HEATER Lab
Heat Exchange and Thermal Energy Research LaboratoryWelcome to the HEATER Lab at Penn State
The mission of the HEATER Lab is to conduct thermal science research that enables the widespread, efficient use of low carbon energy for producing power, heating, cooling and industrial products. Our research spans from improving our understanding of basic transport phenomena, developing novel heat and mass transfer components, to investigating full-scale thermal system integration, control and operation. The HEATER Lab is equipped for conducting coupled experimental and analytical investigations, with an end goal of the development of high impact, economically feasible, energy systems.
Research at the HEATER Lab has been funded by the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Naval Research, USAID, ASHRAE, and other industrial partners.
Recent News
June 4, 2024
Congratulations to Paul Armatis for passing his PhD dissertation defense on the use of chemical heat pumps for upgrading industrial process heat. We wish him the best of luck in the next stage of his career!
May 2, 2024
Dr. Fronk presented an update on the lab’s US Navy sponsored low GWP refrigerant research and workforce development program at the American Society of Naval Engineering Advanced Machinery Technology Symposium in Philadelphia.
April 22, 2024
Nader Khormi, Paul Armatis, Muhammad Umer and Dr. Fronk all presented papers at the ASTFE 9th Thermal and Fluids Engineering Conference held in Corvallis, OR at Oregon State University.
April 18, 2024
Congratulations to Jumman Al Jawwad for passing his MS Thesis presentation exam on modeling of thermochemical energy storage systems. He has accepted an industry position in Pennsylvania. We wish him the best of luck!
April 16, 2024
Congratulations to Bryan Siefering for succesfully defending his PhD dissertation in the area of reactiong particle-to-sCO2 heat exchangers for high temperature energy storage systems.
April 12, 2024
Culminating many years of work, our paper on design and fabrication of high temperature solar receivers for heating supercritical carbon dioxide was published in Solar Energy. This was a collaboration with UC-Davis, Oregon State University and the National Energy Technology Laboratory.
