Brian Fronk

Affiliate Researcher
Titles and Affiliations
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering

Brian Fronk specializes in supercritical CO2 heat transfer and systems, solar thermal systems, two-phase flow, multicomponent condensation, natural refrigerants, heat pump systems, high-temperature heat exchangers, and energy storage.

In the News

Research Keywords

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Recent Publications

Broadening participation in ASHRAE conferences: Innovative research in the built environment presented at the 2022 ASHRAE Annual Conference

Cetin, K. & Fronk, B. M., 2023, In: Science and Technology for the Built Environment. 29, 9, p. 843-844 2 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalEditorialpeer-review

THERMODYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF A REACTIVE PARTICLE-TO-SCO2 HEAT EXCHANGER FOR RECOVERING STORED THERMOCHEMICAL ENERGY

Siefering, B. J., Umer, M., Stechel, E. B. & Fronk, B. M., 2023, In: Conference Proceedings of the European sCO2 Conference. p. 226-235 10 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

Coupling Chemical Heat Pump with Nuclear Reactor for Temperature Amplification by Delivering Process Heat and Electricity: A Techno-Economic Analysis

Gupta, A., Sabharwall, P., Armatis, P. D., Fronk, B. M. & Utgikar, V., Aug 2022, In: Energies. 15, 16, 5873.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

A modeling approach to account for unstable stratification, flow acceleration, and variable thermophysical properties for supercritical carbon dioxide

Jajja, S. A., Randle, L. V. & Fronk, B. M., May 15 2022, In: International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. 187, 122537.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Preconceptual Design of Multifunctional Gas-Cooled Cartridge Loop for the Versatile Test Reactor: Instrumentation and Measurement—Part II

Sabharwall, P., Weaver, K., Anand, N. K., Ellis, C., Sun, X., Choi, H., Chen, D., Christensen, R., Fronk, B. M., Gess, J., Hassan, Y., Jovanovic, I., Manera, A., Petrov, V., Vaghetto, R., Balderrama-Prieto, S., Burak, A. J., Burger, M., Cardenas-Melgar, A., Orea, D., & 7 othersChavez, R., Choi, B., Garrett, L., Gaudin, G. L., Sutton, N., Willams, K. & Young, J., 2022, In: Nuclear Science and Engineering. 196, sup1, p. 215-233 19 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Preconceptual Design of Multifunctional Gas-Cooled Cartridge Loop for the Versatile Test Reactor—Part I

Sabharwall, P., Weaver, K., Anand, N. K., Ellis, C., Sun, X., Chen, D., Choi, H., Christensen, R., Fronk, B. M., Gess, J., Hassan, Y., Jovanovic, I., Manera, A., Petrov, V., Vaghetto, R., Balderrama-Prieto, S., Burak, A. J., Burger, M., Cardenas-Melgar, A., Garrett, L., & 7 othersGaudin, G. L., Orea, D., Chavez, R., Choi, B., Sutton, N., Williams, K. & Young, J., 2022, In: Nuclear Science and Engineering. 196, sup1, p. 183-214 32 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Validation of Manufacturing Process Designs for Stamped Microchannel Recuperators

Song, C., Noma, K., Armatis, P., Fronk, B. M. & Paul, B. K., Sep 2022, In: Manufacturing Letters. 33, p. 280-291 12 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

A chemical-absorption heat pump for utilization of nuclear power in high temperature industrial processes

Armatis, P. D., Gupta, A., Sabharwall, P., Utgikar, V. & Fronk, B. M., Aug 2021, In: International Journal of Energy Research. 45, 10, p. 14612-14629 18 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Energy and exergy analysis of Ca(OH)2/CaO dehydration-hydration chemical heat pump system: Effect of reaction temperature

Gupta, A., Armatis, P. D., Sabharwall, P., Fronk, B. M. & Utgikar, V., Jul 2021, In: Journal of Energy Storage. 39, 102633.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Enhancement of Ca(OH)2/CaO thermal performance and structural integrity using inert agent for thermochemical energy storage

Gupta, A., Armatis, P. D., Sabharwall, P., Fronk, B. M. & Utgikar, V., 2021, In: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society. 124, 1, p. 488-490 3 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

Kinetics of Ca(OH)2 decomposition in pure Ca(OH)2 and Ca(OH)2-CaTiO3 composite pellets for application in thermochemical energy storage system

Gupta, A., Armatis, P. D., Sabharwall, P., Fronk, B. M. & Utgikar, V., Dec 31 2021, In: Chemical Engineering Science. 246, 116986.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Thermodynamics of Ca(OH)2/CaO reversible reaction: Refinement of reaction equilibrium and implications for operation of chemical heat pump

Gupta, A., Armatis, P. D., Sabharwall, P., Fronk, B. M. & Utgikar, V., Feb 2 2021, In: Chemical Engineering Science. 230, 116227.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Universal condensation heat transfer and pressure drop model and the role of machine learning techniques to improve predictive capabilities

Hughes, M. T., Fronk, B. M. & Garimella, S., Nov 2021, In: International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. 179, 121712.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

A heat transfer model to predict superheated and saturated condensation of HFC/HFO refrigerant mixtures

Jacob, T. A. & Fronk, B. M., May 2021, In: International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. 170, 120947.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Investigation of near-critical heat transfer in rectangular microchannels with single wall heating using infrared thermography

Jajja, S. A. & Fronk, B. M., Oct 2021, In: International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. 177, 121470.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review