Turbulent Combustion Course: Theory, Modelling & NPTEL Guide | Prof. Ashoke De
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 12 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Elective |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Categories | Mechanical Engineering, Product Design, Computational Thermo Fluids |
| Credit Points | 3 |
| Level | Undergraduate/Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 10 Apr 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 20 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 19 Apr 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Master the Complex World of Turbulent Combustion: A Deep Dive into Theory and Modelling
Combustion remains the cornerstone of global energy conversion, powering everything from jet engines and power plants to automobiles and industrial processes. Understanding its intricacies, especially under turbulent conditions, is paramount for designing efficient, stable, and cleaner combustion systems. The NPTEL course Turbulent Combustion: Theory and Modelling, led by the distinguished Prof. Ashoke De of IIT Kanpur, offers a rigorous 12-week journey into this critical field.
Course Overview and Instructor Profile
This advanced course is designed to bridge the gap between fundamental combustion theory and the complex numerical modelling required for real-world turbulent reacting flows. It is tailored for undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as professionals seeking to deepen their expertise.
The course is helmed by Prof. Ashoke De, a leading authority in fluid dynamics and computational mechanics. As a Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering with a joint appointment in Sustainable Energy Engineering at IIT Kanpur, he leads large-scale initiatives in turbulent flow modelling. With over 170 publications and six edited books, his research spans multiphase flows, computational aeroacoustics, hypersonics, and energy harvesting, bringing immense practical and theoretical insight to the subject.
Who Should Enroll?
This course is specifically intended for professionals and students in industries and fields where combustion is central:
- Aerospace & Aviation (Jet engine design, scramjets)
- Automobile Engineering (Internal combustion engines)
- Chemical & Process Industries
- Power Generation (Gas turbines, boilers)
- Defense and Propulsion Systems
Prerequisites for Success
To fully benefit from this advanced course, a solid foundation in the following areas is essential. NPTEL conveniently offers preparatory courses:
- Fluid Mechanics (Introduction to Fluid Mechanics)
- Thermodynamics (Engineering Thermodynamics)
- Basic Combustion (Fundamentals Of Combustion - I & II)
- Basic Turbulence (Introduction to Turbulence)
Detailed 12-Week Course Curriculum
The course is meticulously structured to build knowledge from the ground up, culminating in advanced topics.
| Week | Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Introduction + Basics of Combustion |
| Week 2 | Thermo-chemistry |
| Week 3 | Thermo-chemistry, Combustion chemistry |
| Week 4 | Heat & Mass Transfer, Coupling of chemical kinetics & Thermodynamics |
| Week 5 | Laminar Premixed flame |
| Week 6 | Laminar Non-premixed flame |
| Week 7 | Turbulence + Turbulence modeling |
| Week 8 | Turbulent premixed flames |
| Week 9 | Turbulent premixed flames (contd.) |
| Week 10 | Turbulent non-premixed flames |
| Week 11 | Turbulent non-premixed flames (contd.) |
| Week 12 | Combustion in two-phase flows |
Key Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will gain:
- A strong integrated understanding of the theoretical and numerical aspects of unsteady turbulent combustion.
- Insight into flame stability, combustion efficiency, and pollutant formation mechanisms.
- Knowledge of both foundational techniques and recent advancements in turbulent combustion modelling.
- The ability to connect complex turbulent combustion phenomena with underlying basic principles.
Essential Reference Books
The course draws from a rich body of literature. Key reference texts include:
- Tennekes, H. and Lumley. J.L., A First Course in Turbulence, MIT Press.
- Pope, S., Turbulent Flows, Cambridge University Press, 2009.
- Turns, Stephen, An Introduction to Combustion, McGrawHill, 2000.
- Peters, N., Turbulent Combustion, Cambridge University Press, 2000.
- Warnatz, J., Mass, U., Dibble, R.W., Combustion: Physical and Chemical Fundamentals, Modeling and Simulation, Experiments, Pollutant Formation, Springer, 2006.
- Kuo, Kenneth, Principles of Combustion, John Wiley and Sons, Inc, 2005.
- Poinsot, T., Veynante, D., Theoretical and Numerical Combustion, Edwards, 2012.
- Law, C. K., Combustion Physics, Cambridge University Press, 2006.
Why This Course is Essential for Engineers
In an era focused on sustainable energy and reduced emissions, optimizing combustion processes is non-negotiable. This course provides the advanced toolkit needed to tackle modern challenges in propulsion, power generation, and industrial design. Whether you aim to improve fuel efficiency, reduce NOx and soot emissions, or design next-generation combustors, the principles of turbulent combustion modelling taught here are indispensable.
Enroll in Turbulent Combustion: Theory and Modelling on the NPTEL platform to learn from one of India's foremost experts and take a significant step towards mastering the flames that power our world.
Enroll Now →