Beshr and Eldeeb Named GDF-Suez Chuck Edwards Memorial Fellows

Mechanical Engineering graduate students Mohamed Beshr (left) and Radia Eldeeb (right) received the 2015 GDF-Suez Chuck Edwards Memorial Fellowships. The fellowship supports students performing research in the areas of waste heat utilization in oil and gas industry (gas liquefaction), carbon dioxide sequestration using waste heat, absorption technology for solar cooling applications and waste heat utilization applications, as well as modeling for Small Autonomous Energy System design and optimization and small capacity combined heat and power (CHP) system laboratory performance.

Both Beshr and Eldeeb's research aims to improve technologies that can improve energy efficiency and reduce environmental impacts. Beshr's research, “Unified Vapor Compression System Steady State Solver with Design Feedback Capability,” focuses on developing a comprehensive vapor compression system simulation tool that can evaluate the performance of any newly proposed heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) system configuration. According to Beshr, this work could help reduce the time and cost of developing new HVACR systems that are more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

Eldeeb's research, “Optimization of Plate Heat Exchanger with Novel Plate Design,” aims to develop new plate heat exchanger (PHE) designs that could have at least 30% improved performance over existing PHE designs. PHEs gained success in the HVACR industry over the past few decades due to favorable characteristics, such as high effectiveness, which is highly required in the competitive heat exchanger industry. Eldeeb anticipates that her new PHE designs, when placed in a vapor compression system, will lead to improved system efficiency, and HVACR systems that have lower energy costs and environmental impacts.

Since 2002, Trigen-Cinergy Solutions (Suez) has awarded fellowships at the University of Maryland through a fund created to support energy conversion education and research at the A. James Clark School of Engineering. In 2014, the fellowship was renamed the GDF-Suez Chuck Edwards Memorial Fellowship to honor the memory of Mr. Chuck Edwards, the late general manager at GDF Suez Energy North America and long-time fellowship benefactor.

These two excellent fellows were chosen from a very competitive pool of applicants," Gregg Garbesi, Plant Manager, College Park Energy, GDF SUEZ North America, remarked on the selection. “They are both conducting impactful and relevant energy research, and GDF SUEZ is proud to be able to support their efforts through this grant program.”

The fellowship provides financial support to fund students' research and graduate assistant positions. A faculty committee selects students based on academic merit, recommendation and alignment of research goals in the area of energy conversion systems and related technology.

Published September 15, 2015