Dr. Muhammad Nauman is a combustion and energy researcher specializing in micro-scale combustion, catalytic combustion, sustainable aviation fuels, computational fluid dynamics, and detailed chemical reaction kinetics. His research focuses on the development of advanced combustion systems for sustainable aviation fuels, hydrogen, and other low-carbon fuels, with emphasis on heterogeneous–homogeneous reaction coupling, flame stability, heat and mass transfer, pollutant formation, fuel conversion, and ultra-low-emission performance. He develops and applies numerical simulation, chemical-kinetic modeling, and multiphysics optimization approaches to design high-efficiency combustion technologies for sustainable aviation, clean energy conversion, and carbon-neutral applications.

Dr. Nauman earned his PhD in Power Engineering and Engineering Thermophysics from Jiangsu University, China, where his doctoral research focused on methane–oxygen combustion in micro-catalytic combustors and the influence of hydrogen addition. He also received his BSc and MSc (Hons.) degrees in Energy Systems Engineering from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan. He is currently serving at Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. His expertise includes catalytic combustion, sustainable aviation fuel utilization, reaction-mechanism analysis, CFD modeling, and thermal-fluid optimization. He received the PhD Excellent Dissertation Award from Jiangsu University in 2025. His research outputs have been published in leading peer-reviewed journals, including the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Journal of the Energy Institute, Fuel, Energy, and Applied Thermal Engineering.

Research Interests

• Sustainable aviation fuels and low-carbon energy conversion

• Micro-scale and catalytic combustion systems

• Hydrogen-enriched and alternative-fuel combustion

• Computational fluid dynamics and multiphysics modeling

• Detailed chemical kinetics and reaction-mechanism analysis

• Flame stability, heat transfer, and ultra-low-emission combustion

Publications (SCI)

1. Nauman, M., Pan, J., Wang, Y., Li, F., Ojo, A. O., & Raza, A. (2024). A review of recent advancements in micro combustion techniques to enhance flame stability and fuel residence time. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 49, 1165–1193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.09.050

2. Nauman, M., Pan, J., Lu, Q., Zhang, Y., Liu, C., Li, F., & Quaye, E. K. (2024). Analyzing the combustion characteristics of premixed methane-oxygen with different hydrogen addition ratios in a catalytic micro-combustor. Journal of the Energy Institute, 114, 101655. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joei.2023.101655

3. Nauman, M., Pan, J., Lu, Q., Zhang, Y., Quaye, E. K., Li, F., & Yang, W. (2024). Effects of thermophysical properties on heterogeneous reaction dynamics of methane/oxygen mixtures in a micro catalytic combustion chamber. Journal of the Energy Institute, 117, 101871. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joei.2024.101871

4. Nauman, M., Tayyab, M., Faheem, M., Ikram, K., Akram, M. W., Asif, M., & Omar, M. M. (2023). Designing and performance evaluation of continuously stirring anaerobic batch reactor for biomethane production from biowaste. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, 14(15), 18065–18078. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-023-04203-y

5. Quaye, E. K., Pan, J., Lu, Q., Zhang, Y., Yang, W., & Nauman, M. (2024). Geometrical optimization of premixed hydrogen-air combustion in a novel counter-flow preheating micro-combustor. Energy, 313, 133897. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2024.133897

6.  Lu, Q., Wang, Q., Fan, B., Zhang, Y., Wang, Y., Nauman, M., & Pan, J. (2024). Numerical study on hydrogen heterogeneous reaction characteristic in a micro catalytic combustor with blunt body. Fuel, 357, 129632. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2023.129632

7. Lu, Q., Wang, Q., Zhang, Y., Liu, C., Fan, B., Nauman, M., Jiang, C., & Pan, J. (2024). Numerical study on methane heterogeneous reaction characteristics in micro catalytic combustors with orthogonal thermal anisotropic walls. Applied Thermal Engineering, 244, 122656. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2024.122656

8. Lu, Q., Ding, S., Zhang, Y., Wang, Y., Fan, B., Nauman, M., ... & Pan, J. (2026). Thermal and chemical analysis on the hydrogen heterogeneous reaction characteristics in a catalytic micro-combustor with blunt body. Fuel, 404, 136384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2025.136384

9. Quaye, E. K., Jianfeng, P., Baowei, F., Qingbo, L., Yi, Z., Nauman, M., & Ibeobi, S. (2025). Advancing sustainable combustion: A comprehensive review of response surface methodology driven optimization and applications in alternative fuel combustion systems. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 170, 151190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.151190

10. Li, F., Pan, J., Li, Z., Zhu, Y., Nauman, M., & Yang, W. (2026). Influence of hydrogen blending on the heat transfer characteristics of premixed methane/air jet impinging flame. Fuel, 425, 139491 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2026.139491

11. Li, F., Pan, J., Zhu, Y., Li, Z., Zhang Y., Nauman, M., & Yang, W. (2026). Effect of Inclined Wall on Quenching Distance, Thermochemical State and CO Emission Characteristics of Methane/Hydrogen/Air Premixed Jet Flame. Energy Engineering, 1-10 DOI:10.32604/ee.2026.078049

12. Zeng, C., Pan, J., Fan, B., Jiang, C., Li, F., Nauman, M., & Yang, W. (2025). Effect of inclined wall on heat transfer and emission characteristics of methane/ammonia/air premixed jet flame. Fuel, 399, 135649. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2025.135649

13. Li, Z., Pan, J., Li, F., Nauman, M., & Yang, W. (2026). Thermochemical distribution and emission characteristics of CH4/air premixed laminar flames with wall effects under varying ammonia ratios. Fuel, 407, 137191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2025.137191

14. Zeng, C., Pan, J., Hua, J., Yang, W., Li, Z., & Nauman, M. (2024). Heat transfer characteristics of methane-air premixed jet flames with flat/hemispherical walls. Journal of Energy Resources Technology, 1–28. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4066759

15. Li, F., Pan, J., Zhu, Y., Li, Z., Zhu, J., & Nauman, M. (2023). Effect of hydrogen addition on CO emission and thermo-chemical state near wall during head-on quenching of laminar premixed methane/air flame. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 49, 1425–1436. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.10.165

16. Li, F., Pan, J., Zhu, Y., Li, Z., Nauman, M., & Yang, W. (2025). Effects of hydrogen blending ratio and nozzle-to-wall distance on pollutant formation in methane/air premixed jet flames under flame-wall interaction. Chemical Engineering and Processing-Process Intensification, 110629. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cep.2025.110629

17. Song, Y., Pan, J., Li, F., Nauman, M., Fan, B., & Yang, W. (2025). Combustion and Emission Characteristics of NH3/H2/Air Premixed Gas Under Wall Effects. International Journal of Energy Research, 2025(1), 9987246. https://doi.org/10.1155/er/9987246

18. Li, P., Pan, J., Fan, B., Nauman, M., Jiang, C., Chen, Y., & Yang, W. (2025). Effect of blending ratio and equivalence ratio on combustion process of ammonia/hydrogen rotary engine. Applied Thermal Engineering, 262, 126635. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2025.126635

19. Feng, Z., Pan, J., Li, P., Fan, B., Nauman, M., & Yang, W. (2024). Numerical study of the mixture formation and combustion process of an ammonia/hydrogen rotary engine. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 69, 1469–1480. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.04.339

20. Li, P., Pan, J., Fan, B., Qin, M., Nauman, M., & Yang, W. (2024). Effects of injection timing and rotating speed on combustion and emissions in an Ammonia/Hydrogen rotary engine. Applied Thermal Engineering, 262, 125172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2024.125172

21. Li, P., Pan, J., Fan, B., Lu, Q., Zhang, Y., Nauman, M., & Yang, W. (2025). Investigating the effects of ammonia injection position and timing on the formation and combustion characteristics of ammonia/hydrogen rotary engine. Physics of Fluids, 37(11). https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0307726

22. Jiang, C., Pan, J., Zhu, Y., Fan, B., Lu, Q., & Nauman, M. (2024). Effect of incoming flow on the detonation re-initiation in liquid n-heptane/air mixtures. Acta Astronautica, 218, 102–113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2024.02.020

23. Fu, W., Pan, J., Fan, B., Zhang, Y., Shao, X., Nauman, M., & Yang, W. (2025). Effects of injection timing and rotational speed on mixture formation and combustion characteristics in a hydrogen/ammonia dual direct injection rotary engine. Energy Conversion and Management, 345, 120397. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2025.120397

24. Fu, W., Pan, J., Fan, B., Zhang, Y., Zhang, H., Li, P., Nauman, M. & Yang, W. (2025). Effects of injection angles and ignition timing on combustion characteristics in a hydrogen/ammonia dual direct injection rotary engine based on orthogonal analysis. Physics of Fluids, 37(12). https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0305332

25. Wang, Y., Pan, J., Fan, B., Fu, W., Zhang, H., Nauman, M., & Yang, W. (2025). Influence of blending ratio and premixed fuel ratio on the combustion process in a hydrogen–ammonia rotary engine. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 196, 152369. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.152369

26. Guo, J., Pan, J., Lu, Q., Li, C., Nauman, M., Jiang, C., & Yang, W. (2025). The influence of the periodic longitudinal concentration gradient on the detonation re-initiation behind the pre-detonation tube. Acta Astronautica. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.11.060

27. Guo, J., Pan, J., Jiang, C., Zhang, Y., Li, C., Ge, G., Nauman, M., & Yang, W. (2025). Effect of H₂/O₂ concentration gradient on detonation re-initiation behind the pre-detonator tube. Acta Astronautica, 232, 588–599. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.04.013

28. Li, C., Pan, J., Jiang, C., Shao, X., Guo, J., Nauman, M., & Yang, W. (2025). Effect of obstacle opening position on H2/O2 detonation reinitiation and quenching in an obstructed channel. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 182, 151850. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.151850

29. Qin, M., Pan, J., Lu, Y., Fan, B., Liu, Y., & Nauman, M. (2025). Comparative study on the adaptability of diesel/aviation kerosene in rotary engines. International Journal of Engine Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/14680874251314068