Dr. Brian Fronk is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Penn State. He previously held positions at Oregon State University and Carrier Corp. He earned his Ph.D. and M.S. from Georgia Tech and his B.S. from Penn State. His research focuses on solar thermal power, energy storage, building energy systems, advanced manufacturing, and heat transfer. Dr. Fronk has received the NSF CAREER award, ASHRAE New Investigator Award, and Oregon State University International Service Award. He is a registered professional engineer in Pennsylvania and Oregon.
Abstract
Thermochemical energy systems enable efficient storage and dispatch of thermal energy for low carbon energy sources. While new thermochemical materials have been developed, practical integration into energy storage technologies is less explored. This talk presents our research on the thermal engineering challenges of implementing these materials. I will focus on (1) redox-active metal oxide particles for high-temperature thermal storage with closed power cycles, and (2) salt hydrate materials in closed and open systems for thermal storage and amplification with heat pump systems.