2025 ‘Huw Edwards Award’ Lecture

Dr David Abbott
2025 ‘Huw Edwards Award’ Lecture

Dr. Abbott has over 40 years of experience in the fields of combustion and acoustics and for 30 years  he has specialised in gas turbine combustion, including research, development and design roles for a major manufacturer (ALSTOM) and development, troubleshooting and operational support roles for a major utility gas turbine operator (E.ON, now Uniper). Dr. Abbott also has a broad understanding of turbine technology and the power generation cycle, through management of teams dealing with aerodynamics, thermal design and development of gas and steam turbines and novel power generation cycles and, through this work in industry, he has familiarity with a wide range of gas turbine types. His early career, with British Gas, focused on acoustic problems in gas fired boilers and furnaces but, prior to that, he worked on solving vibration issues within the rail industry, following a brief stint as an Inspector for the Health & Safety Executive.

Dr. Abbott has extensive research experience, with numerous academic publications and conference presentations to his name, and is currently a visiting fellow at Cranfield University's Centre for Propulsion and Thermal Power Engineering. He supports their Thermal Power and Propulsion MSc course and gives lectures on: combustion thermoacoustics; the challenges of variable fuel composition and also low carbon solutions for both aviation and land-based gas turbines. In addition to combustion acoustics, Dr. Abbott’s recent interests include natural gas fuel quality specifications and standards and their impact on gas turbine operation, emissions and plant integrity. This work has naturally extended to firing hydrogen and blends of hydrogen with natural gas. 

Dr. Abbott has had a longstanding involvement with the IOP's Combustion Physics Group (CPG) and has consistently provided valuable mentoring and support to a number of younger colleagues who have presented at the CPG's Early Career Researchers events. Wider support has been enhanced by his down-to-earth practical approach to solving complex technical problems and a genuine willingness to both share his knowledge and support others in their professional development. In addition, he has personally contributed to IOP meetings, the most recent being a presentation at a major seminar and workshop on Hydrogen Combustion at Rolls-Royce, Derby. 

Dr. Abbott holds a BSc Tech (Hons) in Chemical Engineering and Fuel Technology (University of Sheffield) and a PhD in Solid Propellant Admittance Measurement using Laser Anemometry (University of Sheffield). He is a Chartered Energy Engineer (CEng), member of the Energy Institute (MEI) and member of the Institute of Acoustics (MIOA).