Dr Imran is established researcher in the area of thermal energy systems. His research activities aimed at developing innovative thermal energy systems and improving the energy performance of existing energy systems. He is working in the area of waste heat to power conversion technologies (organic Rankine cycle) since 2012. His work in the organic Rankine cycle technology can be categorized into design & optimization, working fluid selection, flow boiling and condensation of refrigerants, binary mixtures, volumetric expanders, system integration, and dynamic modelling and control. His research involve both the numerical modelling and experimental approach. He has the opportunity to conduct research in the above-mentioned research areas in the Asia and the Europe. He was part of the team at Korea Institute of Energy Research that successfully developed and commercialized 5kW, 30kW, and 100kW ORC system. He is particularly interested in the waste and low temperature heat to power conversion technologies (ORC, sCO2), hybrid energy systems (geothermal, solar, wind, biomass), combined heat and power system, thermal energy management, district heating and cooling, heat pump, and thermal energy storage. He has successfully completed number of research projects in above mentioned research areas. His research work has been published in various internationally recognized ISI indexed journals and international peer reviewed conference proceedings. He is also serving as a reviewer for number of international journals in the field of thermal energy.

• Organic Rankine Cycle 
• Refrigeration systems
• Supercritical CO2 cycle
• Combined heat and Power
• Renewable Energy
• Hybrid Renewable System

• PhD in Energy System Engineering
• MSc Thermal Power Engineering
• BSc Mechanical Engineering

• Lecturer in Mechanical & Design Engineering, Aston University, UK
• Marie Curie Individual Fellow, Technical University of Denmark
• Assistant Professor, University of Management & Technology, Pakistan
• Research Assistant, Korea Institute of Energy Research, South Korea
• Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering, University of Central Punjab, Pakistan
• Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering, University of Lahore, Pakistan

• Energy Efficiency (ME3023)
• Prototyping and Development (ME1502)

• Guest Editor, Sustainability on the topic "Hybrid Energy Systems".
• Guest Editor, Frontiers in Energy Research on the topic "Small and micro scale combined heat and power technologies and applications". 
• Guest Editor, Energies on the topic "Low-temperature thermodynamic power cycles".

• Marie Curie individual Fellow 2017-2019 (MSCA-ST-EF-2017) by European Commission
• Innovation Award 2016 by South Asia Triple Helix Association (SATHA)
• Research Excellence Award 2016 University of Science and Technology, South Korea
• Research Excellence Award 2015, Korea Institute of Energy Research, South Korea
• Overseas Academic Exchange Award 2015, University of Science and Technology, South Korea
• Overseas Academic Exchange Award 2015, Korea Institute of Energy Research, South Korea
• Shell Merit Scholarship Award for fully funded MS Thermal Power Engineering

• African AgriFood Knowledge Transfer Partnership between ColdHubs Nigeria, Aston University and University of Port Harcourt Nigeria. , Funded by GCRF Dec 2020 – Dec 2022. (Role: PI). Funding: £238,000
• Mapping and development of geographic information system of biomass potential in Sub-Saharan Africa, Funded by GCRF March 2020 – March 2021. (Role: PI). Funding: £24,800
• Hybrid-energy based irrigation system for Africa, Funded by Innovate UK June 2020 – June 2021. (Role: PI), Funding: £ 40,000
• Start-up Fund, Aston University, funding by Aston University. June 2019 – June 2021. (Role: PI), Funding: £10,000
• Dynamic modelling and control of organic Rankine cycle for waste heat recovery from heavy-duty vehicles, funded by European Union. Period: May 2017- May 2019. (Role: PI), Funding: £189,000

• Evaluation of the prospects for waste heat recovery on liquefied natural gas-fuelled ships funded by Danish Maritime Fund. Apr 2017 – Aug 2019. (Role: Collaborator), Funding: £850,000
• Development of 100kWe ORC Power Generation System Utilizing Low Temperature Geothermal Energy Funded by Korea Institute of Energy Research; Period: December 2011~ December 2016. (Role: Collaborator), Funding: £300,000
• Development of Plate-Fin type Heat Exchanger with high heat transfer surface area Funded by Korea Institute of Energy Research; Period: January 2014 ~ January 2015. (Role: Collaborator), Funding: £100,000
• Field Demonstration of Heat Loss Reduction Technology from the Secondary District Heat Pipelines Funded by Korea District Heating Company; Period: March 2011.3 ~ March 2014. (Role: Collaborator), Funding: £650,000
• Development of Control Technology for ORC Power Generation System utilizing Low temperature Waste Heat Funded by Korea Institute of Energy Research; Period: January 2013 ~ January 2016. (Role: Collaborator), Funding: £100,000

There are number of self-funded PhD studentships are available in the area of renewable energy and low temperature thermodynamic power cycles. I am happy to support the applications for external funded scholarships as well

1. Renewable Energy: Application of hybrid energy systems (solar + wind + biomass) for agriculture sectors with particular focus on the applications of hybrid energy for irrigation, cold storage for food preservation and agri processing. The system level approach will be adopted to develop optimum design of the specific system from practical implementation perspective.
2. Organic Rankine Cycle: Design and development of cost effective volumetric expanders for small scale organic Rankine cycles. This project aim to develop mathematical model and CFD analysis of novel vane expander for organic Rankine cycle.
3. Organic Rankine Cycle: Development of dynamic model and advance control of organic Rankine cycle for transient heat sources. This project aims to develop the component level dynamic model of the ORC component, analysing the dynamic response, and develop appropriate control approach for the time-varying heat sources. The heat sources might include industrial waste heat, direct solar energy, and/or waste heat from internal combustion engines.
4. Combined heat and Power System: This project aim to develop novel configuration and optimum design of the solar powered combined heat and power systems based on either Stirling engine, organic Rankine cycle, or steam Rankine cycle. The project will involve to develop the 1-dimensional component level design models of the system as well as the performance assessment and part-load model of the combined heat and power system.

If you are interested in any of the above project, or any particular area listed under research interest, please contact me.