The goal of the Energy industry focus area is to produce graduates who will become recognized leaders in the field through the solution of our global energy challenges. This goal will be achieved through relevant industry -inspired applied research and basic research in energy related fields.
This focus area will expand the ability of faculty and students to conduct basic and applied research including pilot scale demonstrations in the six functional areas necessary for sustainable solutions to the nation's energy needs: energy collection, conversion, storage, distribution, control, and consumption. There can be little doubt of the importance of both fundamental and applied research in renewable energy systems. Research efforts will range from the fundamental understanding of heat, mass, energy and momentum transport processes to pilot-scale testing and computer modeling of industrially- relevant sustainable energy systems.
As one example, coursework from across the KGCOE provides students with the background to improve reciprocating compressor technology under the direction of Dr. Jason Kolodziej, in cooperation with our industry partner Dresser Rand. Mechanical, Industrial and Electrical Engineering skills are complemented by expertise in statistics to solve this interdisciplinary problem associated with clean fuels and greenhouse gas management - one of several global energy problems being investigated in the Energy focus area by faculty in the KGCOE.
Engineering skills from a variety of disciplines are required to address the global issues of a sustainable energy system within the context of societal norms and expectations that vary widely around the globe. Technical leaders in this field need to be technically strong and also understand the socio-political context of their research in order for research endeavors to be effectively translated into real-world solutions.