Oxford Engineering researchers receive GPPS Best Paper Award

The Engine Component Aerothermal Facility (ECAT) research team, based at the Oxford Thermofluids Institute, has received the GPPS Best Paper Award – Propulsion from the Global Power and Propulsion Society (GPPS).

The award recognises the paper, “Superposition methods for predicting overall cooling effectiveness of cooled nozzle guide vane endwalls subject to inlet radial temperature profile: accuracy and limitations,” presented at the Society’s 2025 Technical Conference for the Power and Propulsion Sector (GPPS Shanghai25) and authored by Matthew Stokes, Dr Nafiz Chowdhury, and Professor Thomas Povey.

The study evaluates the accuracy and limitations of superposition methods for predicting the overall cooling effectiveness of cooled nozzle guide vane endwalls. In particular, it investigates whether the separate effects of film cooling and non-uniform inlet radial temperature profiles can be reliably combined to reproduce their coupled thermal response.

Senior research associate Md Nafiz Chowdhury said:

“It is very rewarding to see our work recognised in this way. The research has led to several further studies and a broader research direction, which we continue to develop through close collaboration between academia and industry.”

Congratulations to Matthew Stokes, Dr Nafiz Chowdhury, and Professor Thomas Povey on this achievement! The award recognises the research being carried out by the ECAT team at OTI and its contribution to the wider power and propulsion research community.

The conference paper is available here: https://gpps.global/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/GPPS-TC-2025_paper_119.pdf