Dr Andrew Philip Crayford

Overview

Andrew graduated from Cardiff School of Engineering with a MEng in Mechanical Engineering (2000), completing his, BP sponsored, PhD (2004) in Fundamental Combustion investigating the suppression of Methane Explosions using water in the form of fine mists as a sustainable alternative to conventional techniques.  Following his studies, he was awarded a Research Fellowship which was undertaken at Cardiff’s School of Engineering’s Gas Turbine Research Centre, where he was responsible for the development and operation of the test facilities emission measurement systems.  During this time, he was tasked by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to design, commission and operate the European non-volatile Particulate Matter (nvPM) reference system towards the development of a new global regulation which was subsequently adopted by ICAO in 2020. 

In 2013 Andrew was awarded a lectureship, at Cardiff School of Engineering, and was attained a readership post in 2020.  In the area of fundamental combustion and explosion hazards - Andrew has worked with numerous companies including BP, BP-Amaco, GexCon, HSE etc. with research contracts totalling >£350k to 2020.  Andrew is actively involved in emissions measurements and the regulation of civil aviation engines, currently serving as the Vice-Chair and Secretary for the SAE E31 International Technical Aircraft Engine Gas and Particulate Emissions Measurement Committee whilst also being a member of the ICAO WG3 and acting as an advisor to EASA.

Between 2008-2014, Andrew Co-lead the delivery of the EASA funded SAMPLE (1-3) research programmes with Rolls-Royce and DLR (Germany), towards the development of a new international nvPM regulatory standard.  The seven research contracts, which totalled €2.5M in funding from EASA, were completed in collaboration with global research organisations (MS&T (US), EMPA (Switzerland), ONERA (France), NRC (Canada)).  Since this time Andrew has continued this work having led the emissions measurement work packages in the European funded DG-MOVE programme (€2M) in conjunction with NLR (Holland), Rolls-Royce (UK) & SAFRAN (France).

In 2019, Andrew was made Work Package lead for On-Wing measurements and Emissions Measurements in the 4-year EU H2020 AVIATOR (€5M) and 2-year Cleansky 2 RAPTOR (€1M) multinational research programmes, working in conjunction with Rolls-Royce, DLR, INTA (Spain), ONERA, ENVISA (France) with EASA also awarding the four-year (€1M) framework research contract SAMPLE 4 in 2021.  He is also working in conjunction with Cambridge University, Oxford University, Rolls-Royce and Dantec in the delivery of the EPSRC (EP/T030623/1) LIGS programme, towards the development of new non-intrusive in-flame temperature measurement methodologies (2020-23).

During the recent pandemic Andrew repurposed his laboratory and aerosol science expertise to study the effectiveness of current respiratory PPE in filtering nanoparticles.  He is working in conjunction with local PPE manufacturers and testing new filtration materials under Welsh Ser-Cymru III funding programmes, with the aim of expanding this research area.