Iowa State University- Thermal Systems Virtual Engineering Group

Mission
The Thermal Systems Virtual Engineering Group (TSVEG) at Iowa State University works under the leadership of Dr. Kenneth Mark Bryden to create affordable and sustainable technology for household energy use. Research efforts have been directed toward assisting poor families in developing nations: (1) achieve stability through more efficient and affordable energy use, (2) decrease indoor air pollution, and (3) increase stove safety. The Thermal Systems Virtual Engineering Group (TSVEG) uses real-time visualization in virtual engineering to research hot gas flow characteristics. The group is also working to establish a standardized method of rating stove safety. In addition, Iowa State offers undergraduate classes in the field of sustainanle engineering and international development with an emphasis on stove design. Undergraduate students work with graduate students and faculty to understand the process of creating more effective stove design.
Organization Type	Academia

Contact Information

This information has been removed as it is likely no longer accurate

Primary Initiatives, Target Populations, and Scope of Work:
Dr. Bryden and his research group have research initiatives in Honduras, Nicaragua and Mexico. Although most of the current research projects have targeted household energy use in rural populations, there are initiatives to work with commercial/small family businesses in urban settings. All work initiatives have been community wide.
Fuels/Technologies:	Biogas Biomass Coal Solar	Sectors of Experience:	Education Energy Environment Health Renewable Energy Rural Development Small Business Safety

Our Experience And Interest In The Four PCIA Central Focus Areas

Social/Cultural barriers to using traditional fuels and stoves:

TSVEG at Iowa State University addresses social/cultural barriers to using traditional fuels and stoves by: * Working with local contacts, NGOs and small businesses to create demonstration of stoves in local open-air markets and also in town center areas of rural cities; *Involving local families and technical personel into the design and implementation processes.

Market development for improved cooking technologies:

TSVEG at Iowa State University addresses market development for improved cooking technologies by: *Creating partnerships between NGOs and technical universities both in the US and in the local implementing region; *Developing undergraduate courses that focus on the design and development of rural energy technology.

Technology standardization for cooking, heating and ventilation:

TSVEG at Iowa State University addresses technology standardization for cooking, heating and ventilation by: *Publishing work that deals with standardization procedures for testing stove safety; *Collaborating with ETHOS (Engineers in Technical and Humanitarian Opportunities of Service) and hosting discussions among designers to build consensus on a set of acceptable design alternatives.

Indoor air pollution exposure and health monitoring:

No input

Relevant Publications or Studies

Bryden, K. M., Ashlock, D. A., McCorkle, D. S., & Urban, G. L. (2003). Optimization of Heat Transfer Utilizing Graph Based Evolutionary Algorithms, International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow, 24(2): 267-277. Bryden, K.M., Bond, T., Still, D., Ogle, D. & Hudelson, N. (to be submitted 2005). Comparing Cooking Stoves. Partnership for Clean Indoor Air, Shell Foundation, Aprovecho Research Center. Johnson, N.G., Bryden, K.M., & Xiao, A. (2005). Risk Analysis and Safety Evaluation of Biomass Cookstoves, Proceedings of the 2005 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition. Orlando, Florida. Johnson, N. G. (2005). Risk Analysis and Safety Evaluation of Household Stoves in Developing Nations, Masters Thesis, Iowa State University. McCorkle, D.S., Bryden, K.M., & Carmichael, C.G. (2003). A New Methodology for Evolutionary Optimization of Energy Systems, Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 192, pp. 5021-5036.

Our Contribution to the Partnership

The Thermal Systems Virtual Engineering Group (TSVEG) at Iowa State University uses advanced visual techniques and computer aided modeling in conjunction with computational fluid dynamics models to reach quick and accurate design modification. TSVEG at Iowa State University can participate in the partnership by contributing its expertise in virtual engineering of stove design, combustion and flue gas flow.