Dr Dawei Wu

School of Engineering
Honorary Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering

Contact details

Telephone: +44 (0) 121 414 4127
Email: d.wu.1@bham.ac.uk

Address: School of Engineering
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Dr Dawei Wu is a Honorary Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering, an EPSRC Industry Innovation Fellow, and International Tutor at the School of Engineering. He is a member of the CEE (Clean Energy Engineering) research group and is associated with the CASE (Connectivity, Autonomy, Sharing, and Electrification) Automotive Research and Education Centre. Dr Wu’s research strength lies in zero-carbon fuels (such as hydrogen, ammonia, and e-fuels) and zero-emitting propulsion technologies for transport.

Qualifications

PhD in Refrigeration and Cryogenics Engineering
BSc (Hons) in Thermal Energy and Power Engineering
BSc (Hons) in Automation Control Engineering

Biography

Dr Dawei Wu graduated from Shanghai Jiaotong University before he joined Newcastle University as a research fellow. He became a Lecturer and later a Senior Lecturer in Marine Engineering at Newcastle University's School of Engineering before moving to the University of Birmingham in 2020.

Dr Wu’s research strength lies in zero-carbon fuels (such as hydrogen, ammonia, and e-fuels) and zero-emitting propulsion technologies for transport. Currently, he is a part of the UK National Clean Maritime Research Hub and is working as a theme leader in 'low-carbon power and propulsion systems for shipping.' He is leading the development of hydrogen technology roadmaps in the UK National Hydrogen Research Hub: HI-ACT (Hydrogen Integration for Accelerated Energy Transitions). Additionally, he is a work package leader for 'Propulsion System Scalability Analysis' in the program grant – MariNH3: Green Ammonia Thermal Propulsion. Other research activities and industrial projects include the development of disruptive linear engine generators and cryogenic energy assisted power generation cycles, studies on fundamental thermofluids and combustion of hydrogen and ammonia, as well as utilisation of AI approaches and digital twin models for optimal designs of hybrid powertrains in HGVs, rail, and marine vessels.

He has published over 60 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters in the field of Mechanical and Marine Engineering. He is an associate journal editor of 'Frontiers in Energy Research,' and Academia 'Green Energy,' and a 'Fuel' section topic editor of Energies. He is also a Fuels and Lubricants Committee Member of SAE.

Teaching

Powertrain and Vehicle Engineering (Year 3 BEng)
Advanced Vehicle Engineering (Year 4 MEng/MSc)

Postgraduate supervision

Open PhD positions in the fields of fuel thermofluids, hydrogen/ammonia combustion, disruptive linear engine development, and AI-assisted hybrid powertrain design.

PhD scholarship is available based on academic merit.

Research

Can Hydrogen be as a potential decarbonisation pathway?

Employing disruptive power technologies to utilise hydrogen and ammonia as zero carbon fuels

A swirl-enhanced optical combuster test rig enables the study of combustion properties of fuel

Research interests

Fundamental thermofluid behaviours of hydrogen and hydrogen carrying fuels.
Combustion and emissions of hydrogen, ammonia and e-fuels.
Developing disruptive zero-emitting heat engine generator.
AI and digital twin model assisted hybrid powertrain design and optimisation.

Current projects

2018-21: Ammonia/Hydrogen dual-fuelled Linear Engine-Generator (EP/S00193X/2)
2021-22: Hydrogen supply in the rail system - ammonia powered trains (Network Rail)
2021-22: Ship decarbonisation technologies (Industry project -AMC)
2019-22: A Zero-Emission Closed-loop ZECCY engine generator (EP/R041970/2)
2019-24: A network for hydrogen-fuelled transportation (EP/S032134/1)
2020-23: Key enabling technologies of ammonia marine engines (Industry project - SMU)
2021-25: Thermally driven and storage-integrated cooling technologies (EU MSCA 101007976)
2022-27: Decarbonised Clean Marine: Green Ammonia Thermal Propulsion (EP/W016656/1)
2022-25: Premixed Combustion Flame Instability Characteristics (EP/W002299/1)
2023-24: Liquid e-fuel injectors for carbon neutral powertrains (IAA follow on fund)
2023-25: Liquid Ammonia Direct Injection (EU MSCA 101063513)
2023-28: Hydrogen Integration for Accelerated Energy Transitions (HI-ACT) (EP/X038823/1)
2023-27: UK National Clean Maritime Research Hub (EP/Y024605/1)
2023-26: Integrating Industry and Academic Perspectives for Advancing Hydrogen Technology (CPC RiR)

Fuel spray technology and next generation fuel injectors are key for sustainable engines

Other activities

Dr. Dawei Wu is International Tutor at School of Engineering and responsible for existing and new international exchange programme and research/education collaboration with School of Engineering.

Publications

Highlight publications

Zhang, Z, Li, T, Chen, R, Wang, N, Wei, Y & Wu, D 2021, 'Injection characteristics and fuel-air mixing process of ammonia jets in a constant volume vessel', Fuel, vol. 304, 121408. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2021.121408

Zhang, F, Chen, G, Wu, D, Li, T, Zhang, Z & Wang, N 2021, 'Characterising premixed ammonia and hydrogen combustion for a novel Linear Joule Engine Generator', International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, vol. 46, no. 44, pp. 23075-23090. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.04.110

Zhang, Z, Kouris, GD, Kouris, PD, Hensen, EJM, Boot, MD & Wu, D 2021, 'Investigation of the combustion and emissions of lignin‐derived aromatic oxygenates in a marine diesel engine', Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining, vol. 15, no. 6, pp. 1709-1724. https://doi.org/10.1002/bbb.2267

Zhang, F, Chen, G & Wu, D 2021, Combustion and emission characteristics of ammonia/hydrogen dual-fuelled generic gas turbine. in 10th European Combustion Meeting. Proceedings Volume.. The Combustion Institute, pp. 1087-1092, 10th European Combustion Meeting, 14/04/21.

Liu, M, Wu, D, Tsolakis, A & Gao, W 2021, 'A waste cryogenic energy assisted freshwater generator for marine applications', Desalination, vol. 500, 114898. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2020.114898

Recent publications

Article

Zhang, Y, Chen, P, Wu, D, Hao, X, Yang, T & Cairns, A 2025, 'Advancing maritime decarbonisation: Design and optimisation of ammonia-fuelled propulsion systems', Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 535, 147145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.147145

Al Sadi, K, Nadimi Karamjavan, E & Wu, D 2025, 'Catalytic Ammonia Combustion: Legacy Catalytic Burner Designs and Catalyst Requirements for In Situ Hydrogen Production', Energies, vol. 18, no. 13, 3505. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18133505

Chen, P, Wu, D, Yang, Y, Zhang, Y, Tsolakis, A & Dearn, K 2025, 'Development, dynamic analysis, and experimental evaluation of a hybrid wave-tidal energy converter featuring nonlinear dual inputs', Energy, vol. 338, 138880. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2025.138880

Chen, P, Wu, D, Yang, Y & Tsolakis, A 2025, 'Discretization modeling with pseudo real-time waves input of the hybrid wave-tidal energy converter based on non-linear motions rectification and coupling device', Energy, vol. 323, 135615. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2025.135615

Nadimi, E, Przybyla, G, Wu, D & Adamczyk, W 2025, 'Experimental study of liquid ammonia injection timing in rapeseed methyl ester dual injection engine', Energy, vol. 335, 137919. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2025.137919

Zhang, Y, Wu, D, Nadimi, E, Tsolakis, A, Przybyla, G & Adamczyk, W 2025, 'Genetic algorithm-assisted multi-objective optimization for developing a Multi-Wiebe Combustion model in ammonia-diesel dual fuel engines', Energy, vol. 325, 136181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2025.136181

Zhang, G, Zhang, Y, Shi, P, Chen, P, Schneider, L, Xu, H & Wu, D 2025, 'Near-field jet characteristics of a single-hole medium-/low-pressure hydrogen injector', Energy, vol. 314, 134122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2024.134122

Debnath, V, Attar, HM, Nadimi, E & Wu, D 2025, 'Performance, emissions, and lubricant oil analysis of a marine diesel engine powered by raw Schizochytrium sp. and its blends', Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining. https://doi.org/10.1002/bbb.70058

Zhang, G, Xu, H, Wu, D, Yang, J, Morsy, ME, Jangi, M & Cracknell, R 2025, 'Relationship investigation between quantitative cellular information and self-acceleration of lean hydrogen-air spherical premixed flame', Energy, vol. 325, 136175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2025.136175

Eyisse, E, Nadimi, E & Wu, D 2024, 'Ammonia Combustion: Internal Combustion Engines and Gas Turbines', Energies, vol. 18, no. 1, 29. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18010029

Chen, P & Wu, D 2024, 'A review of hybrid wave-tidal energy conversion technology', Ocean Engineering, vol. 303, 117684. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2024.117684

Farrukh, S, Wu, D, Taskin, A & Dearn, K 2024, 'Cryogenic energy assisted power generation utilizing low flammability refrigerants', Energy, vol. 307, 132770. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2024.132770

Zhang, G, Xu, H, Wu, D, Yang, J, Morsy, ME, Jangi, M, Cracknell, R & Kim, W 2024, 'Deep learning-driven analysis for cellular structure characteristics of spherical premixed hydrogen-air flames', International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, vol. 68, pp. 63-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.04.232

Zhang, F, Zhang, G, Wang, Z, Wu, D, Jangi, M & Xu, H 2024, 'Experimental investigation on combustion and emission characteristics of non-premixed ammonia/hydrogen flame', International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, vol. 61, pp. 25-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.02.281

Xu, Z, Zhao, N, Yan, Y, Zhang, Y, Zhang, T, Wu, D, Hillmansen, S & Gao, S 2024, 'Hydrogen supply chain for future hydrogen-fuelled railway in the UK: Transport sector focused', International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, vol. 86, pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.08.397

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