British Flame

 

BFRC together with his many colleagues from industry and academia are sad to learn of the death in his mid-eighties of Professor Fred Lockwood, an active supporter and friend of both British Flame Research Committee and IFRF over many decades. As a director and Council member of British Flame from 1996 to 2003 he will be remembered for his innate knack to identify key issues, easily impressing these thoughts on colleagues through his always relaxed and friendly manner.

(with thanks to friends and colleagues for their contribution to these memories)

Peter Roberts was IFRF Director for much of the period when Fred was most active in the IFRF, and recalls that Fred first became involved with the Research Station in the late 1970’s, when the staff of the IFRF Research Station cooperated with him and Imperial College London on the topic of coal characterisation. This resulted in the development of a new experimental rig at Imperial College. Using results from this rig and various IFRF trials in which detailed measurements were made in pulverised coal flames, Fred developed the coal flame modelling capability ultimately leading to the formation of the CINAR modelling business as an Imperial College spin-out.

Over the years, Fred was a regular visitor to the Research Station and participated actively in BFRC and IFRF Technical Meetings. From 1989 to 1998, he became a Member of the IFRF Joint Committee advising the other Joint Committee members on the subject of Mathematical Modelling.

British Flame Honorary Member and former IFRF Investigator Neil Fricker recollects that in recent years, Fred and his family had acquired a vineyard in the Beaujolais (Maison des Bulliats) producing an excellent Regnié Beaujolais Cru (one of the 10 Crus in the BJ). “I was fortunate enough to visit him there several times to buy his wine and enjoy his company and that of his wife Helen. His two sons, Fred Jr and Toby, followed him into the energy business with Fred Jr working in Paris (for L’Air Liquide) and Toby with the IEA Clean Coal Centre in London (now with Clean Air Task Force)”.

Former IFRF Investigator Jean -Bernard Michel also pays a tribute to Fred Lockwood: It was with great sadness that my wife Barbara and I learned the sad news of Fred Lockwood's passing. I had known Fred since my early days as a researcher at the IFRF in 1976, when he was my mentor. At that time, he was a prominent member of the UK’s British Flame Research Committee and also led the IFRF Heat Transfer Panel. Fred is the author of numerous papers and two book chapters on combustion and flame modelling with many different fuels, including sewage sludge, heavy fuel oil, coal, and combustion systems (boilers, furnaces, kilns, turbines…) and all types of processes such as heat-transfer, pollutant emissions etc. His modelling works were applied to other disciplines than combustion, such as sea water desalination. He co-authored a paper and book chapter with Brian Spalding on turbulent mixing in a cylindrical furnace.

And on the link to the CEGB, former CEGB researcher Ken Matthews adds - I got to know Fred quite well through the IFRF and BFRC and also through working together on mathematical modelling of flames.  He was a great inspiration with his quiet manner, but also his insightful understanding of flame processes. He will be missed by the combustion fraternity, but also by his Canadian family. 

A last word from Peter Roberts: A major facet of Fred’s work was his “hand’s on” approach to life. This facet seemed to permeate all his activities. Fred was widely known throughout the IFRF membership, not only for his scientific achievements and his good humour but for his willingness to contribute valuable advice and to participate. He is already sorely missed.