Ohio State SIMCenter is set to receive $2.5M DOE grant to optimize residential wood stoves

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The Ohio State University Simulation Innovation and Modeling Center (SIMCenter) is set to receive a $2.5 million grant from the Department of Energy to develop and test low-emission, high-efficiency residential wood-fueled heaters.

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Led by SIMCenter Director Shawn Midlam-Mohler, the multi-disciplinary team will work over the next three years to develop modeling and automation technology to advance the development and production of residential wood stoves. The team will focus on cordwood-fueled stoves, which are the most widely sold stoves in the United States.

“Automation and simulation have revolutionized products and design processes in many other industry sectors, such as automotive and aerospace,” said Midlam-Mohler, a professor of practice in mechanical and aerospace engineering. “We aim to apply these same technologies to advance the domestic wood-fueled heater industry.”

In addition, the research will help the wood-fueled heater industry meet current and future DOE and EPA goals for emissions and energy efficiency.

The team includes people and facilities from Ohio State’s Simulation Innovation and Modeling Center (SIMCenter), Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and Center for Automotive Research (CAR). Other collaborators include the University at Buffalo, Oak Ridge National LaboratoryNAFEMS, and New Buck Corporation, a U.S.-based stove manufacturer.

The grant is part of $97 million in funding for 33 projects that will support high-impact technology research and development to accelerate the bioeconomy. These projects will improve the performance and lower the cost and risk of technologies that can be used to produce biofuels, biopower, and bioproducts from biomass and waste resources. “Advancements made in bioenergy technologies will help expand America’s energy supply, grow our economy, and enhance our energy security,” said Under Secretary of Energy Mark W. Menezes. “These projects will ensure the United States’ leadership across all segments of the growing global bioeconomy, and allow us to provide U.S. consumers and businesses more homegrown energy choices for their fuels and products.”

Contact SIMCenter for collaboration inquiries at simcenter@osu.edu

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