Green Energy

My academic career began in January 1992 when I joined the University of Victoria as a faculty member after obtaining Masters and Ph.D. degree from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A. in 1986 and 1989, respectively and spending the next couple of years at the University of Waterloo, Canada as a postdoctoral fellow and research assistant professor. In 1997 I moved back to the University of Waterloo as a faculty member until now.My research group and I myself are currently focused on promoting/developing green (or greener) energy through energy diversification and energy localization for sustainable development and energy security. Green energy, despite the variety of interpretations possible, is taken as the form and utilization of energy with no, minimal, or reduced negative environmental and societal impact, or simply as environmentally friendly energy use. Therefore, the topical areas of my research activities and interests include, but are not limited to1. Energy Systems and Energy Policy/Planning:a. Energy and Exergy Analysis and Thermodynamic Optimizationb. Energy Systems Evolution, Modelling and Optimizationc. Design of Future Energy Systemsd. Life Cycle AnalysisSample publication:• Li, X., Diversification and localization of energy systems for sustainable development and energysecurity. Energy Policy, Vol. 33, pp. 2237-2243, 2005.• Dincer, I., S. Dost and X. Li, Energy reality and future projections for Canada. Energy Sources -Journal of Extraction, Conversion, and the Environment, Vol. 19, No. 3, pp. 233-243, 1997.• Hussain, M.M., J. Baschuk, X. Li and I. Dincer, Thermodynamic analysis of a PEM fuel cellpower system. International Journal of Thermal Sciences, Vol. 44, pp. 903-911, 2005.• Zamel, N. and X. Li, Life cycle analysis of vehicles powered by a fuel cell andinternalcombustion engine for Canada. Journal of Power Sources, accepted, March 2005.2. Renewable Energy:a. Wind Energy: Wind energy potential assessment, and theoretical determination of the probabilitydistribution of wind speedSample publication:• Li, M. and X. Li, Investigation of wind characteristics and assessment of wind energy potential forWaterloo Region, Canada. Energy Conversion and Management, Vol. 46, pp. 3014-3033, 2005.• Li, M. and X. Li, MEP-type distribution function: a better alternative to Weibull function for windspeed distribution. Renewable Energy, Vol. 30, pp. 1221-1240, 2005.• Li, M. and X. Li, On the probabilistic distribution of wind speeds: theoretical development andcomparison with data. International Journal of Exergy, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 237-255, 2004.3. Energy Conversion Technologies:a. Fuel Cells:I. PEM Fuel Cells: modeling, experiment, design of flow fields and bipolar plates, scaling lawfor cell and stack design, CO poisoning and mitigation, transport through membraneII. Direct Methanol Fuel Cells: modeling of transport phenomena and cell performanceIII. SOFCs: energy and exergy analysis, transport phenomena modeling and cell performanceSample publication:• Karimi, G., J.J. Baschuk and X. Li, Performance Analysis and Optimization of PEM Fuel CellStacks Using Flow Network Approach. Journal of Power Sources, Vol. 147, pp. 162-177, 2005.• Karimi, G. and X. Li, Electroosmotic flow through polymer electrolyte membranes in PEM fuelcells. Journal of Power Sources, Vol. 140, pp. 1-11, 2005.• Sabir, I. and X. Li, Review of bipolar plates in PEM fuel cells: flow field designs. InternationalJournal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 30, pp. 359-371, 2005• Hum, B. and X. Li, Two-dimensional analysis ofPEM fuel cells. Journal of AppliedElectrochemistry, Vol. 34, No. 2, pp. 205-215, 2004.• Baschuk, J.J. and X. Li, Mathematical model of a PEM fuel cell incorporating CO poisoning andO2 (Air) Bleeding. International Journal of Global Energy Issues, Vol. 20, No. 3, pp. 245-276,2003.• Baschuk, J.J. and X. Li, Modeling CO poisoning and O2 bleeding in a PEM fuel cell anode.International Journal of Energy Research, Vol. 27, pp. 1095-1116, 2003.• Li, X., Fuel cells - the environmentally friendly energy converter and power generator.International Journal of Global Energy Issues, Vol. 17, Nos. 1/2, pp. 68-91, 2002.• Rowe, A. and X. Li, Mathematical modelling of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Journal ofPower Sources, Vol. 102, pp. 82-96, 2001.• Baschuk, J.J. and X. Li, Modelling of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells with variabledegrees of water flooding. Journal of Power Sources, Vol. 86, No. 1-2, pp.181-196, 2000.• Marr, C.L. and X. Li, Composition and performance modelling of catalyst layer in a protonexchange membrane fuel cell. Journal of Power Sources, Vol. 77, pp. 17-27, 1999.b. Low Emission Combustion Technology: Liquid fuel atomization and spray combustionI. Liquid Fuel Atomization and Spray FormationII. Probability Distribution of Spray Droplet Sizes and VelocitiesIII. Experimental Characterization of Spray Formation Processes and Spray Droplet Sizes andVelocitiesIV. Spray and Ambient Air Stream InteractionV. Droplet Vaporization and IgnitionSample publication:• Park, J., K.Y. Huh, X. Li and M. Renksizbulut, Experimental investigation on cellular breakup ofa planar liquid sheet from an air-blast nozzle. Physics of Fluids, Vol. 16, No. 3, pp. 625-632,March 2004.• Li, X. and M. Li*, Droplet size distribution insprays based on maximization of entropy generation.Entropy, Vol. 5, pp. 417-431, 2003.• Kim, W. T.**, S. K. Mitra*, X. Li, L.A. Prociw and T.C.J. Hu, A predictive model for the initialdroplet size and velocity distributions in sprays and comparison with experiments. Particle &Particle Systems Characterization, Vol. 20, No. 2, pp. 135-149, 2003.• Chen, X.-Q.**, M. Renksizbulut and X. Li, Interaction of a particle-laden gaseous jet with aconfined annular turbulent flow. Particle & Particle Systems Characterization, Vol. 18, No. 3, pp.120-133, 2001.• Li, X. and J. Shen*, Experiments on annular liquid jet breakup. Atomization and Sprays, Vol. 11,No. 5, pp. 557-573, 2001.• Shen, J.* and X. Li, Absolute and convective instability of annular viscous liquid jets in gasstreams. Atomization and Sprays, Vol. 11, No. 5, pp. 491-504, 2001.• Mitra, S.K.*, X. Li and M. Renksizbulut, On the breakup of viscous liquid sheets by dual modelinear analysis. AIAA Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 17, No. 3, pp. 728-735, 2001.• Chen, X.Q.**, J.A. Friedman, X. Li and M. Renksizbulut, An improved method to determineparticle dispersion width for efficient modeling of turbulent two-phase flows. Particle & ParticleSystems Characterization, Vol. 17, No. 4, pp. 180-188, 2000.• Cao, J.** and X. Li, Stability of plane liquid sheets in compressible gas streams. AIAA Journal ofPropulsion and Power, Vol. 16, No. 4, pp. 623-627, 2000.• Jazayeri, S.A.* and X. Li, Nonlinear instability of plane liquid sheets. Journal of Fluid Mechanics,Vol. 406, pp. 281-308, 2000.• Li, X. and M. Renksizbulut, Further development and application of a tomographical dataprocessing method for laser diffraction measurements in sprays. Particle and Particle SystemsCharacterization, Vol.16, pp. 212-219, 1999.• Chen, X.-Q.**, M. Renksizbulut and X. Li, A stochastic-probabilistic model for simulating particledispersion in general coordinates. Numerical Heat Transfer, Part B: Fundamentals, Vol. 36, No. 1,pp. 57-82, 1999.• Li, X., Droplet autoignition in a reactive oxidant/fuel-vapor/inert environment. AIAA Journal ofPropulsion and Power, Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 89-96, 1997.• Shen, J.* and X. Li, Instability of an annular viscous liquid jet. Acta Mechanica, Vol. 114, pp. 167-183, 1996.• Li, X., Mechanism of atomization of a liquid jet. Atomization and Sprays, Vol. 5, pp. 89-105,1995.• Li, X., Spatial instability of plane liquid sheets. Chemical Engineering Science, Vol. 48, pp. 2973-2981, 1993.• Li, X. and R.S. Tankin, On the prediction of droplet size and velocity distributions in spraysthrough maximum entropy principle. Particle and Particle Systems Characterization, Vol. 9, pp.195-201, 1992.• Renksizbulut, M., M. Bussmann and X. Li, A droplet vaporization model for spray calculations.Particle and Particle Systems Characterization, Vol. 9, pp. 59-65, 1992.• Li, X. and M. Renksizbulut, Droplet ignition with variable properties and distinct binary diffusioncoefficients. AIAA Journal, Vol. 29, pp. 1131-1135, 1991.• Li, X. and R.S. Tankin, On the temporal instability of a two-dimensional viscous liquid sheet.Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Vol. 226, pp. 425-443, 1991.• Renksizbulut, M., R. Nafziger and X. Li, A mass transfer correlation for droplet evaporation inhigh-temperature flows. Chemical Engineering Science, Vol. 46, pp. 2351-2358, 1991.• Li, X. and R.S. Tankin, Spray behavior in nonswirling and swirling annular air flows. Atomizationand Sprays, Vol. 1, pp. 319-336, 1991.• Li, X. and R.S. Tankin, Spraybehavior in annular air streams. Combustion Science andTechnology, Vol. 64, pp. 141-165, 1989.4. Energy Conservation and Management:a. Energy Storage Techniques: Thermal energy storageb. Green Houses/Buildings: Double glass window insulation and heat transfer loss subject totransient wall temperature variationsc. Energy Efficiency Improvement for Industrial Processes: Cooling of electric transformers, coolingof structural steel products in steel mills (rolling and in cooling beds)Sample publication:• Zhang, J. and X. Li, Oil cooling for disk-type transformer windings – Part 1: Theory and modeldevelopment. Accepted for publication in IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, June 2004.• Zhang, J. and X. Li, Oil cooling for disk-type transformer windings – Part 2: Parametric Studies ofdesign parameters. Accepted for publication in IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, June 2004.• Zhang, J. and X. Li, Natural cooling oil flow in disk-type transformer windings with zigzag flowpassages. International Journal of Transport Phenomena, Vol. 7, pp. 199-218, 2005.• Zhang, J. and Li, X., Coolant flow distribution and pressure loss in ONAN transformer windings— Part 1: theory and model development. IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol. 19, No. 1,pp. 186-193, 2004.• Zhang, J. and Li, X., Coolant flow distribution and pressure loss in ONAN transformer windings— Part 2: Optimization of Design Parameters. IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol. 19, No.1, pp. 194-199, 2004.• Dincer, I., S. Dost and X. Li, Performance analyses of sensible heat storage systems for thermalapplications. International Journal of Energy Research, Vol. 21, No. 10, pp. 1157-1171, 1997.• Dincer, I., S. Dost and X. Li, Thermal energy storage applications from an energysavingperspective. International Journal of Global Energy Issues, Vol. 9, Nos 4-6, pp. 351-364, 1997.• Li, X., Natural convection in vertical slots with wall temperature oscillation. Experiments inFluids, Vol. 16, pp. 308-315, 1994.