February 27, 2008
Bowling
Green, Ky. - For the third time in four years, Western Kentucky University’s mechanical engineering program has received a grant from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) to support a student research project.
ASHRAE has awarded a grant of $3,500 to Kevin Schmaltz, associate professor in WKU’s Department of Engineering, to support a 2008-09 student team that will analyze, design and construct a prototype system to cool a residential building using a simple water spray system on the roof.
“We are pleased with our continuing success in getting ASHRAE funds,” Schmaltz said. “These grants are very competitive, and the quality of past ASHRAE projects helps us with future requests. This water cooling project will provide three ME seniors with a challenging project next year and will result in a demonstration system that will be used in future classes. There is also the potential for commercialization of the design if it proves viable.”
The WKU mechanical engineering program received ASHRAE grants in 2005 and 2006 to support senior projects. The 2005 grant resulted in the construction of an air flow test system that is being used for industrial projects while the 2006 grant was used to build a centrifugal pump demonstration system used in mechanical engineering classes.
The most recent grant will help the program’s ongoing research into novel energy systems. The mechanical engineering program is collaborating with WKU’s Agriculture Department on projects to capture energy from decomposing leaves to heat a greenhouse and also to convert used cooking oil from campus cafeterias to biodiesel for use at the WKU farm.
“The WKU ME program and students are earning recognition locally and nationally for the work we are doing,” Schmaltz said. “ASHRAE has recognized our abilities with project funding in three of the past four years.”
More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.
For information, contact Kevin Schmaltz at (270) 745-8859.
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