Dr. Daniel Crunkleton

Research Emphasis

• Alternative Fuels
• Nanotechnology
• Computational Fluid Dynamics

Alternative Fuels

Dr. Crunkleton’s alternative fuel research in centered in two main areas, hybrid electric vehicle powertrains and biodiesel production and reformation.

In the hybrid vehicle arena, Dr. Crunkleton is a faculty advisor for the University of Tulsa’s Challenge X program, a multi-disciplinary research/design competition where a team of TU students are designing and constructing a next-generation hybrid-electric vehicle. Innovative technologies considered include an electric motor mated with a state-of-the-art NiMH battery. Additionally, the hybrid architecture is unique in that is includes a pair of 1.2 kW PEM fuels that can supply independent sources of power for the powertrain or accessory loads.

Biodiesel is an important alternative fuel, in which waste vegetable oils and/or animal fats are chemically reacted to form esters that can be used in diesel engines. Biodiesel has the distinct advantage of renewability, and sustainability. Additionally, biodiesel is compatible with the current petroleum-based energy delivery infrastructure. Dr. Crunkleton is currently involved with Oklahoma-based companies to develop modular biodiesel production and testing equipment. He also supervises a student studying the kinetics of using biodiesel to produce hydrogen for use in PEM fuel cells.

Nanotechnology

Dr. Crunkleton is an active researcher in the field of nanotechnology, whereby analogues of macroscopic processes are constructed on the nanoscale. Specifically, Dr. Crunkleton is supervising students working on constructing nanoscaled solid oxide fuel cells for use as power sources and sensors.

Computational Fluid Dynamics

Dr. Crunkleton is also active in computational materials science, specifically fluid dynamics. He is active in the field of buoyancy-driven instabilities in low Prandtl number fluids, which is important to the areas of crystal growth. Additionally, he is supervising a project where the techniques employed by fluid physicists are used to study ionic conduction in solid electrolytes.

Recent Publications

1. A. Krisnamoorthy, D. Crunkleton, R. Strattan, “Fuel Economy of a Novel Light Diesel Hybrid SUV Powertrain,” Submitted to IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology

2. D. Crunkleton and R. Strattan, “Performance Characteristics of a Novel Fuel Cell-Based Diesel HEV,” Submitted to Fuel Cell Science and Technology.

3. T. Oneal, D. Crunkleton, “Reformation of Biodiesel for Portable Fuel Cell

Applications,” Submitted to International Journal of Reaction Engineering.

4. C.L. Patton, D.W. Crunkleton, J.M. Henshaw, D. Jussaume, R.L. Strattan, “The Benefits of an Interdisciplinary Design project,” ASEE Midwest Regional Conference, Sept. 9, 2005

5. C.L. Patton, L.P. Ford, D.W. Crunkleton, “Welcome to ChE: Chocolate Engineering,” ASEE Midwest Regional Conference, Sept. 9, 2005.

6. D.W. Crunkleton and C.L. Patton, “ChE Student and Automotive Design Competitions,” ASEE Annual Conference, Portland, June 13, 2005.

7. Daniel Crunkleton, Ranga Narayananm and Timothy J. Anderson, “Numerical simulations of periodic flow oscillations in low Prandtl number fluids,” International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer49 (2006), 427-438.

8. D.W. Crunkleton and T.J. Anderson, “A numerical study of flow and thermal fields in tilted Rayleigh-Bénard convection,” International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, 33, 24-29 (2006).

9. Jochen Marchall, Adam Chamberlain, Daniel Crunkleton, and Bridget Rogers, “Catalytic Recombination on ZrB 2/SiC AND HfB 2/SiC Ultrahigh-Temperature Ceramic Composites, Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets41 (2004), 576-581.

10. D. Crunkleton and C. Patton, “ ChE Students and Automotive Design Competitions: Tips and Techniques for Student Involvement,” 2005 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition: The Changing Landscape of Engineering and Technology Education in a Global World; Portland, OR, June 12-15 2005, 5.

11. D. Crunkleton, N. Gupta, R. Narayanan, and T. Anderson, “Periodic Oscillations in Low Prandtl-Number Fluids” AIAA Technical Paper 99-0862 (1999).

12. D. Crunkleton, R. Narayanan, and T. Anderson, “Detecting Convection in Low Prandtl Number Fluids Using Electrochemical Measurements,” in Space Technologies and Applications International Forum, ed. M.S. El-Genk, 866 (2000).

Return to the Chemical Engineering Home Page