Gus Nathan

Biography

Gus Nathan is the founding Director of The University of Adelaide’s Centre for Energy Technology. He has led the centre in developing its vision, identifying priorities and devising and implementing a strategic plan. Under his leadership the Centre has identified novel approaches with strong potential to make a breakthrough in the delivery of low-cost, clean energy technologies and has engaged with partners spanning industry, international research institutions and government agencies. Professor Nathan is an ARC Discovery Outstanding Researcher who specialises in thermal energy engineering in systems supplied by solar, geothermal and the combustion of fossil and bio-fuels, but also works with hydrogen, wind and wave power. His recent work has focussed on novel approaches to integrate and optimise these different energy sources. He has played a leading role in the development of six patented technologies. He was principal leader of the Chief Design Team for the award winning fuel and combustion system for the Sydney Olympic Relay Torch and was co-inventor of the patented combustor that was subsequently also used in the torch and Stadium flame for the Athens Games. He has also jointly led the development of low NOx “Gyrotherm” burner being commercialised by partner FCT Combustion in rotary cement kilns and in the development of a technology to enhance the capture of ultra-fine particles and mercury in partnership with Indigo Technologies. A current focus is the development of novel hybrid power systems that combine solar energy with combustion or gasification, with one patent pending in this field. These technology developments are underpinned by the development and application of advanced laser diagnostic methods in complex turbulent reacting flows. In partnership with other leading researchers in the CET, he has worked to establish a leading laser diagnostics facility at Adelaide. This facility specialises in providing new understanding and data for model development and validation in turbulent systems of relevance to energy systems, notably in turbulent reacting flows with particles including soot and with combined radiation and convective heat transfer. He has published widely in the above fields, jointly authoring some 100 papers in international journals and 150 in peer reviewed conferences. His publications on technology include 8 patents (filed or granted) and 50 consultant’s reports. He is presently on the editorial board of Prog. Energy Combust. Sci. of Exp. Therm. Fluid Sci., and of J. Combustion and formerly for Proc. Comb. Inst. He has also worked widely with industries including power generation, cement, lime, steel, glass and aluminum and has consulted to organisations including Western Mining Ltd, Adelaide Brighton Ltd, British Steel plc, LKAB, Flinders Power, Queensland Electricity Commission and BHP. He has lectured both in University Degree courses and to Industrial Combustion Courses and presented seminars and invited lectures nationally and internationally. Gus Nathan is the founding Director of The University of Adelaide’s Centre for Energy Technology. He has led the centre in developing its vision, identifying priorities and devising and implementing a strategic plan. Under his leadership the Centre has identified novel approaches with strong potential to make a breakthrough in the delivery of low-cost, clean energy technologies and has engaged with partners spanning industry, international research institutions and government agencies. Professor Nathan is an ARC Discovery Outstanding Researcher who specialises in thermal energy engineering in systems supplied by solar, geothermal and the combustion of fossil and bio-fuels, but also works with hydrogen, wind and wave power. His recent work has focussed on novel approaches to integrate and optimise these different energy sources. He has played a leading role in the development of six patented technologies. He was principal leader of the Chief Design Team for the award winning fuel and combustion system for the Sydney Olympic Relay Torch and was co-inventor of the patented combustor that was subsequently also used in the torch and Stadium flame for the Athens Games. He has also jointly led the development of low NOx “Gyrotherm” burner being commercialised by partner FCT Combustion in rotary cement kilns and in the development of a technology to enhance the capture of ultra-fine particles and mercury in partnership with Indigo Technologies. A current focus is the development of novel hybrid power systems that combine solar energy with combustion or gasification, with one patent pending in this field. These technology developments are underpinned by the development and application of advanced laser diagnostic methods in complex turbulent reacting flows. In partnership with other leading researchers in the CET, he has worked to establish a leading laser diagnostics facility at Adelaide. This facility specialises in providing new understanding and data for model development and validation in turbulent systems of relevance to energy systems, notably in turbulent reacting flows with particles including soot and with combined radiation and convective heat transfer. He has published widely in the above fields, jointly authoring some 100 papers in international journals and 150 in peer reviewed conferences. His publications on technology include 8 patents (filed or granted) and 50 consultant’s reports. He is presently on the editorial board of Prog. Energy Combust. Sci. of Exp. Therm. Fluid Sci., and of J. Combustion and formerly for Proc. Comb. Inst. He has also worked widely with industries including power generation, cement, lime, steel, glass and aluminum and has consulted to organisations including Western Mining Ltd, Adelaide Brighton Ltd, British Steel plc, LKAB, Flinders Power, Queensland Electricity Commission and BHP. He has lectured both in University Degree courses and to Industrial Combustion Courses and presented seminars and invited lectures nationally and internationally.

Research Interest

Concentrating Solar Thermal Energy, Combustion Technology, Alternative Fuels, Sustainable High Temperature Minerals Processing, Air Pollution control, Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Laser Diagnostics, Two Phase Flows, Geothermal Energy, Wind Power