” BEST main mechanism to move forward as an excellent research group is the researchers themselves.“
2021 - 2023
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) – INNOVATE UK
Project Title : A versatile PCM energy storage system for building applications (Versatile PCM)
Project Leader : Professor Ben Hughes on behalf of Free Running Buildings (FRB) Ltd
Industrial Partnership : Free Running Buildings (FRB) Limited
Host Institution : University of Hull
Researcher(s) : M Hasan Shariq, Andrew Barnes
Value : £650,000.00
Project Ref : 79459
2020 - 2023
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Project Title : A versatile PCM energy storage system for building applications (Versatile PCM)
Project Leader : Professor S Riffat, Professor Ben Hughes, Dr S T Smith and Dr Y Su
Host Institution : University of Nottingham, University of Hull and University of Reading
Researcher(s) : Dr Diana Nasir
Value : £829,926.00
Project No : EP/T02318X/1
2020 - 2023
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Project Title : INTEGRATE: Integrating seasoNal Thermal storagE with multiple enerGy souRces to decArbonise Thermal Energy
Project Leader : Professor Daniel Friedlich, Professor GP Harrison, Dr M Winskel, Dr R Bolton, Professor Ben Hughes, Dr A van der Weijde, Professor G Falcone and Dr R W C Westaway
Host Institution : University of Edinburgh and University of Hull
Researcher(s) : Dr Daniel Marshall Cross and Dr Sheen Cabaneros
Value : £1,445,832.00
Project No : EP/T023112/1
2020 - 2023
Scottish Research Partnership in Engineering (SRPe) – Industry Doctoral Programme
Project Title : Investigating a novel heat transfer loop integrated into a seasonal passive heat recovery and ventilation system
Project Leader : Professor Daniel Friedlich and Professor Ben Hughes
Industrial Partnership : Free Running Buildings (FRB) Limited
Host Institution : University of Edinburgh
Researcher(s) : Harry Mahon
2020 - 2022
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) – INNOVATE UK
Project Title : PROTECT – 222nm far UVC light technology to treat COVID-19 infected airborne microdroplets
Project Leader : Jamie Moore of Moore Medtech Ltd Breathe Energy Limited and Professor Ben Hughes of Free Running Buildings (FRB) Limited
Project No : 84395
Value : £271,901.00
2020 - 2022
Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee (Hong Kong SAR, China)
Project Title : Sound insulation enhancement of air movement across plenum windows by aerodynamic-assisted sonic crystals
Project Leader : Professor SK Tang and Professor Ben Hughes
Host Institution : The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR
Researcher(s) : Shuzhen Zhang
Project No : GRF 152172/19E
2020
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) – INNOVATE UK – Category: Continuity Grant
Project Title : FREEHEAT: Revolutionising the viability of natural ventilation through heat recovery
Project Leader : Professor Ben Hughes and Dr Polytimi Sofotasiou on behalf of Free Running Buildings (FRB) Limited
Host Institution : University of Sheffield, University of Strathclyde and University of Hull
Value : £111,000.00
2019 - 2023
Energy Technology Partnership (ETP) in collaboration with National Galleries of Scotland (Category: Industrial Doctorates – Studentship)
Project Title : Optimising energy use for conservation of historical gallery buildings
Researcher(s) : Shashwat Ganguly
Project Supervisor : Dr Fan Wang and Professor Ben Hughes
Host Institution : Heriot Watt University, University of Strathclyde and University of Hull
Value : £180,000.00
2019 - 2021
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) – INNOVATE UK
Project Title : FREEHEAT: Revolutionising the viability of natural ventilation through heat recovery
Project Leader : Professor Ben Hughes, Dr Dominic O’Connor and Dr Ruby Hughes on behalf of Free Running Buildings (FRB) Limited
Host Institution : University of Sheffield, University of Strathclyde and University of Hull
Researcher(s) : Hasan Shariq, Harry Mahon & Dr Diana Nasir
Value : £738,849.00
2019 - 2021
Expert Witness (Category: Knowledge Exchange)
Project Title : Investigation on Tunnel Ventilation Fan Failure – Hong Kong Central Wanchai Bypass and Island Eastern Corridor Link
Project Leader : Professor Ben Hughes
Project No : Hy(s) 076/2019
Value : £120,000.00
2019 - 2020
Expert Witness (Category: Knowledge Exchange)
Project Title : Investigation on Tunnel Ventilation Fan Failure – Hong Kong Central Wanchai Bypass and Island Eastern Corridor Link
Project Leader : Professor Ben Hughes
Project No : Hy(s) 076/2019
Value : £50,000.00
2018 - 2021
UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) – Category : Thermal Efficiency Innovation Fund (TEIF)
Project Title : Passive Ventilation with Heat Recovery for Air-Tight Facades
Project Leader : Professor Ben Hughes on behalf of Free Running Buildings (FRB) Limited
Host Institution : University of Sheffield and University of Strathclyde
Researcher(s) : Dr Dominic O’Connor and Dr Daniel Marshall Cross
Value : £430,225.00
2017 - 2019
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) – INNOVATE UK – Category: Energy Catalyst – Late Stage – Round 4
Project Title : Final Development of a Zero Energy Dehumidification and Cooling System
Project Leader : Professor Ben Hughes on behalf of Free Running Buildings (FRB) Limited and in collaboration with the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC)
Researcher(s) : Dr Dominic O’Connor
Project No : 1604_CRD2_ENRG_ENCATLS4
Value : £400,000.00
2017 - 2021
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) – Impact Acceleration Accounts (IAA) (Category: Studentship)
Project Title : Reducing energy consumption from manufacturing process, modelling and plant data
Researcher(s) : Dr Victoria Jayne Mawson
Project Supervisor : Professor Ben Hughes
Value : £75,000.00
Project No : 1957167
2017 - 2020
Industrial Doctoral Training Centre (IDC) Machining Science – In collaboration between the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and the Faculty of Engineering
Project Title : Reducing Manufacturing Energy Consumption
Researcher(s) : Dr Victoria Jayne Mawson
Project Supervisor : Professor Ben Hughes
Value : £90,000.00
2017 - 2020
2017 British Council Newton Fund Research Award (Category: Studentship)
Project Title : Modelling of Air Pollution levels using artificial Neural Networks and stochastic simulation technique
Researcher(s) : Dr Sheen Cabaneros
Project Supervisor : Professor Ben Hughes
Value : £72,000.00
2016 - 2020
Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures (Category: Studentship)
Project Title : Development of a low-cost, portable and solar-powered pump for agricultural irrigation for improving income, food and energy security in developing countries
Researcher(s) : Saeed Mohammed Wazed
Project Supervisor : Professor Ben Hughes
Value : £120,000.00
2016 - 2019
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) – Industrial Cooperative Awards in Science and Technology (CASE) and BMW (Category: Studentship)
Project Title : Integrated-Energy Modelling for Energy Efficiency and Sustainability in the Automotive Sector
Researcher(s) : Dr Tom Lloyd Garwood
Project Supervisor : Professor Ben Hughes
Project No : 1793895 and R/147373
Value : £90,000.00
2016 - 2019
2016 British Council Newton Fund and Department of Science and Technology Award (DOST-Newton) (Category: Studentship)
Project Title : Development of Wind Belt Technology
Researcher(s) : Angelo I Aquino
Project Supervisor : Professor Ben Hughes
Value : £69,000.00
2013 - 2017
Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) – National Priorities Research Program (NPRP)
Project Title : Thermal Comfort of Spectators and Players in Qatari Stadiums
Project Leader : Professor Saud Ghani, Dr. Djamel Ouahrani and Professor Ben Hughes
Researcher(s) : Dr Polytimi Sofotasiou
Project No : NPRP 6-461-2-188
Value : £750,000.00
2013 - 2016
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) – Industrial Cooperative Awards in Science and Technology (CASE)
Project Title : Natural Ventilation of the London Underground
Project Leader : Professor Ben Hughes, Professor Derek Ingam and Professor Lin Ma
Researcher(s) : Dr Daniel Marshall Cross
Project No : 1344073
Value : £90,000.00
2013 - 2015
National Institute for Health Research Invention for Innovation (NIHR i4i) Programme
Project Title : Development of a non-contact hand-held respiratory device for infants
Project Investigator : Dr Ruth N Kingshott, Dr Reza Saatchi, Dr Derek Burke, Dr Robert Evans, Dr Alan Holloway, Dr Jon Travis, Dr Anthony Jones, Professor Ben Hughes and Dr Heather E Elphick
Researcher(s) : Dr William Daw
Value : £186,000.00
2010 - 2014
Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) – National Priorities Research Program (NPRP)
Project Title : Integration of passive ventilation and novel cooling systems for reducing air conditioning loads in buildings
Project Leader : Professor Saud Ghani and Professor Ben Hughes
Researcher(s) : Dr John Kaiser Calautit and Dr Hassam Nasrullah Chaudhry
Project No : NPRP 09-138-2-059
Value : £750,000.00
