Energy Stewardship

The safe and reliable production, transmission, and storage of energy is critical to meeting the needs of society. Energy is used in manufacturing, transportation, communications, heating and cooling, etc. for domestic and commercial purposes. It is an interdisciplinary field that requires integrating various aspects of engineering.

While much of the energy production in the United States and globally has traditionally been derived from fossil fuels or nuclear sources, there is a growing need to expand the development of renewable and sustainable energy sources. This transition will also require new technologies to be developed for the transmission and storage of energy, as well as a larger focus on conservation efforts and improved efficiency of end-use products. It will also require technology developments for the more efficient use of current energy sources.

Thanks to a major investment from KFI Engineers, the NDSU College of Engineering is becoming a national leader in energy stewardship. The college has already created a new class based on it's cutting-edge energy storage research and is also developing new certificate programs focused on transportation, buildings and generation.

Engineers employed in the energy industry may work in power plants or other facilities like wind farms, design improved systems for energy production, develop more efficient HVAC systems for energy conservation, or research new technologies for reliable energy conversion or storage, among other opportunities.

Recommended Technical Elective Offerings

  • ME 353: Thermodynamics II
  • ME 469: Energy Storage Technology
  • ME 470: Renewable Energy Technology
  • ME 475: Automatic Controls
  • ME 481: Fundamentals of Energy Conversion
  • ME 482: Fuel Cell Science and Engineering
  • ME 484: Aerospace Propulsion
  • ME 485: Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning
  • ME 487: Internal Combustion Engines
  • ABEN 456: Biobased Energy
  • IME 440: Engineering Economics

Leading the way in Energy Stewardship

Adam Gladen, associate professor of mechanical engineering, was appointed the inaugural KFI Engineers Professor of Energy Stewardship.

Since joining NDSU, Gladen has built a nationally recognized research program focusing on thermal energy systems with an emphasis on solar energy, energy storage technologies and electrochemical systems.

“Energy impacts our wallets, our environment, and our national security,” Gladen said. “We all use energy every day; no one wants to go back to the Stone Age, and we, as people, have a responsibility to be good and wise stewards of the resources we have.”

Gladen's teaching and research are broadly focused on thermal energy systems, solar energy, thermal energy storage, and electrochemical systems. In the last two years, he has been awarded more than $2.24 million in research funding, including a major grant from the Department of Energy to develop a novel thermochemical adsorption material for thermal energy storage.

A breakthrough in this area could have major impacts on the amount of energy we use. Thermal energy needs for heating, cooling, and hot water make up 45% of total energy demand in commercial buildings and more than 60% in residential apartments and homes — by far the largest energy use.

“The [research] team is looking forward to developing this new material and modeling how it will improve energy usage in buildings,” Adam said. “Our long-term goal is to use this novel material in new storage systems to reduce energy usage in homes, offices, and other buildings. This can lead to significant savings for the owner, especially in states like North Dakota that have high heating loads. Eventually, we plan to use the results of the research to guide development of energy storage technology for other applications as well."

In addition to providing funding for groundbreaking research, the gift from KFI Engineers allowed the Department of Mechanical Engineering to hire William Refling, a new professor of practice specializing in thermal fluid sciences and energy stewardship.

Professors of practice focus on undergraduate teaching and bring important industry experience to provide students with real-world examples of the theory taught in class. Refling's areas of professional expertise include:

  • Heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration design
  • Thermodynamics
  • Heat Transfer
  • Fluid Mechanics
  • Multi-phase flow
  • Active flow control
  • Advanced flow diagnostics
  • Advanced manufacturing techniques

“By investing in our energy stewardship initiative, we’ll be able to build a national reputation in this area and develop new courses and labs that will enhance our educational offerings and give our students the skills companies need,” said Alan Kallmeyer, interim dean of the College of Engineering.

The support for an energy stewardship program is part of a larger effort in the College of Engineering to grow teaching and research in areas of high economic importance to North Dakota, the region, and the world.

Mechanical Engineering

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