Areas of Research Expertise:
Renewable and Distributed Power Systems
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Background: Engines & Energy Conversion Laboratory
The Engines & Energy Conversion Laboratory (EECL) is a unique research/education program housed in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The laboratory was established in the Old Fort Collins Power Plant in June 1992. In the ensuing 17 years the laboratory has grown to become one of the largest and most influential engines research programs in the United States. The EECL is widely recognized as an international leader in the fields of large gas engines for power generation and compression, small 2-stroke cycle engines for use in developing countries, alternative fuels for automobiles, computational fluid dynamic (CFD) modeling of engines, and optical combustion diagnostics. The Department has invested in the laboratory through the recent hires of two new faculty members who have established new EECL programs in diesel engines, laser diagnostics, and plasma applications in engines.
Probably the most understated value of the EECL is its students. Since inception, the EECL has populated the industry with engineers who make an impact. Students from the EECL gain hands on experience with large natural gas engines that is unavailable in other Mechanical Engineering programs.
The InteGrid laboratory ranks among the world’s most advanced centers for test and development related to renewable energy, distributed generation, and power system management. Contained within the laboratory are multiple generators (natural gas gensets, microturbines), load banks, frequency and voltage stabilizers, and switchgear - all connected to the grid with the ability to import and export power.
