Dr Dawid Hanak

Areas of expertise

• Carbon Capture and Storage
• Computing, Simulation & Modelling
• Conventional & Advanced Fuels
• Energy and the Environment
• Power Systems & Turbines
• Process Systems Engineering

Background

I help organisations achieve net-zero emissions and green energy transition via engineering consultancy. Reach out to learn how I can help to meet your engineering and training needs.

Dr Dawid Hanak is a Senior Lecturer in Energy and Process Engineering at Cranfield University. He has received a B.Eng. degree (with distinction) in Environmental and Energy Engineering, and the M.Eng. degree in Power Engineering from Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland in 2012 and 2013, respectively. He also received the M.Sc. degree in Carbon Capture and Transport, and the Ph.D. degree in Carbon Capture Systems Engineering from Cranfield University, Cranfield, UK in 2013 and 2016, respectively. 

Dr Hanak has held research positions at Cranfield University, and has been leading process modelling activities in a portfolio of research projects in the areas of Energy Systems and Carbon Capture and Storage. His research interest includes low-emission power generation and industrial processes, sustainable energy systems, fossil fuel power plants retrofits with CO2 capture systems, probabilistic techno-economic performance assessment, and reliability analysis. His expertise is in process simulation and modelling of power generation and CO2 capture systems, and statistical analysis of engineering data. 

Research opportunities

I am currently accepting PhD and Master by Research applications in process engineering, chemical engineering, energy engineering, with a particular inclination on carbon capture, low-carbon power generation and industrial processes. 

Current activities

I aspire to bring a step-change in fighting climate emergency by academic leadership in research and teaching, and by developing future energy leaders.

Research leadership

I contributed towards the successful delivery of research and commercial projects worth more than £7.5m since 2016, driving delivery of the projects worth of more than £1m as a principal investigator or co-investigator. I am responsible for project development, fundraising, project management and delivery, including risk and cost management and team development.

I developed the Advanced Process Engineering team at Cranfield University that specialises in net-zero processes for energy and process industries, including industrial decarbonisation. I act not only as their line manager or supervisor, but I mentor my team members to support their career growth and impact.

In my research programme, which so far has been presented in 43 articles in prestigious journals (h-index of 20), I develop and assess the feasibility of innovative processes for net-zero energy and process industries. This includes carbon capture, direct air capture, hydrogen production, clean energy, waste heat recovery, thermochemical conversion systems, polygeneration and advanced fuels production.

I work together with businesses and entrepreneurs to demonstrate the feasibility of innovative processes that will enable meeting net-zero emission targets by 2050. I demonstrated technical and economic feasibility of advanced sorbents for CO2 capture and innovative process for simultaneous direct air capture and power generation. Both processes were awarded by the Engineer and Rushlight.

Teaching leadership

I lead the innovative MSc in Advanced Process Engineering that develops future energy leaders and equips them with relevant skills to facilitate the net-zero transition in international energy and industrial sectors. I derived the 3-year strategy for the course and now lead its implementation.

I am committed to ensuring high student satisfaction via career mentoring and pastoral care. I also mentor and support the development of my tutor group comprising students from process engineering, chemical engineering and mechanical engineering backgrounds.

In my teaching practice, I drive the implementation of the innovation in course design and assessment by promoting the transfer of research into the curriculum and applied learning.

I lecture and deliver practical workshops in the areas including Management for Technology, Process Simulation and Design, Risk and Reliability Engineering, and Energy from Biomass. 

Clients

• Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
• InnovateUK
• Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
• Origen Power Ltd
• Cambridge Engineering Analysis & Design Ltd (CEAD)
  
• Epicam Ltd
• Cambridge Cleantech
• Transvac Ltd
• Aurelius Ltd
• EGB Engineering
• Changeover Technologies
• Nordic DAC Group

Publications

• Articles in journals
• Conference papers