We are excited to share that Stijn Schepers, PhD researcher at Eindhoven University of Technology, has published the first HELIOS-funded paper in Combustion & Flame. His work marks an important step forward in advancing hydrogen combustion research.
Stijn’s research focuses on developing advanced numerical models to better understand hydrogen flashback phenomena. By applying the Flamelet Generated Manifold (FGM) method, he successfully reduced complex chemical mechanisms and validated key control variables for hydrogen.
A major challenge in this field is the instability of ultra-lean hydrogen flames, where different species diffuse at varying rates, creating thermo-diffusive instabilities. Stijn’s models are able to capture these effects — a significant breakthrough now published in Combustion & Flame (“FGM modeling of thermo-diffusive unstable lean premixed hydrogen–air flames” 🔗 DOI link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2025.114332 ).
This achievement brings us closer to predictive CFD tools for hydrogen combustion, paving the way for accurate flashback predictions and reliable NOx assessments. These insights are vital for designing the next generation of clean, efficient, and sustainable energy systems.
