Murray Thomson

Key Research Areas
Associated Researchers
Associated Organizations

Recent Research Projects

Enhancing the Scientific Understanding of Nanoparticle Formation in Flames

2015/16-2019/20 • $170,000 • PI
Combustion-derived nanoparticles, such as soot, are known to have adverse effects on human health and the environment. In terms of health effects, soot particles have been linked to heart and lung disease, along with various other health complications. In terms of environmental effects, soot is...

NSERC CREATE Program in Clean Combustion Engines

2013/14-2018/19 • $1,650,000 • PI,CO
No summary

Understanding the effect of biofuels on particulate emissions

2016/17-2018/19 • $191,491 • PI
Vehicles are a large source of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions contributing 24% of Canada's total emissions. Typically, there are tradeoffs between GHG emissions and air pollutant emissions such as particulate matter. For example, the direct injection of fuel in gasoline spark ignition engines...

Process modeling and optimization of the Birla Carbon Process

2018/19 • $24,996 • PI
This project will establish a collaborative relationship between the Combustion Research Laboratory (CRL) at the University of*Toronto and Columbian Chemical Canada Ltd d/b/a/ Birla Carbon ("company" and/or "sponsor"). Birla Carbon is one of the largest*manufacturers and suppliers of high...

Instrument for in-situ nanomaterial reaction imaging

2017/18 • $120,721 • PI,CO
A wide range of scientific research is interested in how materials change at the nanometer scale when exposed to variable gas and temperature conditions. In-situ environmental transmission electron microscopy (E-TEM) can image, in real time, the changes in material properties at the nanometer...

Funding for full application preparation - NSERC Strategic Network for Low Carbon Transportation (LCTnet)

2016/17 • $25,000 • PI
No summary

Reducing PAH content in thermal carbon black

2016/17 • $24,750 • PI
This project will establish a collaborative relationship between the Combustion Research Laboratory (CRL) atthe University of Toronto and Cancarb Limited. The purpose of this new partnership will be to improve thequality of thermal carbon black as the product by closely examining the impacts of...

Fundamental studies of drying, combustion and ash properties of biomass and impacts of pulp and paper mill operations

2012/13-2015/16 • $1,876,000 • PI,CO
Pulp and paper mills in Canada require large amounts of high pressure steam and electric power to operate. About two-thirds of the energy required is supplied by burning the concentrated black liquor (spent pulping liquor) in recovery boilers. The remaining is from biomass boilers, known...

A versatile, multifunctional system for full characterizations of reaction intermediates and pathways for sustainable synthesis of smart materials and value-added chemicals

2015/16 • $141,128 • PI,CO
<p>The versatile, multifunctional system for capturing reaction intermediates will support multiple existing and emerging research programs in the area of smart material discovery and applications, heterogeneous catalysis for fuel and chemical synthesis, next generation technology for bio-fuel...

New combustion modelling capability for engine design and pollution control

2015/16 • $25,000 • PI
The MAYA HTT Ltd is a Canadian company located in Montreal, Quebec. MAYA is interested to implement a turbulent combustion model to their CFD solver. Prof. Murray Thomson's Combustion Research Laboratory (CRL) has a strong track record of success in the modelling of combustion processes. The new...

Natural Gas Engine Network

2015/16 • $24,015 • PI
No summary

Automobile of the 21st Century/L'automobile du XXIe siècle

2012/13-2014/15 • $13,487,000 • PI,CO
No summary

Optical sensors for energy efficiency in steelmaking

2011/12-2014/15 • $599,950 • PI
Steelmaking is a large consumer of energy and large source of CO2 emissions. There is a good potential to reduce this energy consumption as losses amount to 45% of energy input. As the process is transient, real-time process control is needed. However, new sensors (gas composition, temperature,...

Ultra-Low Emission HPDI Natural-Gas Heavy-Duty Engine

2010/11-2014/15 • $499,824 • PI,CO
Compression-ignition natural-gas engines can achieve very low emissions and may be a viable way to reduceoperating costs and greenhouse gas emissions in many heavy-duty applications. To remain competitive, thetechnology developed by Westport Innovations must take advantage of the advances in...

Developing a fundamental understanding of biofuel combustion

2010/11-2014/15 • $240,000 • PI
Fuels derived from renewable biological resources (i.e. biofuels) hold the promise of transportation fuels that can be produced locally from renewable resources with reduced greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, these biofuels are an attractive alternative to petroleum fuels because they are...

Size Distribution Measurement of Particulate Air Pollutants

2014/15 • $139,378 • PI
Soot formation in combustion devices is an important area of interest, as atmospheric soot is known to pose significant health risks and contribute to long term global climate change. Experimental and modeling studies can provide a fundamental understanding of the factors affecting soot...

The development of improved bio-oil (fast pyrolysis liquid) burners: Phase 1

2014/15 • $25,000 • PI
Fast pyrolysis is an inexpensive and environmentally attractive method of converting biomass into a liquid fuel. The forestry industry is very interested in using its waste biomass to produce fuel. This fuel is called fast pyrolysis liquid or bio-oil. There are a large number of Canadian...

The development of a bio-oil (fast pyrolysis liquid) engine: Phase 1

2013/14 • $25,000 • PI
Metso is a global supplier of technology and services in the process industries, including mining, construction, recycling, pulp and paper, power and oil and gas. It has several facilities in Canada including those in Thunder Bay, and Montreal. In particular, Metso is very active as a supplier...

Re-imbursment paid parental leave for PDF Arathi Padmanabhan for the perio of July 1 to October 30, 2013

2013/14 • $18,333 • PI
No summary

Development of catalysts for hydrodeoxygenation & transesterification of nonedible vegetable oils, estimation of combustion propoerties & life cycle analysis on these processes

2010/11-2012/13 • $439,760 • PI,CO
Fuels derived from renewable biological resources such as non-edible vegetable oils offer an attractive blending agent to petroleum products for diesel engine combustion. Biodiesel has fuel properties similar to petroleum diesel and can be used in its pure state or can be blended with...

Exploration of novel fuels for gas turbine applications

2010/11-2012/13 • $155,334 • PI,CO
Since non-petroleum fuels are becoming a necessity for gas turbine operators, 2nd generation biofuels are in development and need to be evaluated for wide spread use in the coming years. Combustion in gas turbine combustors is very complex with many strongly coupled variables interacting to...

Developing a fundamental understanding of biofuel combustion

2010/11-2012/13 • $120,000 • PI
No summary

Characterisation of Combustion Generated Nano-particles

2012/13 • $97,034 • PI,CO
Soot formation in combustion devices is an important area of interest, as atmospheric soot is known to pose significant health risks and contribute to long term global climate change. Experimental and numerical studies can provide a fundamental understanding of the factors affecting soot...

Developing an in-situ optical sensor technique to measure hydrogen chloride and water vapor mixture concentrations for industrial non-ferrous process control and optimization

2012/13 • $25,000 • PI
This project will establish a collaborative relationship between the Combustion Research Laboratory (CRL) at the University of Toronto and Kingston Process Metallurgy Inc (KPM). The purpose of this new partnership will be to develop a real-time, non-intrusive optical sensor methodology for the...

Automobile of the 21st Century/L'automobile du XXIe siècle

2010/11-2011/12 • $8,700,000 • PI,CO
No summary

Alternative fuels and biofuels for aircraft development

2010/11 • $96,250 • PI
No summary

Canadian Biofuels and Bioproducts Workshop 3: Combusion and Emissions

2010/11 • $25,000 • PI,CO
The aerospace and automotive sectors are very important to Canada's manufacturing industry and both are threatened by international competitors who capitalize on the emerging green economy. The combustion performance of new biofuels will have a strong influence on their market acceptance, and...

Patents