The Thermal Science Research Group is working on designing next-generation thermal energy storage systems that are flexible enough to incorporate custom phase-change materials for different applications and can be optimized for thermal performance with minimal pressure loss. Our motivating application is to develop more efficient energy-storage technologies for night-time electri­cal load shifting. However, our PCM-embedded heat exchanger manufacturing technol­ogy can be readily translated to a wide spectrum of applications.

We also concentrate on fundamental issues pertaining to thermal energy storage. Our group conducts various experiments to validate and improve numerical heat transfer models. We currently have an experimental test rig to track the melt fraction of a melting phase-change material so that we can evaluate numerical models of natural convection during liquid-to-solid phase change. We are also working on several experimental techniques to evaluate local heat transfer behavior in thermal energy storage heat exchangers.

Learn More About the Research Group

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S.K.S. Boetcher. "Chapter 11: Cool Thermal Energy Storage: Water and Ice to Alternative Phase Change Materials." In: Solid/Liquid Thermal Energy Storage: Modeling and Applications CRC Press, 2022.

Y. Chao, N. Lopes, M. Ricklick, S.K.S. Boetcher. "Hydraulic Development Length and Boundary Condition Effects on Local sCO2 Heat Transfer Coefficients." 7th International Supercritical CO2 Power Cycles Symposium, San Antonio, TX, USA 2022.

C.J. Troxler, T.B Freeman, R.M. Rodriguez, S.K.S. Boetcher. "Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Phase Change Material Melting at Suboptimal Inclines." IMECE2021-69233, Proceedings of the 2021 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, Virtual 2021.

N.P. Sullivan, M.A. Ricklick, Y. Chao, S.K.S. Boetcher. "Heat Transfer Enhancement Optimization in Supercritical CO2 with Reduced-Order Model." AIAA 2021-3716 Proceedings of the AIAA Propulsion and Energy Forum, Denver, CO, USA 2021. 

T. Freeman, K. Nawaz, R. Manglik, R. Rodriguez, S.K.S. Boetcher. "Additively Manufactured Polymer-Encapsulated Phase-Change Material Heat Exchangers for Light Commercial and Residential Thermal Energy Storage." 2021 ASHRAE Annual Conference, Phoenix, AZ, USA 2021. 

X. Li, G. Xie, H.Duan, S.K.S. Boetcher. "Turbulent Convective Heat Transfer Behavior of Supercritical Water Flowing Upward in 2×2 Rod Bundle Channels With Various Spacers." Numerical Heat Transfer, Part A: Applications, submitted 10/23/21. 

K. Nawaz, T.B. Freeman, R.M. Rodriguez, S.K.S. Boetcher. "Moisture Affinity of HDPE/Phase Change Material Composites for Thermal Energy Storage Applications." RSC Advances, 11 30569- 30573, 2021. 

K.L Nabutola and S.K.S. Boetcher. "Assessment of Conventional and Air-Jet Wheel Deflectors for Drag Reduction of the DrivAer Model." Advances in Aerodynamics, 3 29, 2021. 

S.K.S. Boetcher and R.M. Manglik. "Innovations and Advancements in Heat & Mass Transfer: Celebrating the Legacy of Professor Ephraim M. Sparrow." Journal of Heat Transfer, 143 100301-1-2, 2021. 

N.P. Sullivan, Y. Chao, S.K.S. Boetcher, M.A. Ricklick."Impact of Uncertainty on Prediction of Supercritical CO2 Properties and Nusselt Numbers." Journal of Heat Transfer, 143 104501-1-7, 2021.

Y. Chao, N.C. Lopes, M.A. Ricklick, S.K.S. Boetcher. "Effect of the Heat Transfer Coefficient Reference Temperatures on Validating Numerical Models of Supercritical CO2." Journal of Verification, Validation and Uncertainty Quantification, 6 041001-1-14, 2021. 

F. Sun, X. Li, S.K.S. Boetcher, G. Xie. "Inhomogeneous Behavior of Supercritical Hydrocarbon Fuel Flow in a Regenerative Cooling Channel for a Scramjet Engine." Aerospace Science and Technology, 117 106901, 2021. 

K.L Nabutola and S.K.S. Boetcher. "On the Validation of Turbulence Models for Wheel and Wheelhouse Aerodynamics." Journal of Verification, Validation and Uncertainty Quantification, 6 021006-1-12, 2021. 

T.B. Freeman, M.A. Messenger, C.J. Troxler, K. Nawaz, R.M. Rodriguez, S.K.S. Boetcher. "Fused Filament Fabrication of Novel Phase-Change Material Functional Composites." Additive Manufacturing, 39, 101839, 2021.

G. Xie, K. Hooman, S. Tavaoularis, B. Sunden, and S.K.S. Boetcher. "Special Section on Flow Physics of Supercritical Fluids in Engineering." Journal of Fluids Engineering, 143 040301, 2021.

N. Sullivan, M. Ricklick, S.K.S. Boetcher. "Supercritical CO2 Heat Transfer in a Staggered Pin-Fin Channel." AIAA 2020-3696 Proceedings of the AIAA Propulsion and Energy Forum, New Orleans, LA, USA 2020.

S. Motagi, T. Freeman, S.K.S. Boetcher, S. Namilae. "In-Situ Measurement of Resin Shrinkage with Respect to Degree of Cure." AIAA 2020-0653 Proceedings of the 57th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, Orlando, FL, USA 2020. 

M. Messenger, T. Freeman, C. Troxler, M. Lilly, R. Rodriguez, S.K.S. Boetcher. "Phase Change Materials for Additively Manufacturing Polymer Heat Exchangers." ERAU Discovery Day, Daytona Beach, FL, USA 2020. (Poster) 

X. Li, F. Sun, G. Xie, S.K.S. Boetcher. "Supercritical CO2 Flowing Upward in a Vertical Tube Subject to Axially Non-Uniform Heating." Numerical Heat Transfer, Part A: Applications, 78 717-736, 2020. 

G. Xie, S.K.S. Boetcher, O. Manca, S. Nizetic, W. Cai, M. Song. "Energy Savings With Heat Transfer Enhancement Techniques and Heat Exchangers." Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 141 1-4, 2020. 

Y. Li, B. Shen, H. Yan, S.K.S. Boetcher, G. Xie. "Heat Transfer Enhancement of Rotating Wedge-Shaped Channels With Pin Fins and Kagome Lattices." Numerical Heat Transfer, Part A: Applications, 77 1014-1033, 2020. 

S.K.S. Boetcher, M.J. Traum, T. von Hippel. "Thermodynamic Model of CO2 Deposition in Cold Climates," Climatic Change, 158 517-530, 2020. 

J. Xie, D. Liu, H. Yan, G. Xie, S.K.S. Boetcher. "A Review of Heat Transfer Deterioration of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Flowing in Vertical Tubes: Heat Transfer Behaviors, Identification Methods, Critical Heat Fluxes and Heat Transfer Correlations." International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 149 119233, 2020.

Y. Li, G. Xie, S.K.S. Boetcher, H. Yan. "Heat Transfer Enhancement of X-Lattice-Cored Sandwich Panels by Introducing Pin Fins, Dimples or Protrusions." International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 141 627-642, 2019.

T.B. Freeman, D. Spitzer, P.N. Currier, V. Rollin, S.K.S. Boetcher. "Phase-Change Materials/HDPE Composite Filament: A First Step Toward Use With 3D Printing for Thermal Management Applications." Journal of Thermal Science and Engineering Applications, 11 054502-1-7, 2019.

B. Shen, Y. Li, H. Yan, S.K.S. Boetcher, G. Xie. "Heat Transfer Enhancement of Wedge-Shaped Channels by Replacing Pin Fins With Kagome Lattice Structures." International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 137 88-101, 2019.

K.L. Nabutola and S.K.S. Boetcher. "Assessment of Eddy-Viscosity Turbulence Models on Flow in a Wheelhouse." IMECE2019-10453, Proceedings of the 2019 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA 2019.

K.L. Nabutola and S.K.S. Boetcher. "Drag Reduction of Ground Vehicles Using Air-Jet Wheel Deflectors." IMECE2019-10454, Proceedings of the 2019 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA 2019.

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Dr. Sandra Boetcher
Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering