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

S.K.S. Boetcher. "." 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. "." 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. "." RSC Advances, 11 30569- 30573, 2021. 

K.L Nabutola and S.K.S. Boetcher. "." Advances in Aerodynamics, 3 29, 2021. 

S.K.S. Boetcher and R.M. Manglik. "." Journal of Heat Transfer, 143 100301-1-2, 2021. 

N.P. Sullivan, Y. Chao, S.K.S. Boetcher, M.A. Ricklick."." Journal of Heat Transfer, 143 104501-1-7, 2021.

Y. Chao, N.C. Lopes, M.A. Ricklick, S.K.S. Boetcher. "." Journal of Verification, Validation and Uncertainty Quantification, 6 041001-1-14, 2021. 

F. Sun, X. Li, S.K.S. Boetcher, G. Xie. "." Aerospace Science and Technology, 117 106901, 2021. 

K.L Nabutola and S.K.S. Boetcher. "." 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. "." Additive Manufacturing, 39, 101839, 2021.

G. Xie, K. Hooman, S. Tavaoularis, B. Sunden, and S.K.S. Boetcher. "." Journal of Fluids Engineering, 143 040301, 2021.

N. Sullivan, M. Ricklick, S.K.S. Boetcher. "." 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. "." 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. "." ERAU Discovery Day, Daytona Beach, FL, USA 2020. (Poster) 

X. Li, F. Sun, G. Xie, S.K.S. Boetcher. "." Numerical Heat Transfer, Part A: Applications, 78 717-736, 2020. 

G. Xie, S.K.S. Boetcher, O. Manca, S. Nizetic, W. Cai, M. Song. "." Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 141 1-4, 2020. 

Y. Li, B. Shen, H. Yan, S.K.S. Boetcher, G. Xie. "." Numerical Heat Transfer, Part A: Applications, 77 1014-1033, 2020. 

S.K.S. Boetcher, M.J. Traum, T. von Hippel. "," Climatic Change, 158 517-530, 2020. 

J. Xie, D. Liu, H. Yan, G. Xie, S.K.S. Boetcher. "." International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 149 119233, 2020.

Y. Li, G. Xie, S.K.S. Boetcher, H. Yan. "." 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. "." Journal of Thermal Science and Engineering Applications, 11 054502-1-7, 2019.

B. Shen, Y. Li, H. Yan, S.K.S. Boetcher, G. Xie. "." International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 137 88-101, 2019.

K.L. Nabutola and S.K.S. Boetcher. "." 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. "." IMECE2019-10454, Proceedings of the 2019 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA 2019.

Faculty


Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering


Associate Professor
Department of Aerospace Engineering


Associate Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering

Ph.D. Students

Thomas Freeman

  • M.S., Mechanical Engineering (2018), ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ
  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering (2016), ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ

Yang Chao

  • M.S., Aerospace Engineering (2020), ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ
  • B.S., Aerospace Engineering (2018), Civil Aviation University of China

Melissa Messenger

  • M.S., Mechanical Engineering (2022), ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ
  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering (2019), University of North Florida

Casey Troxler

  • M.S., Mechanical Engineering (2022), ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ
  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering (2020), ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ

Nuha Aljuneidi

  • M.S., Environmental and Renewable Energy Engineering (2017), German Jordanian University
    • B.S., Mechanical Engineering (2013), University of Jordan

Nicholas Lopes

  • B.S., Aerospace Engineering (2020), ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ

Jennifer Perskin

  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering (2021), ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ

M.S. Students

Isabel Melendez

  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering (2020), ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ

Andrew Heiles

  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering (2021), ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ

Melanie Canfield

  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering (2020), ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ

Angelos Kaminis

  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering (2020), ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ

Recent Alumni

Robert Consolo, Jr.

  • M.S., Mechanical Engineering (2021)
  • Currently at KRN, Inc.

Kaloki Nabutola

  • Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering (2020)
  • Curently at Carrier HVAC

Related Resources

Contact Us

Dr. Sandra Boetcher
Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering