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Directorate
for Engineering
Division of Chemical and Transport Systems
Technologies and processes
for transforming materials and energy are critical to improve living standards,
prolong life, and protect the natural environment. The Division of Chemical
and Transport Systems (CTS) supports research that contributes to the knowledge
base important for the design and control of a large number of industrial
processes. Relevant areas of application include production of chemicals,
pharmaceuticals, petroleum and petrochemicals; synthetic and natural materials
such as polymers and electronic materials; energy; and waste treatment.
CTS support is directed to fundamental engineering principles involving
mathematical models of macro and molecular systems and experimental techniques.
Emphasis is on projects that have the potential for innovation and broad
application in areas related to environmental preservation, materials development,
and chemical and thermal processing. Increased emphasis is being placed
on formation of nanostructured functional materials, environmentally benign
chemical and materials processing, the development of sustainable and more
efficient energy systems, and effective integration of research and education.
For
More Information
Write to the Division of Chemical and Transport Systems, National Science
Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Room 525, Arlington, VA 22230; or contact
the division by telephone, 703-292-8371; or by fax, 703-292-9054; or visit
the CTS home page, http://www.eng.nsf.gov/cts.
1. Chemical Reaction Processes
This program consists of two components:
(1) Kinetics, Catalysis, and Molecular Processes (KCMP) and (2) Process
and Reaction Engineering (PRE). Activities supported through the components
include research on the rates and mechanisms of important classes of chemical
reactions and on the quantitative description of chemical reactors and processes.
- Kinetics,
Catalysis, and Molecular Processes (KCMP)—Supports
the study of reactions at the molecular scale. Topics of interest include
fundamental theories, novel modeling, and simulation approaches to reactive
molecular processes; molecular modeling to relate atomistic-level phenomena
to plant-scale design; single-molecule mechanisms and characterization;
combinatorial catalysis and combinatorial chemistry; automated parallel
synthesis and high-throughput screening; catalytic and materials process
informatics; catalysis in medicine and life processes; reactions in nanoenvironments;
large-scale kinetics databases and intelligent data management; distributed
and collaborative reactive process characterization; bioinspired reactive
process design; nanofabricated reactive processes; nanophase control in
reactive processes; electrochemical and photochemical processes; environmentally
sustainable and abundant feedstocks; wasteless pathways and pollution
prevention; low-temperature chemical processes; and single-step processing.
- Process
and Reaction Engineering (PRE)—Generally deals
with reactors, macroscopic reaction systems, and chemical-processing plants.
Topics of interest include design and optimization of complex chemical processes
including scheduling and supply-chain modeling; dynamic modeling and control
of processes; combined reaction and separation; sensors for process and
quality control; reactive processing of polymers, ceramics, and thin films;
global integration of chemical processes within the service economy; interactions
between chemical reactions and transport processes in reactive systems;
and the use of information technology in the design of complex chemical
reactors.
2. Interfacial, Transport, and Separation Processes
Activities supported
through the components in this program support research in areas related
to interfacial phenomena and mass transport, separation science, and phase-equilibrium
thermodynamics. The two components of the program are (1) Interfacial,
Transport, and Thermodynamics (ITT) and (2) Separation and Purification
Processes (SPP).
- Interfacial, Transport, and Thermodynamics (ITT)—Major
focus areas include advanced materials processing and environmentally
benign processing. ITT provides support for fundamental approaches and
theories
that deal with the thermodynamics of complex fluids and transport phenomena
at interfaces of synthetic and biological systems, and the processing
of nanoscale materials and thin films. The ITT Program also supports research
aimed at minimizing hazardous products in chemical and materials manufacturing,
with a focus on environmentally friendly coatings, alternate reactions,
and processing media.
- Separation and Purification Processes (SPP)—Major focus
areas include the development of functional materials as effective mass-separation
agents, high-performance computing and modeling applied to separation processes,
and novel strategies that combine several phenomena to accomplish effective
separations. The SPP Program supports basic research that involves novel
membranes and adsorbents; modeling and computations applied over a range
of scales, from a molecular level to macroscale analysis of separation processes;
and separations utilizing combined effects of controlled hydrodynamics,
adsorption phenomena, electrical or magnetic fields, and chemical reactions.
3. Fluid and Particle Processes
Consists of two components (1) Fluid
Dynamics and Hydraulics (FDH) and (2) Particulate and Multiphase Processes
(PMP). Activities supported through these components include fundamental
research on mechanisms and phenomena that govern single- and multiphase
fluid flow; particle formation and transport, various multiphase processes;
synthesis and processing of nanostructured materials, and fluid and solid
system interactions.
- Fluid Dynamics and Hydraulics (FDH)—Supports
basic research on fluid dynamics, both computational and experimental.
Major areas of interest
include turbulence, flow in complex geometries, stability and transition
in polymer processing, and flow in nanostructures, with applications to
design and control machines and processes. The program also strives to increase
the understanding and predictive capabilities of flows in rivers and coastal
areas for environmental and commercial applications.
- Particulate and Multiphase Processes (PMP)—Funds
research on topics related to multiphase and dispersed systems. Areas of
interest
include not only multiphase flows but also the synthesis and processing
of nanoparticles. In addition to experimental studies, the program supports
work on molecular and mesoscale modeling of particle formation and materials
synthesis. Hierarchical simulation techniques that will lead to insights
of engineering relevance and nonintrusive measurement techniques are
supported, as is research on innovative uses of particles in new processes
and technologies.
4. Thermal Systems
This program consists of two components (1) Thermal
Transport and Thermal Processes (TTP) and (2) Combustion and Plasma Systems
(CPS). Priorities in both programs include projects related to environmental
quality and energy efficiency as well as new manufacturing techniques.
- Thermal Transport and Thermal Processes (TTP)—Supports
projects that seek a basic understanding of heat transfer, particularly
at the micro- and nanoscale levels, and that apply heat and mass transfer
principles to technologically-related fields. Areas in need of basic heat-transfer
research include photon and phonon transport in thin films, laser/radiation
interactions with liquid and solid phases, macroscopic transport with
microstructure formation during solidification, flow and heat transport
in porous media,
microjet cooling for electronic equipment; phase-change materials, non-isothermal
rheology, and crystal growth. Examples of technologically related fields
are manufacturing, laser processing and machining, welding, gas turbines,
heating and ventilation systems, biotechnology, and cryogenics.
- Combustion and Plasma Systems (CPS)—Supports research on
the fundamental, physical, and chemical processes involved in combustion.
A primary objective is to address major problems such as the formation of
pollutants in combustion, energy-conversion inefficiencies, and fire hazards.
The program supports fundamental science and engineering studies that underlie
the application of plasma technology in situations such as chemical conversions,
materials refining, and energy recovery. Projects supported by CPS apply
combustion or plasma processing to such areas as production of fine powders
or thin films, waste destruction, sterilization, and surface modification.
Major topics covered include flame chemistry, incineration, internal combustion
engines, pollutant formation from combustion, models of combustion or plasma
systems, diagnostics for combustion and plasmas, plasma chemistry and physics,
and combustion synthesis. CPS also supports computational efforts in both
theory and simulation, and experimental studies on real engineering systems
or laboratory models, diagnostic techniques, and real-time monitoring of
processes.
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