Thermodynamics
Energy utilization. Combustion. Thermal systems. All of these fall under the fundamental area of Thermodynamics, one of the basic principles that underlies everything else in physics. Purdue researchers put thermodynamics to work in numerous ways: from the efficient combustion of an engine, to the efficient heating and cooling of a home or office building. They also drill down the nanoscale, exploring how thermodynamics affect lithium-ion batteries, biological processes, and much more.
Faculty in Thermodynamics
- Fluid dynamics
- Biomaterial
- Multiphase flows
- Non-Newtonian fluid dynamics
- Microfluidics
- Complex fluids
- Soft matter
- Modeling and Analysis of Thermal Systems
- Heat Pumping, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technologies
- High Performance Buildings
- Refrigerant and Lubricant Properties
- Thermal Physics ... Heat Moving Energy
- Spectroscopy ... "Seeing" energy with light
- Nanophotonics ... Pushing light to see more
- 2D Materials ... Creating functionality by losing dimension
- Modeling, analysis, and control of thermal systems
- Modeling, Experiments and Simulations of turbulent boundary layers: role of initial conditions and bio-inspired micro-surfaces on evolution of velocity/thermal fields.
- Importance of turbulence and complex topography on wind energy.
- Integration of renewable with water and thermal storage.
- Translational research focus on renewable energy & society
- Wall interaction (e.g., bio-inspired micro surfaces) in respiratory flows
- Big data in turbulence, renewable energy and biomedical engineering.
- Energy and social equality
- DNA nanotechnology
- Advanced materials
- Identify interactions and design spaces at the intersection of energy technologies, economics, and decision-making process to minimize the cost of transitioning to new, decarbonized energy systems
- Laser-absorption spectroscopy, laser-induced fluorescence, & IR imaging sensors for gas temperature, pressure, velocity, and chemical species
- Molecular spectroscopy, photophysics, & energy transfer in gases
- Energetic materials (e.g., explosives & propellants) detection & combustion
- Combustion and propulsion systems (small and large scale)
- Biomedical sensing
- Sustainable energy and environment
- Combustion and turbulent reacting flows
- Combustion and heat transfer in materials
- Biomedical flows and heat transfer
- Global policy research
- Thermal sciences as applied to HVAC&R systems and equipment
- Dynamic modeling and optimal control; model predictive control; decentralized control
- Thermodynamics-based optimization; entropy generation minimization; exergy analysis
- Integrated energy management and storage in distributed energy systems, building systems
- Building electrification, flexibility, and efficiency
- Integrating flexible loads, energy storage, and distributed solar into power grids
- Optimization and control under uncertainty
- Energy policy
- Naturally nanostructured materials
- Energy, water, and wearable technology
- Manufacturing
- Laser diagnostics
- Diode-laser-based sensors
- Gas turbine and internal engine combustion
- Materials processing and synthesis
- Combustion science
- Fluid mechanics and heat transfer
- Dissimilar material 3D printing
- Additive manufacturing of energetic materials
- Additive manufacturing of materials for high temperature applications
- Quality control in additive manufacturing
- Advancement of next-generation propulsion concepts including Rotating Detonation Engines (RDEs), Rotating Detonation Rocket Engines (RDREs) and Scramjet Engines
- Laser diagnostics development for applied thermal environments including RDEs, RDREs, gas-turbines, rockets, IC engines, and scramjet engines
- Laser Diagnostics and Spectroscopy for detonations, combustion, sprays, energetics, propellants, hypersonics, plasmas, and non-equilibrium flows
- Estimation of performance, efficiency and emissions using state of the art optical diagnostics (PLIF, CARS, TP-LIF, PIV, 3D Imaging, X-Rays, PIV, Molecular Tagging, Thermographic Phosphors and Pressure Sensitive Paints)
- Thermal-fluid behavior at the extremes, including turbulent, acoustically coupled, high-temperature, high-pressure, multiphase, and non-equilibrium reacting flows
- Boiling
- Condensation
- Two-phase Flow
- High heat flux
- Thermal management systems
- Cryogenic systems
- Space vehicles
- Lunar and Martian environments
- Microgravity
- Experiments on International Space Station
- Electronic cooling
- Energy storage and conversion (batteries, fuel cells)
- Mesoscale physics and stochastics
- Reactive transport, materials, processing, and microstructure interactions
- Gas turbine combustion
- Internal combustion engines
- Laser-based spectroscopy
- Synthesis of energetic materials
- Chemistry of nitrogen-rich compounds
- Characterization of explosives, propellants, and pyrotechnics
- Electrochemical synthesis
- Thermochemistry of energetic material synthesis
- Reactive and agent defeat materials
- Simulations of nanoscale thermal transport
- Machine learning, optimization, and high throughput design
- Thermal management in electronics, space, and battery applications
- Transport phenomena in additive manufacturing
- Nanomaterials and devices for sustainable energy
- Large eddy and direct simulations
- Turbulent Combustion
- Thermoacoustics
- Non-linear acoustics
- Heat-and-mass transfer
- Physical oceanography and limnology
- Numerical methods for complex geometries
- Model-based system and control design of commercial vehicle power trains
- Connected and automated commercial vehicles
- Internal combustion engine & after-treatment system design and controls
- Flexible valve actuation in diesel and natural gas engines
- Multiphase combustion, particularly related to propellants, explosives, and pyrotechnics
- Nanoscale composite energetic materials
- Advanced energetic materials
- Microscale combustion
- Desalination & Water Treatment
- Water-Food-Energy Nexus
- Thermofluids
- Nanotechnology
- Membrane Science
- Discrete element method (DEM) modeling for particulate systems
- -- model development, e.g., fibrous particles, particle breakage, particle shapes
- -- application to manufacturing, e.g., storage and flow, blending, segregation, drying, coating, wet granulation
- Finite element method (FEM) modeling of powder compaction
- -- e.g., roll compaction, tableting, picking and sticking
- Multi-scale modeling (FEM combined with DEM) of powder dynamics
- -- model development and application to hopper flow, blending, and segregation
- Environment friendly design and life cycle engineering
- Applications of bio-based materials in manufacturing
- Fast and low-cost detection of pathogenic microorganisms
- Biomass thermo-chemical upgrading for liquid and gaseous fuel
- Advanced heat pumping/heat engine technologies and their equipment
- Positive displacement compressors and expanders
- High performance buildings
- Thermal Management Systems