degradation and performance enhancement.
Colleagues within the LETC group also serve as module leads of the 'Combustors', 'Propulsion System Performance and Integration' and 'Gas Turbine Operations and Rotating Machines' modules of the MSc Thermal Power course. LETC Group colleagues also contribute to the following CPD courses: Gas Turbine Performance, Gas Turbine Combustion, Gas Turbine Appreciation, Gas Turbine Technology for Operations and Maintenance Engineers and Propulsion System Performance and Integration.
Deputy Director of Research - School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing
As DDOR for SATM, Prof. Sethi's main responsibility relates to supporting SATM staff with Excellence in Scholarship through further enhancing the excellence, dissemination and impact of their research. He was appointed as the UoA 12 'Engineering' lead for SATM for REF21 and was responsible compiling research outputs, impact cases and environmental statements for SATM for CU's overall REF21 submission.
Clients
- Airports Council International
- Airbus SE
- EasyJet PLC
- Hydrogen Europe
- Aerospace Technology Institute
- GKN Ltd
- Heathrow Airport Ltd
- International Air Transport Association
- International Civil Aviation Organization
- Deutsche Lufthansa AG
- MTU Aero Engines AG
- Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC
- Safran SA (Snecma)
- Siemens AG
- Thales SA
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Singh G, Schreiner BDJ, Sun X & Sethi V. (2025). A review of hydrogen micromix combustion technologies for gas turbine applications. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 127
- Wiranegara RY, Igie U, Szymanski A, Abudu K, Abbott D, .... (2024). Power augmentation and Ramp-Up rate improvement through compressed air Injection: a dry low NOx combustor CFD analysis. Applied Thermal Engineering, 243
- Zghal M, Gauthier P, Sun X, Wijesinghe C & Sethi V. (2024). Validation and Assessment of a Hybrid VOF-Lagrangian Numerical Methodology for Turbulent Liquid Fuel Jets in High-Speed Crossflow. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 146(8)
- Mourouzidis C, Singh G, Sun X, Huete J, Nalianda D, .... (2024). Abating CO2 and non-CO2 emissions with hydrogen propulsion. The Aeronautical Journal, 128(1325)
- Zghal M, Sun X, Gauthier PQ & Sethi V. (2023). Validation of a stochastic breakup model for turbulent jets in high-speed crossflow: assessment of turbulent interactions and sensitivity to boundary conditions. Atomization and Sprays, 33(4)
- Sethi V, Sun X, Nalianda D, Rolt AM, Holborn P, .... (2022). Enabling cryogenic hydrogen-based CO2-free air transport: meeting the demands of zero carbon aviation. IEEE Electrification Magazine, 10(2)
- Osigwe EO, Gad-Briggs A, Nikolaidis T, Jafari S, Sethi B, .... (2021). Thermodynamic performance and creep life assessment comparing hydrogen- and jet-fueled turbofan aero engine. Applied Sciences, 11(9)
- Zhu Y, Sun X, Sethi V, Gauthier P, Guo S, .... (2021). Numerical investigation of the breakup mode and trajectory of liquid jet in a gaseous crossflow at elevated conditions. The Aeronautical Journal, 125(1291)
- Yoko MJ, Sun X, van der Spuy SJ & Sethi V. (2021). Multi-fidelity modelling of an impingement/effusion cooled gas turbine combustor liner. Applied Thermal Engineering, 185
- Rolt A, Mart\xednez Bueno V, Romanelli M, Sun X, Gauthier P, .... (2021). Numerical Studies of Novel Aero Engine Secondary Combustors for Low-NOX Emissions.
- Kissoon S, Mastropierro F, Nalianda D, Rolt AM & Sethi B. (2020). Assessment of the BWB aircraft for military transport. Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, 92(5)
- Liu Y, Sun X, Sethi V, Li Y-G, Nalianda D, .... (2020). Development and application of a preliminary design methodology for modern low emissions aero combustors. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power and Energy, 235(4)
- San Benito Pastor DG, Nalianda D, Sethi V, Midgley R, Rolt AM, .... (2020). Preliminary design framework for the power gearbox in a contra-rotating open rotor. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 143(4)
- Sebastiampillai J, Rolt AM, Jacob F, Nalianda D & Sethi V. (2019). Thermodynamic analysis of nutating disc engine topping cycles for aero-engine applications. Energy, 182
- Goldberg C, Nalianda D, Sethi V, Pilidis P, Singh R, .... (2018). Assessment of an energy-efficient aircraft concept from a techno-economic perspective. Applied Energy, 221
- Liu Y, Sun X, Sethi V, Nalianda D, Li Y-G, .... (2017). Review of modern low emissions combustion technologies for aero gas turbine engines. Progress in Aerospace Sciences, 94
- Sun X, Liu Y, Sethi V & Li J. (2017). Preliminary aerodynamic design methodology for aero engine lean direct injection combustors. The Aeronautical Journal, 121(1242)
- Mahmood T, Jackson AJB, Sethi V, Khanal B & Fakhre A. (2017). CFD investigation of a core-mounted-target-type thrust reverser, Part 2: reverser deployed configuration. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 140(9)
- Mahmood T, Jackson AJB, Sethi V, Khanal B & Ali F. (2017). CFD investigation of a core-mounted-target-type thrust reverser, Part 1: reverser stowed configuration. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 140(9)
- Jacob F, Rolt AM, Sebastiampillai JM, Sethi V, Belmonte M, .... (2017). Performance of a supercritical CO2 bottoming cycle for aero applications. Applied Sciences, 7(3)
- Rolt A, Sethi V, Jacob F, Sebastiampillai J, Xisto C, .... (2017). Scale effects on conventional and intercooled turbofan engine performance-CORRIGENDUM. The Aeronautical Journal, 121(1242)
- Bellocq P, Garmendia I, Sethi V, Patin A, Capodanno S, .... (2016). Multidisciplinary Assessment of the Control of the Propellers of a Pusher Geared Open Rotor—Part I: Zero-Dimensional Performance Model for Counter-Rotating Propellers. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 138(7)
- Bellocq P, Garmendia I, Sethi V, Patin A, Capodanno S, .... (2016). Multidisciplinary Assessment of the Control of the Propellers of a Pusher Geared Open Rotor—Part II: Impact on Fuel Consumption, Engine Weight, Certification Noise, and NOx Emissions. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 138(7)
- Xue R, Hu C, Sethi V, Nikolaidis T & Pilidis P. (2016). Effect of steam addition on gas turbine combustor design and performance. Applied Thermal Engineering, 104
- Nalianda D, Kyprianidis KG, Sethi V & Singh R. (2015). Techno-economic viability assessments of greener propulsion technology under potential environmental regulatory policy scenarios. Applied Energy, 157
- Lokesh K, Sethi V, Nikolaidis T, Goodger E & Nalianda D. (2015). Life cycle greenhouse gas analysis of biojet fuels with a technical investigation into their impact on jet engine performance. Biomass and Bioenergy, 77
- Celis C, Sethi V, Singh R & Pilidis P. (2015). On Optimisation of Environmentally Friendly Aircraft Engine Cycles. Journal of Aerospace Technology and Management, 7(2)
- Camilleri W, Anselmi E, Sethi V, Laskaridis P, Rolt A, .... (2015). Performance characteristics and optimisation of a geared intercooled reversed flow core engine. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 229(2)
- Camilleri W, Anselmi E, Sethi V, Laskaridis P, Grönstedt T, .... (2015). Concept description and assessment of the main features of a geared intercooled reversed flow core engine. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 229(9)
- Celis C, Sethi V, Zammit-Mangion D, Singh R & Pilidis P. (2014). Theoretical optimal trajectories for reducing the environmental impact of commercial aircraft operations. Journal of Aerospace Technology and Management, 6(1)
- Khandelwal B, Banjo O & Sethi V. (2014). Design, Evaluation and Performance Analysis of Staged Low Emission Combustors. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 136(10)
- Kraft J, Sethi V & Singh R. (2014). Optimization of Aero Gas Turbine Maintenance Using Advanced Simulation and Diagnostic Methods. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 136(11)
- Khandelwal B, Lili D & Sethi V. (2014). Design and study on performance of axial swirler for annular combustor by changing different design parameters. Journal of the Energy Institute, 87(4)
- Lolis P, Giannakakis P, Sethi V, Jackson AJB & Pilidis P. (2014). Evaluation of aero gas turbine preliminary weight estimation methods. The Aeronautical Journal, 118(1204)
- Saatlou EN, Kyprianidis KG, Sethi V, Abu AO & Pilidis P. (2014). On the trade-off between minimum fuel burn and maximum time between overhaul for an intercooled aeroengine. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 228(13)
- Khandelwal B, Karakurt A, Sekaran PR, Sethi V & Singh R. (2013). Hydrogen powered aircraft : The future of air transport. Progress in Aerospace Sciences, 60
- Khandelwal B, Karakurt A, Sethi V, Singh R & Quan Z. (2013). Preliminary design and performance analysis of a low emission aero-derived gas turbine combustor. The Aeronautical Journal, 117(1198)
- Sethi V, Doulgeris G, Pilidis P, Nind A, Doussinault M, .... (2013). The Map Fitting Tool Methodology: Gas Turbine Compressor Off-Design Performance Modeling. Journal of Turbomachinery, 135(6)
- Goulos I, Hempert F, Sethi V, Pachidis V, d'Ippolito R, .... (2013). Rotorcraft Engine Cycle Optimization at Mission Level. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 135(9)
- Kyprianidis KG, Sethi V, Ogaji SOT, Pilidis P, Singh R, .... (2012). Uncertainty in gas turbine thermo-fluid modelling and its impact on performance calculations and emissions predictions at aircraft system level. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 226(2)
- Pervier H, Nalianda D, Espi R, Sethi V, Pilidis P, .... (2011). Application of Genetic Algorithm for Preliminary Trajectory Optimization. SAE International Journal of Aerospace, 4(2)
- Ogaji S, Pilidis P & Sethi V. (2009). Power plant selection in a carbon constrained world the TERA (technoeconomic environmental risk analysis). Hangkong Dongli Xuebao/Journal of Aerospace Power, 24(4)
