Research Consortia

The Energy Efficiency and Heat Pumps (EEHP) Consortium is organized under the Center for Environmental Energy Engineering. The consortium focuses on developing comprehensive information for the detailed physics of transport processes, innovative energy conversion components and systems, and new cost-effective test methods. Consortium researchers have extensive experience with 

• Vapor Compression Systems and Components
• Single- and Multi-stage absorption technology
• Combined Absorption and Vapor Compression Technology
• Combined Desiccant and Vapor Compression Technology
• Natural Refrigerants
• Working Fluid Mixtures

• Single and Two-stage CO2 Systems
• Separate Sensible and Latent Cooling
• Expander and TE Subcooler
• Heat Transfer and Oil Distribution Measurement
• Flow Visualization
• CFD Applications

Contact: Dr. Yunho Hwang

The Advanced Heat Exchangers and Process Intensification (AHXPI) Consortium is organized under the Center for Environmental Energy Engineering. The consoritum engages in cutting edge research on advanced heat and mass and thermal management systems with particular significance to applications in advanced energy conversion, advanced heat/mass exchangers, process intensification, electronics cooling, electro-hydrodynamics techniques (EHD), and innovative design and manufacturing of components for energy conversion systems.

• Innovative single phase and phase change heat transfer/heat exchanger design and optimization.
• In-house computational models/tools for heat transfer and fluid flow analysis
• Measurement loops for single phase and phase change heat transfer/fluid flow analysis
• Leading expertise in cooling of high flux micro electronics/power electronics
• Pioneered use of manifold micro channels for high heat transfer and low pressure drops.
• Pioneered use of additive manufacturing for heat exchanger performance enhancement.

Contact: Dr. Michael Ohadi, Dr. Farah Singer

The Modeling and Optimization Consortium (MOC) is organized under the Center for Environmental Energy Engineering. The consortium specializes in the research and development of modeling and optimization tools for energy conversion systems. Consortium researchers have specialized expertise in conventional and alternative cooling technologies; heat exchanger and compressor technology; small autonomous energy systems; and thermal systems integration and optimization.

Members and software licensees benefit from 

• Fast performance evaluation of thermal systems including design alternatives
• Optimization of thermal systems for cost and/or performance, with the help of a unified framework for modeling, validation and optimization
• Validated thermal system and component models and simulation tools
• Software component development and integration assistance provided by professionals
• Full-time research faculty team provides training and support via phone, email, web-based meetings and on-site visits

Contact: Dr. Vikrant Aute

The Electronics Products and System Consortium (EPSC) is organized under the Center for Advanced Lifecycle Engineering. The consortium provides a forum for defining fundamental research needs, conducting research, and sharing research findings with focus on risk assessment, mitigation, and management for electronic products and systems.

Consortium researchers have specialized expertise in

• Material Characterization and Measurement
• Power and High Temperature Device Reliability and Qualification
• Interconnects
• Batteries Safety and Reliability
• Additive Manufacturing
• Device testing and Qualification
• Prognostics and Health Monitoring
• Reliability Prediction, Counterfeit Detections, and Storage
• Corrosion and Insulation Loss Qualification and Life Models for Electronics

Contact: Dr. Michael Osterman