NEWS
2025.07.16
Institute of Fluid Science Welcomes International Distinguished Researcher: Prof. S. Mani Sarathy – Leading the International Development of Fuel Ammonia Research
On June 1, 2025, Institute of Fluid Science at Tohoku University welcomed Professor S. Mani Sarathy as the first distinguished researcher program of the University for International Research Excellence (UREX).
Professor Sarathy is a globally recognized authority in combustion chemistry and sustainable fuels, based at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia. He is a Highly Cited Researcher whose work focuses on designing future-ready clean fuels, combustion technologies, and production systems. He has promoted research in fuel science for the realization of a decarbonized society and has made significant contributions to the development of an international research network through industry-academia collaboration. His pioneering research has production of low carbon hydrogen and ammonia fuels, ammonia/hydrocarbon co-firing strategies, and AI-accelerated modeling frameworks.
The Institute of Fluid Science (IFS) is developing a research strategy aimed at establishing an international supply chain for ammonia. Professor Sarathy’s appointment is internationally invited personnel to play a central role by focusing on designing global ammonia supply chains, conducting life cycle analysis and techno-economic modeling, and developing ammonia combustion systems. With his participation, IFS aims to be a global top leader in research on the international supply chain for fuel ammonia. The institute’s research in the field of decarbonization and energy is expected to further accelerate, and to strengthen collaboration with domestic and international research institutes and industries.
His projects will include:
• Developing AI-based kinetic models for ammonia-diesel co-firing using innovative kinetic modeling approaches.
• Generating large-scale thermochemical databases for ammonia-hydrocarbon mixtures through quantum calculations to train machine learning algorithms.
• Utilizing advanced synchrotron techniques at Nanoterasu to study ammonia-material interactions under extreme combustion environments.
• Conducting life cycle analysis and techno-economic modeling to design global ammonia supply chains.
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Professor Sarathy Mani’s comment:
“Joining Tohoku University is both a professional honor and a personally rewarding milestone. Tohoku’s leadership in clean energy innovation and experimental science offers a unique platform for high-impact research. I am eager to contribute my expertise in combustion chemistry and sustainable fuels to address the energy and climate challenges we collectively face.”
Professor Sarathy is a globally recognized authority in combustion chemistry and sustainable fuels, based at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia. He is a Highly Cited Researcher whose work focuses on designing future-ready clean fuels, combustion technologies, and production systems. He has promoted research in fuel science for the realization of a decarbonized society and has made significant contributions to the development of an international research network through industry-academia collaboration. His pioneering research has production of low carbon hydrogen and ammonia fuels, ammonia/hydrocarbon co-firing strategies, and AI-accelerated modeling frameworks.
The Institute of Fluid Science (IFS) is developing a research strategy aimed at establishing an international supply chain for ammonia. Professor Sarathy’s appointment is internationally invited personnel to play a central role by focusing on designing global ammonia supply chains, conducting life cycle analysis and techno-economic modeling, and developing ammonia combustion systems. With his participation, IFS aims to be a global top leader in research on the international supply chain for fuel ammonia. The institute’s research in the field of decarbonization and energy is expected to further accelerate, and to strengthen collaboration with domestic and international research institutes and industries.
His projects will include:
• Developing AI-based kinetic models for ammonia-diesel co-firing using innovative kinetic modeling approaches.
• Generating large-scale thermochemical databases for ammonia-hydrocarbon mixtures through quantum calculations to train machine learning algorithms.
• Utilizing advanced synchrotron techniques at Nanoterasu to study ammonia-material interactions under extreme combustion environments.
• Conducting life cycle analysis and techno-economic modeling to design global ammonia supply chains.
________________________________________
Professor Sarathy Mani’s comment:
“Joining Tohoku University is both a professional honor and a personally rewarding milestone. Tohoku’s leadership in clean energy innovation and experimental science offers a unique platform for high-impact research. I am eager to contribute my expertise in combustion chemistry and sustainable fuels to address the energy and climate challenges we collectively face.”
Professor S. Mani Sarathy
【Links】
University for International Research Excellence
Global Collaborative Research and Education Center for Integrated Flow Science (IFS-GCORE)