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Faculty and Student
Teams Program
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Project Descriptions
Brookhaven
National Laboratory
Energy Sciences and Technology Department
Energy Resources Division
Requesting applications from engineering faculty
members at institutions serving students underrepresented in science,
engineering, mathematics and technology, to work on development of a
self-powered, oil-fired heating system which integrates thermophotovoltaic power
generation.
Project Description
Self-powered heating
systems eliminate grid electric power consumption and provide heat and
domestic hot water during utility power outages.
This project seeks to integrate the following recent innovations
into an advanced, oil-fired, residential burner system producing enough
electric power to operate all heating system components into a hydronic
heating system:
- A thermophotovoltaic power converter system including
a micromesh IR bandpass filter and GaSb pv cells
- A low-NOx burner head with a very highly recirculating
combustion flow within a ceramic flame tube which will serve as the
system emitter.
- Very low power system auxiliary components with a
novel, power conserving operating strategy.
This project involves several key challenges including development of the
burner aerodynamics and flame tube geometry to achieve a uniform
temperature distribution along the emitter at a target level and
development of an air cooling system to protect the filters and cells
which surround the emitter.
The students and faculty will be involved with the thermal
design of the combustor, flame tube, and converter cooling work using CFD
tools. They will also
participate in materials selection and
planning and execution of proof-of-concept experiments.
Applicants Responsibilities
and Relationship to Project Applicants will receive support under the
Department of Energy Faculty Student Team Research Program (FaST) to work
collaboratively with the project research team at BNL for up to 10 weeks
during the year starting in June of 2006, Summer and academic year visits
to BNL will be scheduled by mutual agreement between staff in the Energy
Sciences and Technology Department and the successful applicant. Ideally
faculty will work at BNL on the project for 10 weeks during the summer in
the first year. Faculty will be expected to identify students from their
campus to participate in the FaST program offered by the Department of
Energy at BNL. Faculty will provide some mentorship and/or advising
support to students during the summer research activities. It is expected
that the Faculty member will become an integral part of the research team
working on this project and will support the project through the academic
year on her or his campus.
Qualifications of Ideal Candidate
| Faculty: | Ph.D. in mechanical or chemical engineering with
experience in thermal system design, optimization of thermal systems, and
CFD design tools. Works well in
a collaborative environment with students and other researchers.
Currently teaches and collaborates with students in his/her field.
Possesses good written and verbal communication skills.
Willing to work at BNL for an extended period during the summer. |
| Student: | Working towards a B.S. in engineering with an
emphasis on thermal systems design. Should
have completed heat transfer and fluid dynamics courses.
Combustion courses and CFD exposure would be
positive factors. Works
well in collaboration with faculty, other students, and researchers.
Possesses good written and verbal communication skills.
Willing to work at BNL for an extended period in both a design and
experimental role. |
Support
and Financial Commitments See Financial Information.
For More Information contact:
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