THERMO/FLUIDS RESEARCH SEMINAR SERIES

"Using Old Fuels in New Ways and New Fuels in Old Ways: Topical Research in Combustion Science and Technology"

Derek Dunn-Rankin

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
University of California, Irvine

Friday, 11 December 2009
38-138 Engineering IV
Time: 12:00 pm

Abstract: The global relationship between fuel utilization and environmental impact has demonstrated the importance of a fundamental understanding of combustion processes. Rather than focus on a single combustion issue, this presentation surveys some of the recent combustion research activities at the University of California, Irvine relevant to the improved utilization of traditional fuels and to some interesting challenges to the traditional use of alternative fuels. The studies include improved efficiency of miniature liquid-fueled combustion systems, electrical properties and control of flames, flame holding in a model turbine burner channel, ammonium bisulfate formation in the simulated flue gas from a coal boiler, control of carbon-in-ash and mercury from pulverized coal and coal/biomass combustion, homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) in a small-scale engine, measuring the sooting tendency of biodiesel, and the combustion of fuel hydrates.

Biosketch: Dr. Derek Dunn-Rankin is Professor and current Chair in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UC Irvine. He received his Ph.D. degree (1985) from the University of California, Berkeley, with an emphasis in combustion science. He was a post-doctoral researcher at Sandia National Laboratories Combustion Research Facility in Livermore until 1987, when he joined the faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Dunn-Rankin’s research is primarily in droplet and sprays, applications of laser diagnostic techniques to practical engineering systems, and combustion control. Professor Dunn-Rankin is currently the Faculty Director for CAMP, the California Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, a program designed to increase minority representation in science and technology. Dr. Dunn-Rankin received a National Science Foundation Presidential Young Investigator Award in 1989, the Society of Automotive Engineering Ralph R. Teetor Engineering Educator Award in 1991, and a Fulbright Scholar Fellowship in 1997. He is past Chair of the Western States Section of the International Combustion Institute.

All faculty, teaching assistants, students, and guests are welcome to this event.
(Refreshments will be served)
For more information, please contact Prof. John Kim at jkim@seas.ucla.edu. Phone: (310-825-4393)