The Thermal Science Research Group is working on designing next-generation thermal energy storage systems that are flexible enough to incorporate custom phase-change materials for different applications and can be optimized for thermal performance with minimal pressure loss. Our motivating application is to develop more efficient energy-storage technologies for night-time electrical load shifting. However, our PCM-embedded heat exchanger manufacturing technology can be readily translated to a wide spectrum of applications.
We also concentrate on fundamental issues pertaining to thermal energy storage. Our group conducts various experiments to validate and improve numerical heat transfer models. We currently have an experimental test rig to track the melt fraction of a melting phase-change material so that we can evaluate numerical models of natural convection during liquid-to-solid phase change. We are also working on several experimental techniques to evaluate local heat transfer behavior in thermal energy storage heat exchangers.
Featured News
April 4, 2022
Congratulations to Nicholas Lopes for accepting an internship at Pratt & Whitney this summer.
April 1, 2022
Congratulations to Casey Troxler for successfully defending his M.S. thesis.
March 15, 2022
Congratulations to Casey Troxler for being selected for an Energy Storage Summer Internship at National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
March 1, 2022
Congratulations to Jennifer Perskin for accepting an internship at Carrier this summer.
February 17, 2022
The Thermal Science Laboratory has been awarded an ASHRAE Undergraduate Program Grant to build a green HVAC/R supercritical carbon dixoide refrigerant test loop by the undergraduate students in the Energy Systems Track senior design class.
February 2, 2022
Several students (9!) from both the Energy Systems Track and the Thermal Science Laboratory attended the 2022 ASHRAE Winger Conference and AHR Expo in Las Vegas.
January 3, 2022
Congratulations to Thomas Freeman for accepting an internship with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory as a Material Science Graduate intern!