IFRF’s newest member is the University of the Witwatersrand – specifically the Eskom Specialisation Centre for Combustion Engineering at the WITS School of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering.  Researcher and Main Contact Person Reshendren Naidoo does the introductions.

The Specialisation Centre was established in 2012 by South African national power supply company Eskom.  Its focus is on understanding the fundamental physics of the combustion of coal and the peculiarities associated with South African coal. 

Overall, the centre aims to develop a broad understanding of the combustion process and to apply new knowledge to the optimisation of real world power plant processes whilst delivering a high quality of academic research.

Main interest areas include:

• Experimental characterisation of South African coal for the purposes of modelling and simulation;
• Large Eddy Simulation with Coal Combustion;
• Coal combustion chemistry;
• Modelling of two phase flows with dense particle concentrations;
• Development of novel computational tools and techniques to further the understanding of coal combustion;
• International collaboration with academic and industrial leaders with regard to computational techniques and experimentation.

Four staffers have joined IFRF under the Specialisation Centre’s membership umbrella.  Along with Reshendren, they are Walter Schmitz, Craig Law and Dani Cipolat.  All are contactable by fellow IFRF Members via the IFRF Exchange.