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Professor Rex Thorpe

Head of Chemical and Process Engineering, Professor of Chemical Engineering

Qualifications: MA, MEng, PhD, FIChemE, CEng, FHEA

Email:
Phone: Work: 01483 68 9270
Room no: 20 BC 02

Office hours

9-6 daily

Further information

Biography

MEng and PhD were obtained at the University of Cambridge.  Worked for Brown and Root (UK) for one year before joining the lecturing staff in chemical engineering at the University of Cambridge.  Moved to Surrey in 2001.

Research Interests

Multiphase flows including oil production flows (2, 3 and 4 phase), in circulating fermenters, jet engines and stirred tank reactors.

Energy optimisation of sewage treatment plant

Capture of VOCs

Research Collaborations

Marathon Oil, UKAEA, Thames Water, Rolls Royce.

Publications

Highlights

  • Hutcheson PS, Chew JW, Thorpe RB, Young C, Regan NJ. (2009) 'MODELLING OF LIQUID LEAKAGE SPRAYS IN CROSSFLOW'. AMER SOC MECHANICAL ENGINEERS PROCEEDINGS OF THE ASME TURBO EXPO 2009, VOL 3, PTS A AND B, Orlando, FL: 54th ASME Turbo Expo 2009, pp. 1183-1195.
  • Woods JA, Thorpe RB, Johnson SE. (2008) 'Horizontal pneumatic conveying from a fluidized bed'. PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE, 63 (7), pp. 1741-1760.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ces.2007.11.040
  • Zigan S, Thorpe RB, Tuzun U, Enstad GG, Battistin F. (2008) 'Theoretical and experimental testing of a scaling rule for air current segregation of alumina powder in cylindrical silos'. ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA POWDER TECHNOLOGY, Leeds, ENGLAND: UK-China Particle Technology Forum 183 (1), pp. 133-145.
    doi: 10.1016/j.powtec.2007.11.030
  • Abia-Biteo Belope M-A, Thorpe RB. (2007) 'Alba field three phase separator performance'. 13th International Conference on Multiphase Production Technology, , pp. 399-412.

Journal articles

  • Watson RJ, Davidson JF, Thorpe RB. (2012) 'Vertical plug-flow pneumatic conveying from a fluidised bed'. Powder Technology, 224, pp. 155-161.
    doi: 10.1016/j.powtec.2012.02.045
  • Tan K-K, Thorpe RB, Zhao Z. (2011) 'On predicting mantle mushroom plumes'. Geoscience Frontiers, 2 (2), pp. 223-235.
    doi: 10.1016/j.gsf.2011.03.001
  • Thorpe RB, Zigan S, Tuzun U. (2009) 'Characterisation of free-flowing particle jets into storage silos using particle image velocimetry and DEM simulations'. Trans Tech Publications Bulk Solids & Powder Science & Technology, 2, pp. 55-60.
  • Bao YY, Gao ZM, Li ZP, Bai D, Smith JM, Thorpe RB. (2008) 'Solid suspension in a boiling stirred tank with radial flow turbines'. AMER CHEMICAL SOC IND ENG CHEM RES, 47 (7), pp. 2420-2427.
    doi: 10.1021/ie071209p
  • Woods JA, Thorpe RB, Johnson SE. (2008) 'Horizontal pneumatic conveying from a fluidized bed'. PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE, 63 (7), pp. 1741-1760.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ces.2007.11.040
  • Hau JL, Ray R, Thorpe RB, Azapagic A. (2008) 'A thermodynamic model of the outputs of gasification of solid waste'. International Journal of Chemical Reactor Engineering, 6 (1) Article number ARTN A35
    doi: 10.2202/1542-6580.1523
  • Ray R, Thorpe RB. (2007) 'A comparison of gasification with pyrolysis for the recycling of plastic containing wastes'. BERKELEY ELECTRONIC PRESS INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL REACTOR ENGINEERING, 5 Article number ARTN A85
  • Bao Y, Gao Z, Huang X, Shi L, Smith JM, Thorpe RB. (2007) 'Gas-liquid dispersion with buoyant particles in a hot-sparged stirred tank'. AMER CHEMICAL SOC INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY RESEARCH, 46 (20), pp. 6605-6611.
    doi: 10.1021/ie070481w
  • Zigan S, Thorpe RB, Tuzun U, Enstad GG. (2007) 'Air current segregation of alumina powder'. WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH PARTICLE & PARTICLE SYSTEMS CHARACTERIZATION, 24 (2), pp. 124-135.
    doi: 10.1002/ppsc.200601077
  • Min J, Gao Z, Xiao S, Li X, Smith JM, Thorpe RB. (2007) 'Experimental and CFD studies of a fluid flow in a draft-tube stirred tank'. Journal of Chemical Engineering of Japan, 40 (8), pp. 630-635.
    doi: 10.1252/jcej.40.630
  • Abia-Biteo Belope M-A, Thorpe RB. (2007) 'Alba field three phase separator performance'. 13th International Conference on Multiphase Production Technology, , pp. 399-412.
  • Bao YY, Hao ZG, Gao ZM, Shi LT, Smith JM, Thorpe RB. (2006) 'Gas dispersion and solid suspension in a three-phase stirred tank with multiple impellers'. TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC CHEMICAL ENGINEERING COMMUNICATIONS, 193 (7), pp. 801-825.
    doi: 10.1080/00986440500267261
  • Zigan S, Thorpe RB, Tuzun U, Gisle GE. (2006) 'Air current segregation of alumina powder'. AIChE Annual Meeting, Conference Proceedings,

Conference papers

  • Thorpe RB, Mills N, Pearce P, kirkby N. (2011) 'The influence of heat balance on the economics of advanced anaerobic digestion proceses'. Aqua Enviro Technology Transfer 16th European Biosolids and Organic Resources Conference Proceedings, Leeds, England: 16th European Biosolids and Organic Resources Conference
  • Tan K-K, Thorpe RB. (2011) 'Onset of instability of impulsely starting rotating cylinder'. AIP Proceedings of the Sixth International Conference on Fluid Mechanics, Guangzhou, China: RECENT PROGRESSES IN FLUID DYNAMICS RESEARCH 1376, pp. 104-107.
    doi: 10.1063/1.3651847
  • Daar E, King L, Nisbet A, Thorpe RB, Bradley DA. (2010) 'Viscosity changes in hyaluronic acid: Irradiation and rheological studies'. PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD APPLIED RADIATION AND ISOTOPES, Czech Tech univ, Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC: 7th International Topical Meeting on Industrial Radiation and Radioisotope Measurement Application 68 (4-5), pp. 746-750.
    doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2009.10.022
  • Hutcheson PS, Chew JW, Thorpe RB, Young C, Regan NJ. (2009) 'MODELLING OF LIQUID LEAKAGE SPRAYS IN CROSSFLOW'. AMER SOC MECHANICAL ENGINEERS PROCEEDINGS OF THE ASME TURBO EXPO 2009, VOL 3, PTS A AND B, Orlando, FL: 54th ASME Turbo Expo 2009, pp. 1183-1195.
  • Zigan S, Thorpe RB, Tuzun U, Enstad GG, Battistin F. (2008) 'Theoretical and experimental testing of a scaling rule for air current segregation of alumina powder in cylindrical silos'. ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA POWDER TECHNOLOGY, Leeds, ENGLAND: UK-China Particle Technology Forum 183 (1), pp. 133-145.
    doi: 10.1016/j.powtec.2007.11.030
  • Hutcheson PS, Chew JW, Thorpe RB, Young C. (2008) 'ASSESSMENT OF MODELS FOR LIQUID JET BREAKUP'. AMER SOC MECHANICAL ENGINEERS PROCEEDINGS OF THE ASME TURBO EXPO 2008, VOL 4, PTS A AND B, Berlin, GERMANY: 53rd ASME Turbo Expo 2008, pp. 1517-1529.
  • Li Z, Gao Z, Smith JM, Thorpe RB. (2007) 'Large eddy simulation of flow fields in vessels stirred by dual rushton impeller agitators'. SOC CHEMICAL ENG JAPAN JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING OF JAPAN, Shanghai, PEOPLES R CHINA: 1st Sino-Japanese Conference on Polymerization Reaction Engineering and Mixing Technology 40 (8), pp. 684-691.
    doi: 10.1252/jcej.40.684

Teaching

Fluid mechanics, safety, design projects, separations processes

Departmental Duties

Head of Chemical and Process Engineering