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Thermal Sciences

Research

A significant portion our thermal sciences research applies to automotive engineering, with a strong focus on developing new, more sustainable technologies. Research topics include areas such as:

  • Combustion
  • Heat and energy transfer
  • Refrigeration
  • Thermoelectric energy

Our researchers work closely with to other departments and programs at U-M including Chemical, Biomedical and Aerospace Engineering and the Applied Physics Program. 

Funding

  • National Science Foundation
  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • U.S. Army
  • U.S. Department of Energy
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Specialties

  • Internal combustion
  • Experimental investigation of heat rejection
  • Fire suppression
  • Metal hydride heat pumps and hydrogen storage
  • Hybrid propulsion
  • Computational methods for reacting flows
  • Heat transfer physics
  • Molecular dynamics
  • Photovoltaic energy conversion
  • Reburn and co-firing technologies
  • Pollution mitigation