Giovanni Vorraro, Ph.D.

Research Scientists

Research Scientist

Location:

Building 5 - Level 4 - 4327

Social Profile:

Research Interests

Dr Giovanni Vorraro is a Research Scientist at the CCRC at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). He holds a PhD from the University of Naples “Federico II” where his research was focused on the experimental and numerical assessment of the performance of automotive turbochargers. Dr Vorraro is interested in innovative internal combustion engine architectures, hybrid vehicles, alternative fuels and fuel cells applications.
Currently Dr Vorraro works within Professor Turner research group developing experimental and numerical activities on vehicles and engines. 

Selected Publications

  • Testing of a Modern Wankel Rotary Engine - Part II: Motoring Analysis
    Vorraro, G., Turner, J., and Brace, C.
    SAE Technical Paper 2021-24-0095, 2021

  • The Opposed-Piston engine: studies on efficiency and geometry and some new concepts to further improve its thermodynamics in concert with increased powertrain electrification
    J Turner and G Vorraro
    Direct-Injection Two-Stroke Engines – International Workshop & Conference 2020 – Rueil-Malmaison, France

  • Initial investigations into the benefits and challenges of eliminating port overlap in Wankel rotary engines
    J Turner, M Turner & G Vorraro
    SAE Technical Paper - SAE WCX Congress, 2020

  • Control-oriented modelling of a Wankel rotary engine: a synthesis approach of state space and neural networks
    AS Chen, G Vorraro, M Turner, R Islam, G Herrmann, S Burgess, C Brace, J Turner & N Bailey
    SAE Technical Paper - SAE WCX Congress, 2020

Education

  • Ph.D., Numerical and experimental characterization of automotive turbochargers, Mechanical Engineering, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Italy, 2011- 2014
  • Master Degree, Mechanical Engineering, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Italy, 2007- 2010
  • Bachelor Degree, Mechanical Engineering, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Italy, 2002- 2007

Professional Profile

  • August 2021 to present: Research Scientist, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Clean Combustion Research Center, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
  • 02.2021 to present: Independent Scientist
  • 09.2020 - 01.2021: Research Fellow (Grade 8), University of Bath, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute for Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems (IAAPS) Research Group
  • 09.2019 - 09.2020: Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Systems Engineering (Grade 8), University of Bath, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute for Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems (IAAPS) Research Group
  • 03.2018 - 08.2019: Research Fellow (Grade 8), University of Bath, Department of Mechanical Engineering, PVRC Group
  • 09.2017 - 03–2018: Research Associate (Grade 7), University of Bath, Department of Mechanical Engineering, PVRC Group
  • 04.2016 - 03.2017: Post–Doctoral Research Fellow, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Department of Mechanical Engineering, LoCARtic Group
  • 04.2015 - 02.2016: Thermo–Mechanical Engineer, CERN, EN–STI–ECE group
  • 05.2012 - 04.2015: Bicicli e tricicli elettrici a pedalata assistita di nuova generazione in co–operation with Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II” , PON04a3_00408, Grant holder and Principal Investigator for the project

Scientific and Professional Membership

Member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) 

Awards

  • 01-2020: SETSquared Scale-Up Program - Innovative ideas on a zero-emissions device - 24k£

  • 05.2012 to 09.2015: Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research – Grant PON04a3_00408 – Bicicli e tricicli elettrici a pedalata assistita di nuova generazione – 636k€

KAUST Affiliations

  • Clean Combustion Research Center (CCRC)

  • Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering (PSE)

Research Interests Keywords

Hybrid Electric Vehicles Internal Combustion Engines e-Fuels Fuel Cells Numerical Modelling Experimental Activities