Bilal Outirba

Bilal Outirba received his Master degree in Mechanical/Aeronautical Engineering from the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) in 2011. He joined the Aero-Thermo-Mechanics department of the ULB to work on the optimisation of aero-engines lubrication system components through experimental testing, namely advanced surface air cooled oil coolers and brush seals.

In 2017, under the supervision of Pr. Patrick Hendrick, he obtained his PhD degree on the experimental investigation of the performance and endurance of carbon fibre brush seals for aero-engines bearing chambers. The project was led in collaboration with Safran Aircraft Engines, in the frame of the European FP7 E-Break project.

His postdoctoral work includes the development of an icing wind tunnel for the testing of superhydrophobic coatings, the techno-economic analysis of the hydrogen value chain for STIB in view of their future fleet of H₂ buses, and the development of an experimental facility which assesses the efficiency of a hydrogen fuel cell as a micro-CHP system for households.