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Hire Dr. Francis O.

China

USD 140 /hr

Combustion & Energy Systems Expert | Hydrogen, Ammonia, Battery Thermal Safety | CFD & Risk Analysis

Profile Summary

I am an Independent Technical Advisor, Professional Engineer (P.Eng), and Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering with over 10 years of experience bridging advanced combustion research and industrial engineering practice. My expertise focuses on combustion systems, energy transition fuels (H₂, NH₃, biofuels, SAF), and thermal safety risk engineering. I support clients with independent design validation, technical due diligence, and pre-failure risk identification in high-energy mechanical and power systems. As Founder and Principal Consultant of IgnisOak Advisory, I provide objective, defensible engineering analysis at critical decision points where technical risk affects safety, cost exposure, regulatory compliance, and investment viability. My credentials include 50+ peer-reviewed publications and service as Principal Investigator on nationally funded research programs, including grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). My industrial foundation includes hands-on leadership in large-scale mechanical installation and commissioning within the mining sector. I translate complex chemical kinetics, CFD modeling, and combustion instability analysis into clear, actionable recommendations for engineering teams, investors, and industrial operators. My core expertise includes: Energy Transition & Low-Carbon Fuel Integration (Hydrogen, Ammonia, Biofuels, SAF) Thermal Runaway & Explosion Risk Analysis (Li-ion batteries, confined combustion systems) CFD & Chemical Kinetics Modeling for System Optimization Independent Technical Due Diligence & Engineering Validation

Subject Matter Expertise

• ☆ Safety & Reliability Engineering
• ☆ Automotive Engineering
• ☆ Mechanical Engineering
• ☆ Combustion & Ignition
• ☆ Engineering Thermodynamics/Thermophysical Engineering
• ☆ Energy Security
• ☆ Heat Transfer & Calorimetry

Services

• Writing
• Research
• Consulting

Writing Technical Writing

Research Feasibility Study, Scientific and Technical Research

Consulting Scientific and Technical Consulting

Work Experience

Founder/ Principal consultant

IgnisOak Advisory

September 2025 - Present

Co-founder and Director

Komodo Mining Services

October 2024 - Present

Assistant Professor (Full Time)

China Jiliang University

October 2022 - Present

PostDoc Research Fellow

Zhejiang University

May 2021 - Present

CEO/Founder

Owia Engineering Services

June 2020 - Present

Postdoctoral Reseach Fellow

Zhejiang University

May 2021 - October 2022

Maintenance Engineer

Golden Star Resources Limited

August 2012 - January 2015

Maintenance Engineer

Golden Star Resources

August 2012 - January 2015

Maintenance Engineer

African Mining Services

August 2009 - July 2012

Maintenance Engineer

African Mining Services

July 2009 - July 2012

Education

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D), Thermal Power Engineering

Zhejiang University

September 2017 - March 2021

PhD (Thermal Power Engineering)

Zhejiang University

September 2017 - March 2021

MEng (Mechanical Engineering)

Stellenbosch University

January 2015 - December 2016

Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering

Stellenbosch University

January 2015 - December 2016

BSc (Mechanical Engineering)

University of Mines and Technology

August 2005 - June 2009

Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering

University of Mines and Technology

August 2005 - June 2009

Certifications

• Certification details not provided.

Publications

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Francis Oppong, Cangsu Xu, HongJian Deng, Youliu Huang, Hongwei Li, Zhihao Gu, Petrus Kambo, Xiaolu Li (2026). Experimental and numerical simulation study on laminar burning velocity of oxygen-enriched ammonia fuel based on the constant volume method . International Journal of Hydrogen Energy.

Francis Oppong, Yangxun Liu, Lou Yushuo, Guowei Zhu, Xiaolu Li, Petrus Kambo, Cangsu Xu (2025). A study on n-decane/hydrogen premixed flame intrinsic flame instability . International Journal of Hydrogen Energy.

Francis Oppong, Hongtao Wang, Tingting Bao, Jiaqing Ding, Cangsu Xu, Xiaolu Li (2025). The explosion characteristics investigations of novel biofuel-propyl acetate . Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries.

Francis Oppong, Enzhong Wu, Cangsu Xu, Xiaolu Li, Yangan Bao, Yuntang Li (2024). Cellularization and intrinsic instability characteristics of 2-methylfuran spherical expanding flame . Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects.

Francis Oppong, Niankuang Wu, Cangsu Xu, Yangxun Liu, Zhentao Fan, Hongjian Deng, Xiaolu Li (2024). Investigating the laminar burning velocity of NH3/H2/air using the constant volume method: Experimental and numerical analysis . International Journal of Hydrogen Energy.

Francis Oppong, Yangxun Liu, Xiaolu Li, Cangsu Xu, Yuntang Li (2024). The laminar burning velocity of propyl acetate at high pressures and temperatures . Fuel.

Francis Oppong, Xiaolu Li, Cangsu Xu, Yuntang Li (2024). An experimental and numerical study of propyl acetate laminar combustion characteristics . Combustion and Flame.

Francis Oppong, Yangan Bao, Xiaolu Li, Cangsu Xu, Qianwen Wang, Lijuan Qian (2024). Experimental and numerical study on morphological characteristics and intrinsic instability of premixed hydrogen/ethanol flames . Fuel.

Francis Oppong, Hongjian Deng, Cangsu Xu, Yangxun Liu, Niankuang Wu, Zhentao Fan, Xiaolu Li (2024). Study of the explosive behaviour of NH3/H2/air mixtures . International Journal of Hydrogen Energy.

Francis Oppong, Yongjin Wang, Yihong Chen, Xiaolu Li, Cangsu Xu, Wenjian Wei, Jinhui Zhao, Jie Jin (2024). Spatiotemporal Evolution of Gas in Transmission Fluid under Acoustic Cavitation Conditions . Applied Sciences.

Francis Oppong, Yang Song, Cangsu Xu, Xiaolu Li (2024). Lightning-Induced Wildfires: An Overview . Fire.

Francis Oppong, Xiaolu Li, Cangsu Xu, Li Yuntang, Yangxun Liu (2024). Investigations on methyl pentanoate-air mixtures confined explosion and cellularity . Fuel.

Francis Oppong, Ce Liang, Xiaolu Li, Cangsu Xu, Yangan Bao, Qianwen Wang (2024). Hydrogen addition effect on cellularization and intrinsic instability of ethyl acetate spherical expanding flame . International Journal of Hydrogen Energy.

Francis Oppong, Xiaolu Li, Cangsu Xu, Yuntang Li, Qiyang Wang, Yangxun Liu, Lijuan Qian (2024). Investigation on n-decane-hydrogen laminar combustion characteristics using the constant volume combustion method . International Journal of Hydrogen Energy.

Francis Oppong, Cangsu Xu, Yangan Bao, Xiaolu Li, Lijuan Qian (2023). Pressure fluctuation and cellularization characteristics of 2-ethylfuran spherical expanding flame . Fuel.

Francis Oppong, Luo Zhongyang, Xiaolu Li, Yang Song, Cangsu Xu, Abdullatif Lacina Diaby (2023). Analysis of methyl pentanoate/air mixtures spherically expanding flame intrinsic instabilities . Fuel.

Francis Oppong, Yankang Zhu, Kangkang Zhou, Gangqiang Xu, Cangsu Xu, Xiaolu Li, Yuntang Li, Bingqing Wang (2023). Crack formation of camshaft castings: Hot tearing susceptibility and root causes . Engineering Failure Analysis.

Francis Oppong, Cangsu Xu, Kai Liu, Yang Song, Da Cui, Xiaolu Li, Qiyang Wang (2023). Laminar burning characteristics of bio-aviation fuel candidate derived from lignocellulosic biomass . Fuel.

Francis Oppong, Zhongyang Luo, Xiaolu Li, Yang Song, Cangsu Xu (2022). Intrinsic instability of different fuels spherically expanding flames: A review . Fuel Processing Technology.

Oppong, F., Xu, C., Li, X., Luo, Z.(2022). Esters as a potential renewable fuel: A review of the combustion characteristics . Fuel Processing Technology. 229.

Oppong, F., Xu, C., Li, X., Zhongyang, L.(2022). Laminar flame characteristics of 2-ethylfuran/air mixtures: Experimental and kinetic modelling investigations . Fuel. 307.

Li, X., Wang, Q., Oppong, F., Liu, W., Xu, C.(2021). Cellularization characteristics of ethyl acetate spherical expanding flame . Fuel. 291.

Oppong, F., Zhongyang, L., Li, X., Xu, C.(2021). Inherent instabilities in ethyl acetate premixed flames . Fuel. 290.

Oppong, F., Zhongyang, L., Li, X., Xu, C.(2021). Investigations on explosion characteristics of ethyl acetate . Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries. 70.

Oppong, F., Zhongyang, L., Li, X., Xu, C.(2021). Investigations on laminar premixed flame characteristics of ethyl acetate . Combustion and Flame. 230.

Xu, C., Wang, H., Oppong, F., Li, X., Zhou, K., Zhou, W., Wu, S., Wang, C.(2020). Determination of laminar burning characteristics of a surrogate for a pyrolysis fuel using constant volume method . Energy. 190.

Xu, C., Wu, S., Oppong, F., Xie, C., Wei, L., Zhou, J.(2020). Experimental and numerical studies of laminar flame characteristics of ethyl acetate with or without hydrogen addition . International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 45. (39). p. 20391-20399.

Oppong, F., Xu, C., Zhongyang, L., Li, X., Zhou, W., Siyuan, W., Zhou, J.(2020). Investigating the explosion of ethyl acetate in the presence of hydrogen . International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 45. (39). p. 20400-20407.

Oppong, F., Xu, C., Zhongyang, L., Li, X., Zhou, W., Wang, C.(2019). Cellularization of 2-methylfuran expanding spherical flame . Combustion and Flame. 206. p. 379-389.

Oppong, F., Xu, C., Zhongyang, L., Li, X., Zhou, W., Wang, C.(2019). Evaluation of explosion characteristics of 2-methylfuran/air mixture . Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries. 62.

Zhongyang, L., Oppong, F., Wang, H., Li, X., Xu, C., Wang, C.(2018). Investigating the laminar burning velocity of 2-methylfuran . Fuel. 234. p. 1469-1480.

Xu, C., Zhou, K., Li, X., Zhong, A., Oppong, F., Wang, H., Wu, S., Zhou, W., Wang, C.(2018). Laminar Burning Characteristics of Two Rice-Husk-Derived Biofuels . Energy and Fuels. 32. (9). p. 9872-9882.

CONFERENCE PAPER

Wu, S., Dai, Y., Li, X., Oppong, F., Xu, C.(2018). A review of ground-source heat pump systems with heat pipes for energy efficiency in buildings . Energy Procedia. 152. p. 413-418.