Hui Hu, professor of aerospace engineering, and his group at Iowa State University studied the effects of the relative rotation directions of two tandem wind turbines on the power production performance, the flow characteristics in the turbine wake flows, and the resultant wind loads acting on the turbines. The experimental study was performed in a …Continue reading “New concept to improve power production of wind turbines”
Maybe it is because of his last name or his long history in the energy industry, but Tom Wind (BSEE’74) is bullish on the future of wind energy in Iowa. “Wind power is on a path to reach 20 percent of the U.S. energy needs by 2030 — in Iowa, it already is at 25 percent,” …Continue reading “EE alumnus sees job opportunities ahead in wind, renewable energies”
Engineers know that gas turbine engines for aircraft and power plants are more efficient and burn less fuel when they run at temperatures high enough to melt metal. But how to raise temperatures and efficiencies without damaging engine parts and pieces? Iowa State University’s Hui Hu and Blake Johnson, working away in a tight corner behind …Continue reading “Iowa State engineers develop new tests to cool turbine blades, improve engines”
Sweeping changes could be coming to Iowa’s energy grid. President Obama recently announced limits on carbon emissions, as he encouraged the use of alternative energy under a proposed plan. James McCalley, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Iowa State, says energy companies in Iowa have been investing in renewable energy for close to ten …Continue reading “Iowa in good shape under Obama energy plan”
IMSE faculty members Matt Frank, John Jackman, and Frank Peters were featured in an article in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Mechanical Engineering Magazine about wind energy and the Wind Energy Manufacturing Laboratory (WEML) at Iowa State. For ASME members: read the Mechanical Engineering Magazine article Visit ASME
Iowa’s three Regents universities are making faculty hires, launching studies, partnering with community colleges and building industry partnerships – all in a $22 million effort to boost the state’s research capacity in renewable energy and energy utilization. The benefits to Iowa could be many: research grants, new technologies, startup companies, educational opportunities and workforce improvements …Continue reading “Iowa EPSCoR builds state’s research capacity in renewable energy and energy use”
by Thane Himes Subhadarshi Sarkar, grad student in electrical engineering, was awarded first prize at the 2012 IEEE PES General Meeting Student Poster Contest in July for his presentation on optimal renewable energy. Sarkar presented his poster to judges, professors, students, and professionals at the general meeting. The next day, he found out that he …Continue reading “ECpE grad student wins IEEE poster contest”
Inter-disciplinary approach trains students for wind energy careers As part of the Wind Energy Initiative, Iowa State University has launched an inter-disciplinary minor designed to prepare its students for a career in one of the most rapidly growing technology sectors, wind energy. A collaboration among of the university’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College …Continue reading “Iowa State launches wind energy minor”
Although wind is a plentiful resource in Iowa, harnessing the invisible power is not as straightforward as it may seem. Planning and implementing a wind farm requires the consideration of many factors, but one particularly central group of people has not been the focus of much research or attention: landowners. Looking to change that trend, …Continue reading “ME graduate student aims to aid in wind energy development”
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State University engineers, researchers and educators want to be part of America’s wind energy solution. And so they’re building programs and partnerships to boost the university’s expertise in just about every aspect of the wind energy industry: aerodynamics, grid integration, manufacturing, meteorology, nacelles and blades, policy, reliability and towers. So far, …Continue reading “Wind Energy Initiative builds research, education programs”
Engineering professors at Iowa State University are part of an international, collaborative research team recently awarded $4.1 million from the Department of Energy (DOE). The team, led by Sandia National Laboratories, also includes researchers from the University of Maine (UMaine), TPI Composites, and Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). Iowa State’s researchers, who will receive …Continue reading “Wind Energy Manufacturing Laboratory heads out to sea”
Since his move from industry work to academia earlier this year, Anupam Sharma says the biggest difference is the interaction he now has with students, a change he finds very rewarding. Sharma, who joined Iowa State in January as assistant professor of aerospace engineering and Walter W. Wilson Faculty Fellow, is focusing his research on …Continue reading “Assistant professor studies aerodynamic noise”
Christopher Karstens was on the ground studying the damage caused by the deadly April 27, 2011, tornado that hit Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, Ala. It was just a week after the tornado. He was between the two cities, in the rough country of the southern Appalachians about 20 miles northeast of Tuscaloosa. He said it’s terrain …Continue reading “Iowa State researchers find, test winds extending far away from Alabama tornado’s path”
When Brian Lapcewich enrolled at Iowa State in 2005 as an undeclared engineering major, he didn’t know his passion for engineering would lead him to a career where an ordinary day at the office would mean standing atop an 80-meter high wind turbine. As a junior in high school, Lapcewich toured the campus and fell …Continue reading “Wind energy powers up alumnus’ career”
