Samveg Saxena, Ph.D, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of California at Berkeley
Title: Fundamental Phenomena Affecting Low Temperature Combustion Engines High Load Limits & Strategies for Extending These Limits; Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. Roo m 112, ME-EM Bldg.
Low temperature combustion (LTC), including HCCI, is one of the most promising directions for high efficiency and low emission engines for vehicles of the future. This seminar presents an overview of a recent comprehensive review article in the journal “Progress in Energy and Combustion Science” which can be found at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pecs.2013.05.002
The article provides a thorough review of fundamental phenomena governing the performance of LTC engines and uses this as a foundation to discuss emissions characteristics, high load operating limits, and recent research on promising strategies to extend high load limits. Promising future research directions in LTC engine technology and gaps in current literature are also discussed.
Additionally, an overview of the vehicle powertrain research program at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and UC Berkeley will be discussed to provide a foundation to explore prospective research collaborations between LBNL and MTU faculty and students.
Dr. Saxena is a research scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and UC Berkeley where he leads several research programs in vehicle electrification and predicting electricity grid impacts from EVs. Sam completed his Ph.D in Mechanical Engineering at UC Berkeley in 2011 where he led several studies on innovative engine technologies for higher efficiency combustion, including LTC, microwave-assisted spark ignition, and cylinder deactivation strategies. Using this experience, Dr. Saxena has provided the technical foundation to secure over $2 Million in engine and powertrain research funding from the US DOE, California Energy Commission and other agencies. In early 2012, Dr. Saxena joined LBNL working on modeling of vehicle powertrain systems. Prior to beginning his Ph.D, Dr. Saxena worked in industry on engine and vehicle powertrain research at the Toronto-based companies: Magna Powertrain Engine Technologies Group, and Multimatic Technical Center. Dr. Saxena has been recognized in the Canadian House of Commons for his leadership excellence and has several awards for his demonstrated excellence in teaching and research, including the NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship, and serves as a reviewer, session organizer, and editorial board member for leading conferences and journals in combustion, engines and powertrain technologies. After hours, Sam enjoys trail runs in the hills around LBNL.