Staff profile

Personal webpage

Grant Ingram has been a member of staff at Durham University since 2005 and in 2022 was promoted to Professor.  Whilst at Durham he has worked on two key areas of research: conventional turbomachinery and renewable devices. Both of these activities are approached from a fluid dynamics background with a focus on improving engineering designs and processes. Notable projects include work on axial flow turbine aerodynamics, his work on blade lean and profiled endwalls in turbomachinery won the PE Publishing Prize for the best paper published in the Journal of Power and Energy in 2008. Also on the conventional turbomachinery side he has conducted research on steam turbine diffusers, innovative sealing concepts for turbine applications and entropy generation in axial flow turbines. 

On the renewable side of his research he has also examined the starting process of both vertical and horizontal axis wind turbines, worked on applying fluid dynamics techniques to the thermal rating of power cables both onshore and offshire and working on examining leading edge erosion on offshore wind turbines. 

Research Interests

• Turbomachinery: axial flow turbines and compressors. Gas turbines, steam turbines and aeroengines. Profiled endwalls, three dimensional blading, secondary flow, diffusers and turbomachinery aerodynamics. 
• Wind turbines: horizontal and vertical axis turbines. Wind turbine startup, energy yield, aerodynamics. Leading edge erosion. 
• Wind flow over terrain for real time thermal ratings. Thermal loading of offshore cables. 
• Image processing for fluid dynamics. 

Teaching Activity

In 2009 Grant Ingram authored an electronic book entitled "Basic Concepts in Turbomachinery" which is a basic introduction to be read before more complex texts. This book is a free download.  He has developed innovative methods of teaching turbomachinery in the Department's final year and MSc courses.  His paper on these changes won the 2023 Best Paper award at the ASME Turbo Expo Education committee. 

Within the Department he has lectured at all levels on subjects including: Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Aeromechanics and Turbomachinery.  He has taught the introductory computing course in Engineering as well as supervising numerous group design projects. 

He has carried out a number of administrative roles with the Department.  He has served as lab coordinator, admission tutor, L4 tutor, Deputy Director of Taught Studies (PGT) and Director of Education.  He launched the MSc in Energy Engineering Management - a joint programme with the Business School and has served as the course director. 

Authored book

• Ingram, G. (2009). Basic Concepts in Turbomachinery. Ventus Publishing ApS

Conference Paper

• Martinez-Castro, P. A., Williams, R. J., & Ingram, G. L. (2024, September). Entropy generation rate optimisation for profiled endwall design for axial turbines. Presented at GPPS Chania 2024, Chania
• Liu, X., Ingram, G., Sims-Williams, D., & Breckon, T. P. (2024, September). Extracting Quantitative Streamline Information from Surface Flow Visualization Images in a Linear Cascade using Convolutional Neural Networks. Presented at GPPS Chania24, Chania
• MacCalman, J., Hogg, S., & Ingram, G. (2018, June). Application of fluidic curtains to turbine rotor tip seal geometries. Presented at ASME Turbo Expo 2018, Lillestrøm, Norway
• Abdelsalam, T. I., Williams, R., & Ingram, G. (2017, December). Exploiting modern image processing in surface flow visualisation. Presented at 1st Global Power and Propulsion Forum, Zurich, Switzerland
• Hilfer, M., Hogg, S., & Ingram, G. (2015, June). Experimental Validation of a Curtain Type Fluidic Jet Seal on a Turbine Rotor Shroud. Presented at ASME Turbo Expo 2015: Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Montreal, Canada
• Messenger, A., Williams, R., Ingram, G., Hogg, S., Tibos, S., & Seaton, J. (2015, June). A Dynamic Clearance Seal for Steam Turbine Application. Presented at ASME Turbo Expo 2015: Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Montreal
• Hawes, C., Williams, R., & Ingram, G. (2015, March). Investigating Endwall-Blade Fillet Radius Variation to Reduce Secondary Flow Losses. Presented at 11th European Conference on Turbomachinery Fluid Dynamics and Thermodynamics., Madrid, Spain
• Mank, S., Duerrwaechter, L., Hilfer, M., Williams, R., Hogg, S., & Ingram, G. (2014, June). Secondary Flows and Fillet Radii in a Linear Turbine Cascade. Presented at ASME Turbo Expo 2014., Düsseldorf, Germany
• Worasinchai, S., Ingram, G., & Dominy, R. G. (2014, June). The Physics of H-Darrieus Turbine Starting Behaviour. Presented at ASME Turbo Expo 2014: Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition., Düsseldorf, Germany
• Greenwood, D., Ingram, G., Taylor, P., Collinson, A., & Brown, S. (2013, June). Network planning case study utilising real-time thermal ratings and computational fluid dynamics. Presented at Electricity Distribution (CIRED 2013), 22nd International Conference and Exhibition on Electricity Distribution., Stockholm, Sweden
• Auld, A., Hilfer, M., Hogg, S., Ingram, G., & Messenger, A. (2013, June). Application of an Air-Curtain Fluidic Jet Type Seal to Reduce Turbine Shroud Leakage. Presented at ASME Turbo Expo 2013., San Antonio, USA
• Burton, Z., Ingram, G., & Hogg, S. (2013, June). A Novel Method of Coupling the Steam Turbine Exhaust Hood and the Last Stage Blades Using the Non-Linear Harmonic Method. Presented at ASME Turbo Expo 2013: Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition., San Antonio, USA
• Burton, Z., Ingram, G., & Hogg, S. (2013, April). A Generic Steam Turbine Exhaust Diffuser with Tip Leakage Modelling and Non-Uniform Hood Outlet. Presented at The 10th European Conference on Turbomachinery Fluid Dynamics and Thermodynamics ETC 10., Lappeenranta, Finland
• Worasinchai, S., Ingram, G., & Dominy, R. (2012, December). The Physics of H-Darrieus Turbines Self-Starting Capability: Flapping-Wing Perspective. Presented at ASME Turbo Expo 2012: Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition
• Hilfer, M., Ingram, G., & Hogg, S. (2012, December). Endwall Profiling With Tip Clearance Flows. Presented at ASME Turbo Expo 2012, Copenhagen, Denmark
• Förster, F., Sims-Williams, D., & Ingram, G. (2012, December). Reconstruction of the Unsteady Pressure Field in a Low Speed Linear Cascade. Presented at ASME Turbo Expo 2012: Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition, Copenhagen, Denmark
• Burton, Z., Ingram, G., & Hogg, S. (2012, December). A Generic Low Pressure Exhaust Diffuser for Steam Turbine Research. Presented at ASME Turbo Expo 2012, Copenhagen, Denmark
• Worasinchai, S., Ingram, G., & Dominy, R. (2011, December). THE EFFECTS OF IMPROVED STARTING CAPABILITY ON ENERGY YIELD FOR SMALL HAWTS. Presented at ASME Turbo Expo 2011, Vancouver, Canada
• McIntosh, J., MacPherson, R., Ingram, G., & Hogg, S. (2011, December). PROFILED ENDWALL DESIGN USING GENETIC ALGORITHMS WITH DIFFERENT OBJECTIVE FUNCTIONS. Presented at ASME 2011 Turbo Expo: Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
• Forster, F., Sims-Williams, D., Ingram, G., & Dominy, R. (2023, June). Time resolved measurements in the Durham Cascade. Presented at ASME Turbo Expo 2011, Vancouver, Canada
• of Wind Turbine Blades. Presented at 6th PhD Seminar on Wind Energy in Europe., Trondheim, Norway
• Snedden, G., Dunn, D., Ingram, G., & Gregory-Smith, D. (2010, June). The Performance of a Generic Non-Axisymmetric Endwall in a Single Stage, Rotating Turbine at On and Off-Design Conditions. Presented at ASME Turbo Expo 2010: Power for Land, Sea and Air GT2010, Glasgow, UK
• Williams, R., Ingram, G., & Gregory-Smith, D. (2010, June). Large tip clearance flows in two compressor cascades. Presented at ASME Turbo Expo 2010: Power for Land, Sea and Air GT2010., Glasgow, UK (Scottish Exhibition & Conference Centre)
• MacPherson, R., & Ingram, G. (2010, January). Endwall Profile Design for the Durham Cascade using Genetic Algorithms. Presented at Seventh South African Conference on Computational and Applied Mechanics, SACAM10, Pretoria, South Africa
• Airoldi, G., Bumby, J., Dominy, R., Ingram, G., Lim, C., Mahkamov, K., Brown, N., Mebarki, A., & Shannel, M. (2009, October). Air flow and heat transfer modeling of an axial flux permanent magnet generator. Presented at International Conference on Computer, Electrical, and Systems Science, and Engineering, Venice, Italy
• Lim, C., Airoldi, G., Bumby, J., Dominy, R., Ingram, G., Mahkamov, K., Brown, N., Mebarki, A., & Shannel, M. (2009, October). 2D lumped parameter model of axial flux permanent magnet generator: investiagations of convective thermal circuits. Presented at International Conference on Computer, Electrical, and Systems Science, and Engineering, Venice, Italy
• Snedden, G., Dunn, D., Ingram, G., & Gregory-Smith, D. (2009, June). The Application of Non-axisymmetric Endwall Contouring in a Single Stage, Rotating Turbine. Presented at Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2009: Power for Land, Sea and Air, Orlando, Florida, USA
• Bagshaw, D., Ingram, G., Gregory-Smith, D., & Atkins, W. (2023, March). Vorticity Development in Highly Loaded Cascade Blades. Presented at 8th European Conference on Turbomachinery, Fluid Dynamics and Thermodynamics., Graz, Austria
• Williams, R., Gregory-Smith, D., & Ingram, G. (2023, March). Large Tip Clearances and Highly Skewed Inlet Conditions. Presented at 8th European Conference on Turbomachinery, Fluid Dynamics and Thermodynamics., Graz, Austria
• Williams, R., Gregory-Smith, D., He, L., & Ingram, G. (2008, June). Experiments and Computations on Large Tip Clearance Effects in a Linear Cascade. Presented at ASME Turbo Expo 2008: Power for Land, Sea and Air., Berlin, Germany
• Gregory-Smith, D., Bagshaw, D., Ingram, G., & Stokes, M. (2008, June). Using Profiled Endwalls, Blade Lean and Leading Edge Extensions to Minimize Secondary Flow. Presented at Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2008: Power for Land, Sea and Air, Berlin, Germany
• Lim, C., Brown, N., Bumby, J., Dominy, R., Ingram, G., Mahkamov, K., & Shanel, M. (2008, December). Lumped-Parameter Thermal Modelling of Axial Flux Permanent Magnet Generators, International Conference on Electrical Machines. Presented at International Conference on Electrical Machines, Portugal
• Airoldi, G., Brown, N., Bumby, J., Dominy, R., Ingram, G., Mahkamov, K., & Shanel, M. (2008, December). CFD Parametric Study on Ventilation of Axial Flux Permanent Magnet Machines, International Conference on Electrical Machines. Presented at International Conference on Electrical Machines, Portugal
• Bagshaw, D., Ingram, G., Gregory-Smith, D., & Stokes, M. (2006, May). A turbine cascade facility for secondary flow research. Presented at ASME Turbo-Expo 2006, Barcelona, Spain
• Dalton, J., & Ingram, G. (2005, July). Towards the provision of sustainable development by control of lifecycle design changes. Presented at 4th Internation Conference on Design and Manufacture for Sustainable Development, Newcastle upon Tyne
• Bagshaw, D., Ingram, G., Gregory-Smith, D., & Stokes, M. (2005, March). Experimental study of reverse compound lean in a linear turbine cascade. Presented at 6th European Conference on Turbomachinery, Fluid Dynamics and Theromdynamics., Lille, France
• Ingram, G., Gregory-Smith, D., & Harvey, N. (2004, June). Investigation of a Novel Secondary Flow Feature in a Turbine Cascade with End Wall Profiling. Presented at ASME Turbo Expo 2004, Power for Land, Sea & Air., Vienna, Austria
• Ingram, G., Gregory-Smith, D., & Harvey, N. (2003, August). Experimental Quantification of The Benefits of End-wall Profiling in a Turbine Cascade. Presented at XVI International Symposium on Air Breathing Engines (ISABE)
• Ingram, G., Gregory-Smith, D., Rose, M., Harvey, N., & Brennan, G. (2002, June). The effect of end-wall profiling on secondary flow and loss development in a turbine cascade. Presented at ASME Turbo Expo 2002 : land, sea and air (GT2002)., Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Doctoral Thesis

• Ingram, G. (2003). Endwall Profiling for the Reduction of Secondary Flow in Turbines. (Thesis). School of Engineering, Durham University. https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1618652

Journal Article

• Ingram, G. L. (2024). Updating Turbomachinery Aerodynamics Teaching On an Undergraduate Course Using 3D Design Tools. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 146(8), https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4064150
• MacCalman, J. A., Williams, R. J., Ingram, G. L., & Hogg, S. I. (2024). Using Fluid Curtains to Improve Sealing Performance in Turbomachinery Applications. Journal of Tribology, 146(8), Article 084401. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4065264
• Duffy, A., Ingram, G., & Hogg, S. (2022). The Significance of Bypass Transition on the Annual Energy Production of an Offshore Wind Turbine. Wind Energy, 25(4), 772-787. https://doi.org/10.1002/we.2697
• Hickling, T., & Ingram, G. (2020). Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes modelling in transonic S-ducts with passive flow control. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power and Energy, 234(1), 31-45. https://doi.org/10.1177/0957650919845765
• Du, L., Ingram, G., & Dominy, R. (2019). Experimental study of the effects of turbine solidity, blade profile, pitch angle, surface roughness and aspect ratio on the H-Darrieus wind turbine self-starting and overall performance. Energy Science and Engineering, 7(6), 2421-2436. https://doi.org/10.1002/ese3.430
• Du, L., Ingram, G., & Dominy, R. (2019). A review of H-Darrieus wind turbine aerodynamic research. Journal of mechanical engineering science, 233(23-24), 7590-7616. https://doi.org/10.1177/0954406219885962
• Du, L., Ingram, G., & Dominy, R. G. (2019). Time-accurate blade surface static pressure behaviour on a rotating H-Darrieus wind turbine. Wind Energy, 22(4), 563-575. https://doi.org/10.1002/we.2307
• Snedden, G., Dunn, D., & Ingram, G. (2018). On- and off-design performance of a model rotating turbine with non-axisymmetric endwall contouring and a comparison to cascade data. Aeronautical Journal, 122(1250), 646-665. https://doi.org/10.1017/aer.2018.13
• Greenwood, D., Ingram, G., & Taylor, P. (2017). Applying Wind Simulations for Planning and Operation of Real-Time Thermal Ratings. IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, 8(2), 537-547. https://doi.org/10.1109/tsg.2015.2488103
• Worasinchai, S., Ingram, G. L., & Dominy, R. G. (2016). The Physics of H-Darrieus Turbine Starting Behavior. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 138(6), https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4031870
• Cresswell, N., Dominy, R., & Ingram, G. (2015). The Impact of Diffuser Augmentation on a Tidal Stream Turbine. Ocean Engineering, 108, 155-163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2015.07.033
• Burton, Z., Ingram, G., & Hogg, S. (2015). Efficient Methods for Predicting Low Pressure Steam Turbine Exhaust Hood and Diffuser Flows at Design and Off-Design Conditions. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 137(8), https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4029599
• Greenwood, D. M., Gentle, J. P., Myers, K. S., Davison, P. J., West, I. J., Bush, J. W., Ingram, G. L., & Troffaes, M. C. (2014). A Comparison of Real Time Thermal Rating Systems in the U.S. and the UK. IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, 29(4), 1849-1858. https://doi.org/10.1109/tpwrd.2014.2299068
• Burton, Z., Ingram, G., & Hogg, S. (2014). The influence of condenser pressure variation and tip leakage on low pressure steam turbine exhaust hood flows. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power and Energy, 228(4), 370-379. https://doi.org/10.1177/0957650914524190
• Burton, Z., Hogg, S., & Ingram, G. (2014). The Influence of Inlet Asymmetry on Steam Turbine Exhaust Hood Flows. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 136(4), Article 042602. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4026003
• Burton, Z., Ingram, G., & Hogg, S. (2013). A Literature Review of Low Pressure Steam Turbine Exhaust Hood and Diffuser Studies. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 135(6), Article 062001. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4023611
• Worasinchai, S., Ingram, G., & Dominy, R. (2013). Unsteady Surface Pressures and Airload of a Pitching Airfoil. Energy Procedia, 34, 407-416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2013.06.769
• Greaves, P., Dominy, R., Ingram, G., Long, H., & Court, G. (2012). Evaluation of dual-axis fatigue testing of large wind turbine blades. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science, 226(7), 1693-1704. https://doi.org/10.1177/0954406211428013
• Worasinchai, S., Ingram, G., & Dominy, R. (2012). Effects of Wind Turbine Starting Capability on Energy Yield. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 134(4), Article 042603. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4004741
• Worasinchai, S., Ingram, G., & Dominy, R. (2011). A low-Reynolds-number, high-angle-of-attack investigation of wind turbine aerofoils. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power and Energy, 225(6), 748-763. https://doi.org/10.1177/0957650911405411
• Lim, C., Airoldi, G., Bumby, J., Dominy, R., Ingram, G., Mahkamov, K., Brown, N., Mebarki, A., & Shanel, M. (2010). Experimental and CFD investigation of a lumped parameter thermal model of a single-sided, slotted axial flux generator. International Journal of Thermal Sciences, 49(9), 1732-1741. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2010.03.018
• Williams, R., Gregory-Smith, D., He, L., & Ingram, G. (2010). Experiments and Computations on Large Tip Clearance Effects in a Linear Cascade. Journal of Turbomachinery, 132(2), Article 021018. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3104611
• Hill, N., Dominy, R., Ingram, G., & Dominy, J. (2009). Darrieus turbines: the physics of self-starting. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power and Energy, 223(1), 21-29. https://doi.org/10.1243/09576509jpe615
• Bagshaw, D., Ingram, G., Gregory-Smith, D., & Stokes, M. (2008). An experimental study of three-dimensional turbine blades combined with profiled endwalls. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power and Energy, 222(1), 103-110. https://doi.org/10.1243/09576509jpe478
• Bagshaw, D., Ingram, G., Gregory-Smith, D., Stokes, M., & Harvey, N. (2008). The design of three-dimensional turbine blades combined with profiled endwalls. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power and Energy, 222(1), 93-102. https://doi.org/10.1243/09576509jpe477
• Ingram, G., & Gregory-Smith, D. (2006). An Instrumentation System for High Accuracy Measurements in a Low-cost Low-speed Cascade
• Bagshaw, D., Ingram, G., Gregory-Smith, D., & Stokes, M. (2005). An experimental study of reverse compound lean in a linear turbine cascade. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power and Energy, 219(6), 443-449. https://doi.org/10.1243/095765005x31199
• Ingram, G., Gregory-Smith, D., & Harvey, N. (2005). The benefits of turbine endwall profiling in a cascade. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power and Energy, 219(1), 49-59. https://doi.org/10.1243/095765005x6863
• Ingram, G., Gregory-Smith, D., & Harvey, N. (2005). Investigation of a novel secondary flow feature in a turbine cascade with end wall profiling. Journal of Turbomachinery, 127(1), 209-214. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1812321
• Gregory-Smith, D., Ingram, G., Jayaraman, P., Harvey, N., & Rose, M. (2001). Non-axisymmetric turbine end wall profiling. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power and Energy, 215(6), 721-734. https://doi.org/10.1243/0957650011539027