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Riccardo Scarcelli

Department Director, Advanced Propulsion and Power

Biography

Dr. Riccardo Scarcelli is the Director of the Advanced Propulsion and Power (APP) Department of the Transportation and Power Systems (TAPS) division of Argonne National Laboratory. He also currently serves as the Manager of the Multi-Physics Applications and Tools group in APP.

Throughout the last 20+ years in research, Dr. Scarcelli’s interests have been encompassing a very broad range of scientific topics within the transportation, power generation, and industrial fields, from internal combustion engines to gas turbines and industrial burners. Dr. Scarcelli has been conducting applied as well as fundamental research, some examples of the latter being fundamental studies of high-pressure gaseous fuel injection, fundamental studies of conventional and non-conventional ignition processes, high-fidelity modeling of highly under-expanded gas jets, and physics of thermal and non-thermal plasmas. Dr. Scarcelli has been positioning himself as one of the lead researchers worldwide in applying computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to conduct multi-dimensional simulations for spark-ignition (SI) engines, advanced ignition and SI combustion concepts, gaseous fuels (hydrogen and natural gas) for engines, high-pressure gaseous injection, plasma assisted ignition technologies, compression ignition and dual-fuel engines, co-optimization of fuels and engines, high-altitude relight processes for aviation, alternative fuels for industrial burners, and more.

Dr. Scarcelli received his Ph.D. in Engineering of Energy-Environment from the University of Rome ​“Tor Vergata”, Italy, in 2008, with the Ph.D. dissertation ​“Lean-Burn Operation for Natural Gas/Air Mixtures: the Dual-Fuel Engines”. He also received a Master Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Rome ​“Tor Vergata”, Italy, in 2004, with a M.S. Dissertation ​“Numerical Simulation of Combustion in a SI Engine Fueled by Natural Gas”.

In 20 years of research, Dr. Scarcelli has authored 2 book chapters, almost 50 journal articles, 50+ peer reviewed papers, and additional 15+ conference papers. He has been invited to give more than 50 oral presentations at several meetings, including SAE events, ASME events, AIAA events, DOE Program Review Meetings, User Conferences, etc. In addition to authoring several SAE and ASME journal articles, Dr. Scarcelli has also published his work in several prestigious journals, e.g., Combustion and Flame, Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, SAE International Journal of Engines, ASME Journal Engineering Gas Turbines Power, ASME Journal Energy Resource Technologies, International Journal of Engine Research, Plasma Source Science and Technology, International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow, Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science, Journal of Automobile Engineering, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Energy & Fuels, Fuel, and more.

Professional Experience

  • Department Director, Advanced Propulsion and Power (2026-present)
  • Group Manager, Multi-Physics Applications and Tools (2026-present)
  • Group Leader, Multi-Physics Engine Computations (2022-2025)
  • Principal Research Scientist - Argonne National Laboratory (2019-2022).
  • Principal Mechanical Engineer - Argonne National Laboratory (2017-2019).
  • Engine and Emissions Research Engineer - Argonne National Laboratory (2012-2017).
  • Postdoctoral Appointee - Argonne National Laboratory (2008-2012).

Awards and Recognition

  • 2024. R&D 100 Award
    • For the development of the Lagrangian-Eulerian Spark-Ignition (LESI) Model
  • 2024. Impact Argonne Award (Innovation)
    • For developing a novel mixing model for gaseous fuel injection (GFIMix).
  • 2024. ASME ICE Division Award for most valuable technical paper in Numerical Simulations track:
    • Wang, Y., Scarcelli, R., et al., ​“Multi-Dimensional Modeling of Mixture Formation in a Hydrogen-Fueled Heavy-Duty Optical Engine with Direct Injection”
  • 2021. Society of Automotive Engineering (SAE) Fellow Grade of Membership:
    • For the significant impact on the mobility industry through leadership, research, publishing, innovation, and volunteering.
  • 2021. Distinguished Associate of ASME ICE Division
  • 2018. ASME ICE Division award for most valuable technical paper in Numerical Simulations track:
    • Scarcelli, R., et al., ​“Development of a Hybrid Lagrangian-Eulerian Model to Describe Spark-Ignition Processes at Engine-Like Turbulent Flow Conditions”
  • 2016. Argonne Pacesetter Award:
    • For excellence in achievement and performance which truly surpasses normal job expectations
  • 2014. Society of Automotive Engineering (SAE) Forest R. McFarland Award:
    • For the outstanding contributions toward the work of the SAE Engineering Meetings Board (EMB) in the planning, development, and dissemination of technical information through technical meetings, conferences, and professional development programs or outstanding contributions to the EMB operations in facilitating or enhancing the interchanges of technical information.

Technical Society Involvement and Leadership

  • Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
    • SAE member (2009-present).
    • Chair of the Engine Combustion Committee (20213-2025).
    • Vice-Chair of the Engine Combustion Committee (2021-2023).
    • Active member of the Engine Combustion Committee (2013-present).
    • Active member of the General Powertrain Development Committee (2020-present).
    • Active member of the of Advanced Power Source Committee (2011-2013).
    • Lead-Organizer and Chair of the Gaseous Fueled Engines session at the SAE World Congress (2011-present).
    • Organizer of several technical sessions on Gaseous Fueled Engines or Hydrogen Engines at other SAE conferences, including SAE International Conference on Engines and Vehicles and SAE International Powertrain Fuel and Lubricants (2011-present).
    • Conference Co-Host, Conference Co-Organizer, and Track Chair (Engine Modeling and Diagnostics) for the 2015 SAE International Conference on Engines and Vehicles, Italy.
  • ASME Internal Combustion Engine Division
    • ASME member (2020-present).
    • Chair of the ICE Division Honors and Awards Committee (2023-2026)
    • Elected Distinguished Associate of the Internal Combustion Engine Division (ICED) of ASME in 2021.

Publications Summary

  • Journal publications: 48
  • Book chapters: 2
  • Keynote & other invited talks: 35
  • Peer-reviewed conference publications: 54
  • Other conference publications: 17
  • Total citations: 2471 (Google Scholar, April 2026)
  • H-index: 29 (Google Scholar, April 2026)
  • i10-index: 58 (Google Scholar, April 2026)

Selected Publications

  1. Scarcelli, R., et al.  ​“Development of a Hybrid Lagrangian–Eulerian Model to Describe Spark-Ignition Processes at Engine-Like Turbulent Flow Conditions,” ASME Journal Engines Gas Turbines Power, 2019.
  2. Scarcelli, R., et al.  ​“Modeling non-equilibrium discharge and validating transient plasma characteristics at above-atmospheric pressure,” Plasma Sources Science Technology, 2018.
  3. Scarcelli, R., et al.  ​“Multi-dimensional Modeling of Non-equilibrium Plasma for Automotive Applications,” SAE Technical Paper 2018-01-0198.
  4. Scarcelli, R., et al.  ​“Cycle-to-Cycle Variations in Multi-Cycle Engine RANS Simulations”, SAE paper 2016-01-0593.
  5. Scarcelli, R., et al. ​“Capturing Cyclic Variability in Exhaust Gas Recirculation Dilute Spark-Ignition Combustion Using Multicycle RANS,” ASME Journal Engines Gas Turbines Power, 2016.
  6. Scarcelli, R., et al., ​“High Pressure Gaseous Injection: A Comprehensive Analysis of Gas Dynamics and Mixing Effects”, ASME Paper ICEF2012-92137, 2012.
  7. Scarcelli, R., et al.  ​“Mixture Formation in Direct Injection Hydrogen Engines: CFD and Optical Analysis of Single- and Multi-Hole Nozzles,” SAE International Journal of Engines, 2011.
  8. Scarcelli, R., et al., ​“CFD and Optical Investigations of Fluid Dynamics and Mixture Formation in a DI-H2 ICE”, ASME paper ICEF2010-35084, 2010.
  9. Wang, Y., Xu, C., Scarcelli, R., ​“Turbulent burning velocity of lean premixed hydrogen/air flames at engine conditions: Effects of turbulence intensity and length scale”, Combustion and Flame, 2025.
  10. Wang, Y., Xu, C., Scarcelli, R., ​“A-priori and a-posteriori studies of finite-rate chemistry based combustion models for turbulent spherical lean premixed hydrogen/air flames”, Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, Volume 41, 2025.
  11. Kazmouz S. J., Scarcelli, R., et al. ​“A Comprehensive Model to Capture Electrical Discharge and Spark Channel Evolution during Spark-Ignition Processes, Combustion and Flame, 2023.
  12. Kim, J., Scarcelli, R., Bet al. ” Numerical and experimental investigation of the flame kernel growth in a methane/air mixture near the lean flammability limit.” Combustion and Flame, 2023.
  13. Kim, J., Scarcelli, R., et al., ​“Numerical investigation of the spark discharge process in a crossflow”, J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 2022.
  14. Addepalli, S.K., Scarcelli, R., et al. ​“Multi-dimensional modeling of mixture preparation in a direct injection engine fueled with gaseous hydrogen”, Int J Hydrogen Energy, 2022.
  15. Gururajan, V., Scarcelli, R., ​“A nanosecond pulsed discharge circuit model for engine applications”,  J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 2022.
  16. Ryu, J.I., Kim, K., Min, K., Scarcelli, R., et al. ​“Data-driven chemical kinetic reaction mechanism for F-24 jet fuel ignition”, Fuel, 2021.
  17. Cruccolini, V., Scarcelli, R., et al. ​“Multidimensional modeling of nonequilibrium plasma generated by a radio-frequency corona discharge,” Plasma Sources Science Technology, 2020.
  18. Zhang, A., Scarcelli, R., et al., ​“Numerical investigation of nanosecond pulsed discharge in air at above-atmospheric pressures,” Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, 2018.
  19. Zhang, A., Scarcelli, R., et al., ​“Numerical Investigation of Spark Ignition in Lean and Dilute Methane/Air Mixture Using Detailed Energy Deposition Model”, SAE technical paper 2016-01-0609, 2016.
  20. Bartolucci, L., Scarcelli, R., et al., ​“Gaseous Direct Injection from an Outward Opening Injector: CFD and X-ray Analysis”, SAE technical paper 2016-01-0850, 2016.
  21. Verhelst, S., Demuynck, J., Sierens, R., Scarcelli, R., Matthias, N., Wallner, T., ​“Chapter 18: Hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engines”, included in the Book entitled ​“Renewable Hydrogen Technologies: Production, Purification, Storage, Applications and Safety”, Elsevier, 2012.
  22. Wallner, T., Matthias, N.S., Scarcelli, R., Kwon, J.C., ​“Evaluation of Efficiency and Drive Cycle Emissions for a Hydrogen Direct Injection Engine”, IMechE Journal of Automobile Engineering, Part D, Journal of Automobile Engineering, Special Issue on ​“Vehicle Fuel Economy: High Efficiency Engines and Hybrid Powertrains”, 2012.
  23. Matthias, N., Wallner, T., and Scarcelli, R., ​“A Hydrogen Direct Injection Engine Concept that Exceeds U.S. DOE Light-Duty Efficiency Targets”, SAE International Journal of Engines, 2012.