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Green and Alternative Energy Program in Engineering Technology

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Conference

2017 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Columbus, Ohio

Publication Date

June 24, 2017

Start Date

June 24, 2017

End Date

June 28, 2017

Conference Session

ETD Green Energy/Sustainability

Tagged Division

Engineering Technology

Page Count

11

DOI

10.18260/1-2--28422

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/28422

Download Count

370

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Paper Authors

biography

Vladimir Gurau P.E. Kent State University, Tuscarawas Campus

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Dr. Gurau is an Associate Professor of Engineering Technology at Kent State University. Previously he worked for seven years as a Senior Research Associate in the Chemical Engineering Department at Case Western Reserve University where he served as Principal Investigator on several research programs funded by the State of Ohio’s Third Frontier Fuel Cells Program, by the U.S. Department of Energy or in collaboration with General Motors. In this quality he performed research on different fuel cell technologies, including numerical modeling and simulations (Computational Fluid Dynamics and systems optimization), experimental research design, fuel cell component characterization, fuel cell stack design etc. Dr. Gurau has more than two years experience in fuel cell industry with Energy Partners, l.c. (now Teledyne Energy Systems, Inc.) as a research specialist, where he modeled fuel cell phenomena in order to predict and optimize cell performance, including developing of analytical and numerical models (heat and mass transfer in multi-phase, multi-component flows with electro-chemical reactions, flows in porous media, etc). He is the author of several patents related to PEM fuel cells and the author of more than twenty publications in peer review journals or conference presentations in the fuel cells area. Dr. Gurau obtained his Ph.D. degree in 1998 from the Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Miami.

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Abstract

A new major in Green and Alternative Energy is offered to students seeking a Bachelor of Science degree in the Engineering Technology Department at Kent State University at Tuscarawas. The program provides students with general and specialized training in renewable energy – related fields such as fuel cells, solar and wind energy. New courses in Fuel Cells Technology, Advanced Fuel Cells Technology, Power Technology, and Energy Management Systems have been designed to integrate theory with practical applications. Hands-on experience is emphasized in project and laboratory sessions in which students practice the installation, operation, maintenance and servicing wind and solar systems, or learn to operate and characterize fuel cell performance. Along with renewable energy – specific courses, students are offered courses in Manufacturing Technology, Automated Manufacturing, Materials and Processes 2 or Engineering Technology Project in which they are exposed among others to manufacturing technologies of fuel cell materials, components, stacks and systems. Students in this major participate in related research projects such as the design and demonstration of robotic technology for an automated assembly of fuel cell stacks, the design and demonstration of a methanol reformer for production of hydrogen as fuel for fuel cells, fabrication of components for fuel cells using computer numerical control, investigation of manufacturing processes for the production of graphite bipolar plates for fuel cells, or design and fabrication of instrumentation for measuring fuel cell component properties. The research projects that students are involved in, enable them to acquire practical skills required in industry and align with the State of Ohio’s Third Frontier Fuel Cell Program commitment to accelerate the growth of fuel cell industry in Ohio, to investigate manufacturing processes and technologies, to adapt or modify existing components and systems that can reduce the cost of fuel cell systems, to address technical and commercialization barriers and demonstrate market readiness.

Gurau, V. (2017, June), Green and Alternative Energy Program in Engineering Technology Paper presented at 2017 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Columbus, Ohio. 10.18260/1-2--28422

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