The DMF group focusses on combustion process with emphasis on gas turbines, which are extensively used for energy generation or in the aviation sector. Our goal is to understand the nonlinear and unsteady combustion process to find solutions for cleaner, safer and more efficient energy generation. To date, a phenomenon called combustion instabilities (CIs) represent a bottleneck in low-emission engines. If you want to see CIs, here is a link for an illustration: www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUFBXXtGloE. At DMF, we are particularly interested in modeling and predicting CIs.

We use multiple research tools covering a range of disciplines: Direct Numerical Simulations and Large Eddy Simulations; Level-set methods; Acoustic network models; Uncertainty Quantification, Machine Learning.

Research on CIs is multidisciplinary and BUA students from related backgrounds are welcome to participate:

• Mathematics: We deal with defective eigenvalues, where the algebraic multiplicity is larger than the geometric multiplicity. Defective eigenvalues that are branch-point singularities in the parameter space are called exceptional points, which we want to determine in combustion systems.
• Chemistry: We look for radically reduced combustion chemistries, which adequately reproduce e.g. laminar flame speeds and adiabatic flame temperatures. Cantera is used for validation (https://www.cerfacs.fr/cantera/).
• Theoretical physics: CIs are modeled as dynamical systems, which often feature (Hopf-)bifurcations and exceptional points.
• Computer Science: We are interested in explainable AI and decision trees. Besides, we require high-performance computing skills to implement a 3D Helmholtz solver, e.g. based on FreeFEM (https://freefem.org/).

Engineering students from fluid dynamics, acoustics, control etc. are welcome too. During the information session we address questions/comments of the BUA students. Students are invited to bring in own ideas.

Contact: ghani@tu-berlin.de