14th International Conference on Compressors and their Systems

This 3-day conference organised by the Centre for Compressors Technology at City St George’s, University of London provides a forum for developments in air, gas and refrigeration compressors, vacuum pumps, expanders. The programme this year will include traditional keynote addresses, research and technical papers, podium papers, panel discussions and industry lunch. This will provide a platform to identify current challenges and provide the essential content and direction to shape future research.

14th International Conference on Compressors and their Systems was run as a hybrid event.

CFD short course/forum was run as an in-person event.

The 14th Conference in the series was held from 8th to 10th September as a hybrid event, delivered in person at City St George’s, University of London, United Kingdom, and streamed online via event platform Eventee. It attracted 231 registered delegates from across the world representing variety of sectors.

The 2025 Conference featured three keynote presentations, two panel sessions, and a comprehensive programme of parallel technical sessions covering a wide range of topics, including:

• Screw Compressors
• Reciprocating Compressors
• Scroll Compressors
• Novel Compressors and Applications
• Heat Pumps,

as well as Compressor Systems, Numerical and experimental modelling,

analysis, and testing, Expanders, Lubrication, Vane Compressor Types, Measurements, Valves, Operations and Turbomachinery.

Full Conference Report is now available. 

Volume I of conference proceedings in available. Click the below button for access. Volume II is expected to be published shortly.

Dr-Eng. Yosr Allouche,
General Director of the International Institute of Refrigeration

About the Speaker

Dr-Eng. Yosr Allouche is the General Director of the International Institute of Refrigeration since October 2024. Dr Allouche holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering and stood out as a research scientist in refrigeration technology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) where she is also performing as an Associate Professor in Refrigeration since 2021. She has authored an impressive number of publications in scientific journals, guides, and reports on refrigeration technologies applying environmental friendly refrigerants and integrated thermal storage systems using phase change materials.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Robin Langebach,
Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences

Title: An example-orientated discussion about somewhat unusual research projects in the field of compressors and refrigeration technology

The presentation will highlight selected research topics in a project-oriented manner, providing interesting results and hopefully new perspectives. The topics range from new sensors and high pressure liquid injection to the discussion of how Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality can be beneficially used in teaching and research.

About the Speaker

Robin Langebach has held the Schaufler Professorship for Compressor Technology at the University of Applied Sciences in Karlsruhe, Germany, since 2019. After studying mechanical engineering and completing his PhD at the Technical University of Dresden, Robin Langebach worked in the aviation industry for Diehl Aviation.

His research at the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences focuses on the digitalisation of compressors, the improvement of energy efficiency and the optimisation of acoustics and vibrations.

In addition, his team is working on increasing the attractiveness of refrigeration and heat pump technology by using new visualisation methods in the field of augmented reality.

Dave Pearson
Group Sustainable Development Director, Star Refrigeration Ltd

Title: Possible future opportunities in compressor and system design relating to industrial heating – a customer perspective.

About the speaker

Dave Pearson joined Howden Compressors in 1996 after graduating from the University of Strathclyde. The breadth of course choice would be a recurring theme; Mechanical Engineering with Business Management and European Studies. An initial career path under the guidance of Graeme Cook took an unexpected new direction when he was asked to join the Contract Engineering team. Moving from compressor design into a more customer focussed role wasn’t anticipated but proved to be very enjoyable.

Whilst at Howden Dave had enjoyed a department rotation that took him through every stage of the manufacturing process. An early blessing that built on the academic basis. This practical hands-on period early in his career is often leant upon. It wasn’t his first factory role. Summers in Star’s factory were also augmented by a summer at Bitzer in Sindlefingen in the fabrik. The test department in Howden grabbed some extra months of Dave’s graduate rotation as work load was very high and he got his first experience of running machines both on the test bed and in the R22 test loop before results had to be analysed and recorded.

Fond memories and good times especially shifting between getting hands dirty and back in the cabin enjoying a coffee with water boiled in the “calibration device”. Individual kettles were frowned upon. A short time later he joined Star Refrigeration as a Design Engineer and had an immediate baptism in the world of ice rinks with a secondment into the site management of a project in his native Glasgow.

A few years later, Dave was asked to join the management team at Starfrost, a new acquisition for Star and he moved for 4 years to Lowestoft. They too were often exploring novel designs including a first move to plastic spiral freezer belts. Plenty of challenges to be solved.

However his most recent pathway began in 2008 when he returned to Glasgow to support the Innovation work and picked up the challenge of “what should a well sized industrial cooling business do?” Heat! Several early project successes followed including Drammen in 2010, still the world’s largest 90C ammonia heat pump taking heat from a Norwegian fjord led to the establishment of Star Renewable Energy. This more commercial role drew on another early career choice at Howden; to study part-time for a Masters in Business Administration.

More recently Dave has supported the business in driving towards a practical application of steam raising. He is a member of the Scottish Energy Advisory Board, Chair of The Centre for Engineering, Education and Development (CEED) and Royal Academy of Engineering appointed Visiting Professor to Edinburgh Napier University. Dave is currently the Group Sustainable Development Director for Star Refrigeration, a role that covers the heat pump work, digital twin activity and the company’s own sustainability mission.

Marco Pietropaoli
CEO & Co-Founder of ToffeeX

Title: A New Physics-Based Design Framework for High-Performance Fluid Components: Applications in Compressors, Turbomachinery, and Thermal Systems

While structural topology optimisation is well-established, its application to fluid and thermal systems has only gained momentum in the past few years. At ToffeeX, we’re building on that momentum, offering a generative design platform that lets engineers create high-performance thermofluid systems in hours, not months.

By combining advanced multi-physics simulation with fast, high-dimensional design exploration, ToffeeX enables the optimisation of components like compressors, thermal management systems, and gas turbines, with a level of speed, efficiency, and physical insight that traditional tools can’t match.

Crucially, our approach maintains a strong focus on manufacturability. Designs generated in ToffeeX are not only high-performing and efficient, but also ready for production, whether through additive manufacturing or traditional fabrication techniques. Engineers can adapt geometry, tune performance, and explore trade-offs with a high degree of flexibility, all while staying grounded in real-world constraints.

This keynote will highlight the latest tools we’ve built, how they’re reshaping thermo-fluid design workflows, and how we’re tackling the long-standing “black box” problem, giving engineers visibility, control, and confidence in every decision.

About the speaker

Marco Pietropaoli is the founder and CEO of ToffeeX, a London-based deep-tech company pioneering physics-driven generative design for thermofluid systems. Originally from a small village near Rome, his early passion for mathematics led him to earn a BSc and MSc in Mathematics from the University of Rome, followed by a Master’s in Fluid Dynamics and a PhD in Aerospace Engineering at Imperial College London, where he was awarded the Doctoral Prize in 2018.

In 2017, Marco completed a research internship at NASA, working on uncertainty quantification. His PhD focused on topology optimisation and multi-physics modelling – work that laid the foundation for ToffeeX, which he co-founded in 2020 with Professor Francesco Montomoli.

ToffeeX emerged from the need for design tools that fully exploit the capabilities of additive manufacturing, answering critical questions like: What’s the optimal geometry for cooling in a gas turbine or battery system? Today, the platform enables fast, manufacturable, and high-efficiency design of components in turbocompressors, gas turbines, and thermal management systems, with some of the first fully three-dimensional applications of topology optimisation in fluid dynamics.

Panel Session 1
Chaired by Dr Billy Milligan (Howden, Chart Industries Company)

Title: Digital Evolution in Compressor Systems

The panel will be structured as a one-hour session, with the first half dedicated to discussing a set of predefined questions, followed by a second half where we will open the floor to questions from the audience. Some of the key questions that will be discusses:

1. How is digitalization transforming the lifecycle management of compressor systems—from design and manufacturing to maintenance and end-of-life?
2. What role does artificial intelligence play in predictive maintenance and fault detection in compressor systems, and how close are we to fully autonomous diagnostics?
3. From an academic and industrial perspective, what are the biggest challenges in integrating smart sensor technologies and data analytics into legacy compressor systems?
4. How can we ensure that the data collected from compressor systems is not only accurate but also actionable for improving performance and energy efficiency?
5. Looking ahead, what emerging technologies or research areas do you believe will most significantly impact the future of compressor systems?

Panellists:

Professor Robin Langebach – Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences

Jan Hemper, Technical Director, InControl & AssetMinder

Professor Christos Tachtatzis, Professor in Applied Artificial Intelligence, University of Strathclyde

Panel Session 2

Chaired by Sami Tuffaha (Combitherm GmbH and TU Dresden)

Title: How are new technologies reshaping engineering studies

From AI and simulation to 3D printing and digital collaboration tools, technology is transforming how future engineers are trained—and what they’re expected to know. Bringing together diverse voices from academia and industry, the discussion will examine the shifting demands placed on engineering students, institutions, and employers. Panelists will share perspectives on how university curricula are adapting, what skills are becoming critical, and how we can ensure equitable access to digital learning environments.

Key questions to be explored include:

1. What is the impact of AI, simulation, and 3D printing on compressor-related engineering education?
2. Which skills should engineering students prioritize for the future?
3. How can university programs remain relevant and responsive to technological change?
4. What role can industry play in bridging the gap between education and practice?
5. How can digital tools support accessibility and inclusion for under-resourced students?

Panellists:

Dr Thibaud Plantegenet, Lecturer, University of Poitiers

Fabian Luther, PhD Student, Chemnitz University of Technology

Samuele Beltrametti, Student, Politecnico di Milano

Lukas Dur, PhD Student, Graz University of Technology