$2 Million in DOE Funding Awarded to USU Engineering Faculty
The U.S. Department of Energy awarded $2 million in total funding to researchers in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Utah State University for nuclear energy research and innovation.
Som Dutta and Hailei Wang will use funding on research that will help expand American access to nuclear energy, moving the nation closer to its goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
Som Dutta and Hailei Wang received $1 million in funding each for their research and innovation in nuclear engineering.
“I am thrilled about this wonderful opportunity to work on a fundamental turbulence modeling question, that could have major implications for simulating turbulent flows,” Dutta said. “I would like to thank my collaborators on the proposals, and the support from my department and the college during the process.”
Dutta, an assistant professor, will focus on the use of machine-learning to improve the prediction of turbulent flows in nuclear engineering. The objective is to quantify and understand the uncertainty in turbulence predicted by neural network models.
Wang, also an assistant professor, will develop reference designs for carbon-free ammonia plants, one using freshwater as the source of hydrogen, and the other using seawater. His goal is to use nuclear energy to produce ammonia efficiently and economically through comprehensive system modeling, integration and design optimization.
“The project will provide the opportunity to demonstrate examples of small modular reactors integrated with energy systems for carbon-free ammonia production,” Wang said. “Zero-carbon improves the environment but is extremely challenging, especially for industry processes. With the next-generation nuclear energy systems, I hope that by the end of this project, we have developed innovative reference designs that will help the industry moving forward.”
USU consistently ranks among the top schools in the nation for nuclear funding. From 2009-2022, USU was among the top six in the west to receive funding from DOE’s Nuclear Engineering University Program.
In the most recent round of funding, totaling $56 million, grants were divided into four focus areas that support nuclear energy research at universities and national laboratories in 25 states:
Research and Development ($47.2 Million): Supports 46 awards and brings collaborative teams together to solve complex problems to advance nuclear technology and understanding.
Facility Access ($6.3 Million): Provides three research teams access to world-class facilities and unique capabilities to advance nuclear science understanding.
Early Career Faculty ($3.1 Million): Invests in the innovative research and education programs of five outstanding early career university faculty poised to pave new lines of inquiry and advance mission-critical research directions in nuclear energy.
Innovations in Nuclear Energy R&D Student Competition ($43,000): Recognizes and awards 14 published graduate and undergraduate students for innovative nuclear energy research.
More information can be found at the NEUP homepage.
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- Writer:
- Sydney Dahle, sydney.dahle@usu.edu, 435-797-7512
- Contacts:
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Som Dutta, som.duta@usu.edu, 435-797-0583
Hailei Wang, hailei.wang@usu.edu, 435-797-2098