Ben Xu

Education

  • Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA, 2015
  • M.S., Fluid Mechanics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, 2010
  • B.E., Thermal Energy and Power Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China, 2007

Experience Record

  • 08/2020 – Present, Assistant Professor, Michael W. Hall School of Mechanical Engineering, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS
  • 09/2016 – 08/2020, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX
  • 09/2015 – 08/2016, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
  • 06/2014 – 09/2014, Summer Research Internship, Robert Bosch RTC/NA, Palo Alto, CA

Specialty Areas

  • Multiphase flow and heat transfer in Laser-Assisted 3D Bioprinting Process;
  • Multiphysics modeling of manufacturing process for configurational alloy;
  • Oscillating flow and multiphase heat transfer in bio-inspired porous structures;
  • Large Eddy Simulation of energy conversion process in wave energy converter;
  • High/Low temperature thermal storage.

Honors and Awards

  • ASME 2019 13th International Conference on Energy Sustainability, Third Place of Best Paper
  • Faculty Travel Award, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), 2018
  • Highly Cited Review Paper on Applied Energy, 2018
  • ASME 2017 Power & Energy Conference, Second Place of Best Poster
  • Faculty Travel Award, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), 2017
  • NSF Travel Award for I-Corps Entrepreneur Reginal Training in Texas, 2017
  • Outstanding Reviewer for Applied Energy, Energy, Renewable Energy, Applied Thermal Engineering, etc. (2017 to current)

Publications

Book Chapters

  • Xu. X., Xu, B.*, Liu, T., & Hermes Chirino. (2017) "Life cycle GHG emissions of concentrating solar power plants and geothermal plants," New York: GHG Emissions: Drivers, Sources and Impacts.
  • Xu. B., Li, P., & Guo, P. Solar thermal-driven desalination pursuing products of pure water and salts and leaving minimum impact to environment, Desalination, Intech, 2017.

Journals

  • Qu, J., Escobar, L., Li, J., Rao, Z., Xu, B.* (2020) Experimental Study of Evaporation and Crystallization of Brine Droplets under Different Temperatures and Humidity Levels. International Communication of Heat and Mass Transfer, 110, 104427.
  • Yang, Y., Jenet, F., Xu, B., Garza, J., Tamayo, B., Chavez, Y., Reyes, O., & Fuentes, S.  (2020) Experimental study of a lift-type WEC rotor in freewheeling mode. Journal of Energy Resources Technology. 142(3): 031201
  • Bekkulov, A., Luthen, A., & Xu, B.* (2020). Experimental Study of Condensation in a Thermoacoustic Cooler with Various 3D-Printed Regenerators Using Water Vapor as the Working Fluid. Journal of Energy Resources Technology, 142(5).
  • Xu, X., Xu, B., & Li, P. (2020). An O(n) framework for internal coordinate molecular dynamics applicable to molecules with arbitrary constraints and geometries. Molecular Simulation, 1-13.
  • Zhao, W., Gao, Y., Li, R., Qiu, S., Zhang, Y., & Xu, B.* (2020). Hybrid phase-change Lattice Boltzmann simulation of vapor condensation on vertical subcooled walls. Journal of Heat Transfer, 142(4).
  • Liu, C., Zong, J., Zhang, J., He, D., Guo, C., Xu, B., & Rao, Z. (2020). Knitting aryl network polymers (KAPs)-embedded copper foam enables highly efficient thermal energy storage. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 8(30), 15177-15186.
  • Zhao, W., Zhang, Y., & Xu, B.* (2019) An Improved Pseudopotential Multi-Relaxation-Time Lattice Boltzmann Model for Binary Droplets Collision with Large Density Ratio. Fluid Dynamics Research, 51, 025510.
  • Chirino, H., Xu, B. * (2019) Parametric Analysis and Sensitivity Study of Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage System in Concentrated Solar Power Plants. ASME Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, 141 (2), 021006.
  • Guo, P., Li, T., Xu, B., Xu, X., & Li, J. (2019). Questions and current understanding about solar chimney power plant: A review. Energy conversion and management, 182, 21-33.
  • Xu, X., Li, W., Xu, B., & Qin, J. (2019). Numerical study on a water cooling system for prismatic LiFePO4 batteries at abused operating conditions. Applied Energy, 250, 404-412.
  • Montiel, H., Xu, B.*, & Li, J. (2019) Selective Laser Melting of Mechanically Alloyed Metastable Al5Fe2 Powders. Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, 141 (7), 071008.
  • Gupta, S. K., Abdou, M., Zuniga, J. P., Ghosh, P. S., Molina, E., Xu, B., Chipara, M., Mao, Y.B. (2019) Roles of Oxygen Vacancies and pH Induced Size Changes on Photo- and Radioluminescence of Undoped and Eu3+-Doped La2Zr2O7 Nanoparticles. Journal of Luminescence, 209, 302-315.
  • Liu, C., Xu, Z., Song, Y., Lv, P., Zhao, J., Liu, C., Huo, Y., Xu, B., Zhu, C. & Rao, Z. (2019) A novel shape-stabilization strategy for phase change thermal energy storage. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 7(14), 8194-8203.
  • Xu, X., Yang, W., Zhuang, X., Xu, B. (2019) Experimental and numerical investigation on effects of cathode flow field configurations in an air-breathing high-temperature PEMFC. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 44 (45), 25010-25020.
  • Shabgard, H., Parthasarathy, R., Xu, B. (2019) Energy and Exergy Analysis of a Novel Multiple-Effect Vapor Chamber Distillation System for Wastewater Treatment. Desalination and Water Treatment. 171, 1-17.
  • Liu, C., Fang, H., Liu, X., Xu, B., & Rao, Z. (2019). Novel silica filled deep eutectic solvent based nanofluids for energy transportation. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 7(24), 20159-20169.
  • Chirino, H., Xu, B.*, Xu, X., & Guo, P. (2018). Generalized diagrams of energy storage efficiency for latent heat thermal storage system in concentrated solar power plant. Applied Thermal Engineering, 129, 1595-1603.
  • Xu, B., Bhagwat, S., Xu, H., Rokoni, A., McCarthy, M., & Sun, Y. (2017). System-Level Analysis of a Novel Air-Cooled Condenser using Spray Freezing of Phase Change Materials. Applied Thermal Engineering, 131, 102-114.
  • Guo, P., Wang, S., Xu, B., Meng, Q., & Wang, Y. (2018) Reduced-scale Experimental Model and Numerical Investigations to buoyance-driven Natural Ventilation in a Large Space Building. Building and Environment. 145, 23-32.
  • Zhao, W., Zhang, Y., Xu, B.*, Li, P., Wang, Z., & Jiang, S. (2018). Multiple-relaxation-time (MRT) Lattice Boltzmann simulation of flow and heat transfer in porous volumetric solar receivers. Journal of Energy Resources Technology, 140(8), 082003.
  • Chirino, H., Xu, B.*, & Xu, X. (2018). Parametric Study of Cascade Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage (CLHTES) System in Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Plants. Journal of the Energy Institute, 92(3), 653-664.
  • Zhao, W., Zhang, Y., & Xu, B.* (2018) Simulation of droplet impacting a square solid particle in microchannel with different wettability by high density ratio pseudopotential MRT-LB method. Canadian Journal of Physics, 97(1), 93-113.
  • Suarez-Dominguez, E. J., Xu, B., Perez-Sanchez, J. F., Palacio-Perez, A., & Izquierdo-Kulich, E. (2018). Stochastic modeling of asphaltenes deposition and prediction of its influence on friction pressure drop. Petroleum Science and Technology, 36(21), 1812-1819.
  • Xu, X., Xu, B., Dong, J., & Liu, X.  (2017). Near-term analysis of a roll-out strategy to introduce fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen stations in Shenzhen China. Applied Energy, 196, 229-237.
  • Xu, B.*, Li, Y., Xu, X., Xu, X. (2017). Quantitative Evaluation of Passive Scalar Flow Mixing – A Review of Recent Developments. ChemBioEng Reviews. 4(2): 1-21.
  • Dong, J., Xu, X., & Xu, B. (2017). CFD analysis of a novel modular manifold with multi-stage channels for uniform air distribution in a fuel cell stack. Applied Thermal Engineering.
  • Xu, X., Shuai, K., & Xu, B. (2017). Review on Copper and Palladium Based Catalysts for Methanol Steam Reforming to Produce Hydrogen. Catalysts, 7(6), 183.
  • Xu, B., Han, J., Kumar, A., Li, P., & Yang, Y. (2017). Thermal storage using sand saturated by thermal-conductive fluid and comparison with the use of concrete. Journal of Energy Storage, 13, 85-95.
  • Xu, X., Vignarooban, K., Xu, B., Hsu, K., & Kannan, A. M. (2016). Prospects and problems of concentrating solar power technologies for power generation in the desert regions. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 53, 1106-1131.
  • Xu, X., Liu, X., & Xu, B. (2016). A survey of nickel‐based catalysts and monolithic reformers of the onboard fuel reforming system for fuel cell APU applications. International Journal of Energy Research.
  • Dong, J., Xu, X., Xu, B., & Zhang, S. (2016). Parametric analysis of a solid oxide fuel cell auxiliary power unit operating on syngas produced by autothermal reforming of hydrocarbon fuels. Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy, 8(2), 024301.
  • Xu, B., Li, P., & Chan, C. L. (2015). Energy storage start-up strategies for concentrated solar power plants with a dual-media thermal storage system. Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, 137(5), 051002.
  • Xu, B., Li, P., & Chan, C. (2015). Application of phase change materials for thermal energy storage in concentrated solar thermal power plants: a review to recent developments. Applied Energy, 160, 286-307.
  • Xu, B., Li, P., Waller, P., & Huesemann, M. (2015). Evaluation of flow mixing in an ARID-HV algal raceway using statistics of temporal and spatial distribution of fluid particles. Algal Research, 9, 27-39.
  • Xu, B., Li, P., Chan, C., & Tumilowicz, E. (2015). General volume sizing strategy for thermal storage system using phase change material for concentrated solar thermal power plant. Applied Energy, 140, 256-268.

Conference Papers

  • Hou, Q., Wu, Y., Liu, H., Xu, X., & Xu, B. (2020 June). Numerical Simulation of Electrical Performance and Distribution of SOFC Stacks with Different Manifold Arrangement. In ASME 2020 14th Virtual International Conference on Energy Sustainability. American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Denver, CO.
  • Qu, J., Dou, C., Li, J., Rao, Z., & Xu, B.* (2020 July). Numerical and experimental study of bioink transfer process in Laser-induced-forward-transfer (LIFT) 3D bioprinting. In ASME 2020 Virtual Summer Heat Transfer Conference. American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Orlando, FL.
  • Lei, J., Gonzalez, E., Yang, Y., Zhang, Y., Xu, B.* (2019, July). Numerical simulation of wave energy converter with hydrofoil blades under various wave conditions. In ASME 2019 13th International Conference on Energy Sustainability. American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Bellevue, WA.
  • Bekkulov, A., Luthen, A., Xu, B.* (2019, July). Experimental study of condensation in different 3D printed regenerators in a thermoacoustic cooler. In ASME 2019 13th International Conference on Energy Sustainability. American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Bellevue, WA.
  • Qu, J., Escobar, L., Rao, Z., Xu, B.* (2019, July). Experimental study of brine droplet evaporation and crystallization at various temperatures and humidity using EDB method and pendant droplet method. In ASME 2019 Summer Heat Transfer Conference. American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Bellevue, WA.
  • Chirino, H., Xu, B.* (2018, June). Comprehensive Parametric Analysis and Sensitivity Study of Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage System in Concentrated Solar Power Plants. In ASME 2018 Power & Energy Conference & Exhibition. American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA.
  • Zhao, W., Zhang, Y., Xu, B.* (2018, June). Numerical Simulation of Oscillating Multiphase Heat Transfer in Parallel plates using Pseudopotential Multiple-Relaxation-Time Lattice Boltzmann Method. In ASME 2018 Power & Energy Conference & Exhibition. American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Lake Buena Vista, FL.
  • Bekkulov, A., Huang, S., Xu, B.* (2018, November). Force Decomposition of Medium Reynolds Number Oscillating Flow over a Submerged Sphere. In ASME 2018 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Pittsburg, PA.
  • Zhao, W., Xu, B.*, Zhang, Y. (2018, November). Three-Dimensional Multiple-Relaxation-Time Lattice Boltzmann Simulation of Vapor Condensation on Subcooled Wall. In ASME 2018 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Pittsburg, PA.
  • Xu, B., Zhao, Y., Chirino, H., Li, P. (2017, June). Parametric study of cascade latent heat thermal storage system for concentrating solar power plants. In ASME 2017 Power&Energy. American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Charlotte, NC.
  • Wei, Y., Guo, P., Xu, B.*, Rodriguez, T., Escobar, L., Chirino, H. (2017, August). A Theoretical Study of Saline Droplet Evaporation in Solar-thermal Driven Full Separation Multi Effect Distillation (FS-MED) System. In ASME 2017 Fluid Engineering Division Summer Conference. American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Waikoloa, HA.
  • Shabgard, H., Xu, B., & Parthasarathy, K. (2017, November). Solar thermal-driven multiple-effect thermosyphon distillation system for waste water treatment. In ASME 2017 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Tampa, FL.