UG assistant on chemical reactor design/test for thermal energy storage - Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering


The UG researcher will support the design and experimental tests of a novel chemical reactor for renewable energy storage with 5-20 hrs/week in Spring 2025. Thermal energy storage (TES), i.e., storing energy as heat, is an attractive technology as it can be integrated into a turbine-based power block to generate electricity or directly used as process heat. Our project proposes a novel electrically-heated thermochemical energy storage (E-TCES) concept. The UG researcher will help fabricate firebricks using synthesized metal oxide mixtures, assemble the firebricks in the reactor, and heat up the firebricks using electricity as power input, the firebricks will undergo chemical reactions in two steps – step 1 absorbing heat and step 2 releasing heat, thus enabling energy absorption, storage and release.

Project Dates

Start Date: 1/6/2025 - End Date: 4/25/2025

Students Needed

Type of Project

Individual

Student Responsibilities

1. Support design and work together with grad students in PI Dr. Like Li's lab; 2. Fabricate samples and assemble them in reactor; 3. Reactor testing; 4. Data acquisition and analysis; 5. Prepare slides on research progress.

Time Commitment

10 hour(s)

Student Requirements

Courses in heat transfer, thermodynamics, chemistry

Interested in Working With the Following Programs

For EXCEL URE Students Only

Additional Notes

Position Overview

  • Date Posted: 09-06-2024
  • Location:
    • Orlando (Main Campus)
  • Paid: Yes