UTEP Engineering Professor, Doctoral Students Recognized by Combustion Institute for Compelling Research

Last Updated on July 22, 2021 at 12:00 AM

Originally published July 22, 2021

By UC Staff

UTEP Communications

Evgeny Shafirovich, Ph.D., professor of mechanical engineering at The University of Texas at El Paso, and doctoral students, Robert E. Ferguson and Alan A. Esparza, were recognized by the Combustion Institute (CI) for an outstanding paper on their research that advances the field of combustion science, an honor that showcases UTEP’s commitment to advancing discovery.

Evgeny Shafirovich, Ph.D., professor of mechanical engineering at The University of Texas at El Paso, and doctoral students, Robert E. Ferguson and Alan A. Esparza, were recognized by the Combustion Institute (CI) for an outstanding paper on their research that advances the field of combustion science.

“Combustion of aqueous HAN/methanol propellants at high pressures” was named one of CI’s 13 distinguished papers selected from an international pool during the 38th International Symposium on Combustion, hosted by the organization’s Australia New Zealand section.

The paper by UTEP researchers was the top representative in CI’s spray, droplet, and supercritical combustion colloquium. One paper from each represented colloquium was selected for this honor, and more than 1,700 papers were submitted with less than 50% of the submissions accepted for presentation.

The paper provides new insights into the effects of pressure on the combustion of aqueous HAN/methanol propellants, which will benefit propulsion and help spacecraft engineers develop higher performance rocket engines using safe, lower-cost monopropellants.

“We are excited about this recognition of our work,” Shafirovich said. “I would like to thank Dr. Mitat Birkan, the manager of the Space Propulsion and Power Program at the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), for supporting our research.”

The CI is an international, nonprofit, educational and scientific society founded in 1954 that promotes and disseminates research activities in all areas of combustion science and technology for the advancement of many diverse communities throughout the world. The International Symposium on Combustion is its world congress and major biennial meeting.

Distinguished papers will go on to be evaluated by the Silver Combustion Medal Committee. An outstanding paper that exemplifies quality, achievement, and significance to advance a field of combustion science will be selected to receive the Silver Combustion Medal.

Learn more about the UTEP researchers’ distinguished paper and award here.