On 29 October 2025, Professor Ahmed Kovacevic, FREng delivered an invited lecture at the Institute of Refrigeration (IOR) TechTalk series titled “Emerging Technologies in Compressors and Their Systems.” The lecture showcased Centre’s latest research on next-generation compressor technologies, building on the work that earned him the prestigious J&E Hall International Gold Medal.

Positive displacement screw compressors are critical to refrigeration, air-conditioning, heat pumps, hydrogen compression and process gas applications. With global demand rising and sustainability becoming essential, improving compressor efficiency and reliability has a direct impact on energy consumption and emissions.

In his talk, Professor Kovacevic presented recent findings in:

• Experimental and numerical methods using advanced CFD and Conjugate Heat Transfer modelling to predict compressor performance
• Reducing leakage losses in oil-free screw compressors, which significantly improves energy efficiency
• New design concepts, including novel tip seals and discharge valves, aimed at improving efficiency and reliability

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Project SECRET: Smarter, Efficient Compressors

A key highlight of the talk was Project SECRET – Smart Efficient Compression: Reliability and Energy Targets, funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering and Howden. The project aims to develop a new generation of efficient, oil-free screw compressors for challenging applications such as hydrogen compression and high-temperature heat pumps.

The research explores:

• Reducing leakage losses in oil-free screw compressors by 20%
• Lowering energy consumption by at least 2%
• Improving rotor clearance control using novel monitoring systems

These technologies are now being transferred into an industrial prototype compressor developed with Howden.

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CERES: A research consortium shaping future compressor technology

Professor Kovacevic also introduced the CERES Consortium – Compressors and Expanders in Future Energy Systems, an industry-academia partnership facilitated by the Centre for Compressor Technology.

The consortium supports low-TRL innovation, with projects including:

• Water-injected screw compressors for environmentally critical applications
• Generative AI for rotor profile design
• Sustainable lubrication alternatives to oil

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▶️ Video of the lecture is now available here.

📄 The full paper presented during the lecture can be downloaded here.

Registration (for IOR page link)