Dr Chris Bannister
MEng (Hons) PhD
Profile
Dr Bannister was awarded his MEng in Mechanical Engineering and PhD by the University of Bath and has been leading research into alternative fuels within the Powertrain and Vehicle Research Centre since his appointment as an RCUK Fellow in June 2007. He was appointed Lecturer in June 2012.
Research
Dr Bannister has been leading research into biodiesel within the Powertrain and Vehicle Research Centre since June 2007, working closely with the Ford Motor Company and BP on projects of mutual interest. He has numerous years experience in diesel engine testing and development on both transient engine test cells and on the chassis rolls dynamometer obtaining extensive expertise in accurate emissions and fuel consumption measurement.
Dr Bannister was appointed in June 2007 as an RCUK Academic fellow with additional matched funding from the Ford Motor Company with the mandate of building biodiesel research within the Powertrain and Vehicle Research Centre (PVRC). Key research areas include:
- Biodiesel studies
- Vehicle trials examining blend ratio and temperature effects
- Impact of feedstock on FAME properties
- Impact on aftertreatment systems
- Oxidation stability
- Oil dilution issues
- On-board sensors to determine blend ratio and FAME type
- Combustion characteristics and optimisation.
- Exhaust system thermal modelling for accurate catalyst light-off predictions
- Time alignment of transient emissions data for accurate measurement of catalyst conversion efficiencies
- Impacts of lubricating oil viscometric properties on vehicle fuel consumption
- Engine oil aeration issues
- Evaluation and modelling of passive NOx conversion in vehicle oxidation catalysts.
Teaching units
- Thermofluids
- Internal Combustion Engine Technology
- Powertrains and Transportation Systems.
Publications
Book Sections
Stow, M., McManus, M.C. and Bannister, C., 2012. A life cycle assessment comparison of rapeseed biodiesel and conventional diesel. In: Institution of Mechanical Engineers - Sustainable Vehicle Technologies: Driving the Green Agenda. Institution of Mechanical Engineers, pp. 23-33.
Bannister, C. D., Hawley, J. G., Brace, C. J., Pegg, I., Dumenil, J. C. and Brown, A., 2007. Determining the effect of lubricating oil properties on diesel engine fuel economy. In: Shayler, P., ed. Proceedings of the Internal Combustion Engines Conference: Performance, Fuel Economy and Emissions. Oxford, UK: Chandos Publishing, pp. 247-258.
Articles
Chuck, C. J., Jenkins, R. W., Bannister, C. D., Han, L. and Lowe, J. P., 2012. Design and preliminary results of an NMR tube reactor to study the oxidative degradation of fatty acid methyl ester. Biomass and Bioenergy, 47, pp. 188-194.
Bannister, C. D., Ali, H. M. and Hawley, J. G., 2012. Investigation and analysis into the impact of rapeseed methyl ester biodiesel on the diesel oxidation catalyst performance. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering, 226 (11), pp. 1525-1535.
Chuck, C. J., Bannister, C. D., Jenkins, R. W., Lowe, J. P. and Davidson, M. G., 2012. A comparison of analytical techniques and the products formed during the decomposition of biodiesel under accelerated conditions. Fuel, 96, pp. 426-433.
Bannister, C. D., Brace, C. J., Taylor, J., Brooks, T. and Fraser, N., 2011. An empirical approach to predicting heat transfer within single- and twin-skin automotive exhaust systems. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering, 225 (7), pp. 913-929.
Bannister, C. D., Chuck, C. J., Bounds, M. and Hawley, J. G., 2011. Oxidative stability of biodiesel fuel. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering, 225 (D1), pp. 99-114.
Hawley, J. G., Bannister, C. D., Brace, C. J., Akehurst, S., Pegg, I. and Avery, M. R., 2010. The effect of engine and transmission oil viscometrics on vehicle fuel consumption. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering, 224 (9), pp. 1213-1228.
Bannister, C. D., Hawley, J. G., Ali, H. M., Chuck, C. J., Price, P., Chrysafi, S. S., Brown, A. and Pickford, W., 2010. The impact of biodiesel blend ratio on vehicle performance and emissions. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering, 224 (3), pp. 405-421.
Bannister, C. D., Brace, C. J., Taylor, J., Brooks, T. and Fraser, N., 2010. The use of multi-variate models for the prediction of heat transfer in vehicle exhaust systems. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering, 224 (3), pp. 369-385.
Chuck, C. J., Bannister, C. D., Hawley, J. G. and Davidson, M. G., 2010. Spectroscopic sensor techniques applicable to real-time biodiesel determination. Fuel, 89 (2), pp. 457-461.
Bannister, C. D., Chuck, C. J., Hawley, J. G., Price, P. and Chrysafi, S. S., 2010. Factors affecting the decomposition of biodiesel under simulated engine sump oil conditions. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering, 224 (7), pp. 927-940.
Chuck, C. J., Bannister, C. D., Hawley, J. G., Davidson, M. G., La Bruna, I. and Paine, A., 2009. Predictive model to assess the molecular structure of biodiesel fuel. Energy and Fuels, 23 (4), pp. 2290-2294.
Bannister, C., Brace, C., Lock, G., Taylor, J., Brooks, T. and Fraser, N., 2009. Experimental characterisation of heat transfer in exhaust pipe sections. SAE International Journal of Materials & Manufacturing, 1 (1), pp. 136-144.
Hawley, J. G., Bannister, C., Wallace, F. J. and Brace, C. J., 2007. An analytical approach to quantify the influence of mixing effects in a CVS system on the measurement of instantaneous exhaust flow rates. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering, 221 (12), pp. 1585-1598.
Bannister, C. D., Wallace, F., Hawley, J. G. and Brace, C. J., 2007. Predicting instantaneous exhaust flowrates in a constant volume sampling system. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering, 221 (12), pp. 1585-1598.
Hawley, J. G., Bannister, C. D., Brace, C. J., Cox, A., Ketcher, D. and Stark, R., 2004. Vehicle modal emissions measurement - techniques and issues. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering, 218 (8), pp. 859-873.
Conference or Workshop Items
Bannister, C., Hawley, J. G., Ali, H., Chuck, C. and Price, P., 2009. Quantifying the effects of biodiesel blend ratio, at varying ambient temperatures, on vehicle performance and emissions. In: SAE 2009 International Powertrains, Fuels & Lubricants Meeting, 2009-06-15 - 2009-06-17, Florence.
Bannister, C., Brace, C., Lock, G., Taylor, J., Brooks, T. and Fraser, N., 2008. Experimental Characterisation of Heat Transfer in Exhaust Pipe Sections. In: SAE World Congress & Exhibition, 2008-04-01, Detroit, MI.
Hawley, J. G., Bannister, C., Brace, C. J., Cox, A., Ketcher, D. and Stark, R., 2004. Further investigations on time-alignment. In: SAE 2004 World Congress and Exhibition, 2004-03-08 - 2004-03-11, Detroit, MI.
Thesis
Bannister, C., 2007. Vehicle Emissions Measurement. Thesis (Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)). University of Bath.
