Abstract: Wajid’s presentation is weirdly titled, “Is Combustion a Dirty Word?” a question that challenges the combustion engineers like himself. In the presentation he will share the experiences from his work at National Research Council Canada and Virginia Tech. Specifically, drawing examples from his contributions to the National Jet Fuel Combustion Program, he will touch upon the dynamics of liquid-fuel combustion in a gas turbine engine and the key fuel properties that significantly affect the combustor performance and emissions characteristics. He will also present his view on the future needs and opportunities with respect to liquid fuels and combustion.
Biographical Sketch: Wajid is a Program Director at the National Research Council Canada. He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech, a MSE in Aerospace Engineering from University of Michigan and an MBA in Finance from University of Karachi. Wajid has more than 30 years of experience in the areas of gas turbine maintenance, repair and overhaul, combustion research and teaching. He has authored many well-cited publications and is a member of a number of national and international professional committees and societies. His research interest is on the dynamics of droplets and bubbles, as applicable to aero-engines and many other engineering disciplines. In the last six years, Wajid has held senior management positions directing applied research in the fields of energy and aeronautics and managing technology transfers.