Professor
201A Randolph Hall
540-231-4324
540-231-9100- FAX
doug.nelson@vt.edu
| Education | Research | Experience |
Education
| Ph.D. | Mechanical Engineering | Arizona State University | 1986 |
| M.S. | Mechanical Engineering | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | 1979 |
| B.S. | Mechanical Engineering | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | 1978 |
Research
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Electric Vehicle Systems: Hybrid, Plug-in and Fuel Cells
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Performance, Design and Simulation of Hybrid Electric Vehicles and Fuel Cell Components
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Department of Energy Advanced Technology Vehicle Competitions -EcoCar: The NeXt Challenge
Teaching Activities
Faculty Advisor, Hybrid Electric Vehicle Team (HEVT) of Virginia Tech
The Hybrid Electric Vehicle Team (HEVT) of Virginia Tech is a student organization which designs and builds hybrid electric and alternative-fueled vehicles. Usually these vehicles are constructed to meet the requirements of a student vehicle competition. These competitions have been traditionally sponsored by the Department of Energy, Ford, General Motors, and a number of other automotive-related industries.
Student Engineering Research Vehicle Competitions
The primary objectives of Eco Car are to provide opportunities for universities and engineering students to join the national challenge to develop fuel-efficient technologies and, at the same time, create a valuable pool of future engineers with hands-on experience in advanced automotive technologies.
ME 4015-4016 Engineering Design and Project
A section each Fall and Spring devoted to the hybrid electric vehicle team project
ME 4554 Advanced Technology Vehicles
This course introduces students to environmental issues and regulations for current and future motor vehicles. As more stringent legislation comes into force, a paradigm shift away from gasoline-powered cars and toward high-efficiency, low-emission vehicles using a combination of alternative fuels will emerge. This course investigates the potential for emissions reduction as well as fuel economy, performance, and infrastructure required for a broad range of alternative fuels and vehicle types.
ME 5254 Fuel Cell Systems
Fuel cell systems for transportation, buildings, utility and portable power energy conversion applications. Overview of fuel cell technology. Thermodynamics of direct energy conversion and fuel cell efficiency. Electrochemistry, equilibrium and reaction kinetics. Temperature and pressure effects on polarization curves. Proton exchange membrane fuel cell performance modeling. Fuel cell system components: heat exchangers, humidifiers, air compressors, electric power processing and management. Overall system integration, modeling, and control. Fuel cells for transportation, vehicle performance and efficiency characteristics. Fuel processing and reformers cell system design, economics, and optimization.
Experience
| Professor | Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA |
Aug. 1999 - Present |
| Associate Professor | Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA |
Aug. 1992 - July 1999 |
| Assistant Professor | Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA |
Mar. 1986 - Jul. 1992 |
| Systems Engineer | Exxon Corporation Florham Park, NJ |
Sept. 1979 - Aug. 1981 |
| Mechanical Engineer | National Bureau of Standards Gaithersburg, MD |
Sum. 1978 |
Honors
- HEVT selected to participate in the next Advanced Vehicle Technology Competition, EcoCar for 2009-2011.
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NSF Oustanding Long-term Faculty Advisor Award 2009.
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HEVT placed First overall at the 2006 Challenge X advanced vehicle technology competition in June, 2006 at GM's Mesa Desert Proving Grounds. http://www.vt.edu/spotlight/20070212_hybrid.php
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National Science Foundation Outstanding Long-term Faculty Advisor Award, Challenge X, June 9, 2005
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HEVT placed 4th Overall (missing 3rd place by 3 points out of 1000) and 2nd place in Best Written Reports at Challenge X, June 5-9, 2005, at GM University, Auburn Hills, Mi.
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Steven Boyd (MSME candidate, advised by Doug Nelson) won the Virginia Transportation Research Council student paper award in the Transportation Applied Technology category for the paper titled "E85 Split Parallel Architecture Hybrid Vehicle Design for Reduced Petroleum Energy Use". He published a paper and presented a poster at the 54th Virginia transportation Conference on October 27th, Roanoke, Va, and received a monetary award of $1,000.
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Publications
- Gantt, Lynn, Douglas J. Nelson J. Christensen, A. Robinson, M. Stover (2009), "EcoCar Design and Development Process for a Plug-in E85 Split Parallel Architecture Hybrid Electric Vehicle," Paper 2460156, EVS-24, The 24th International Battery, Hybrid and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exhibition, Stavenger, Norway, May 13-16 , 12 pages, CD-ROM, 2009.
- J. Lee, Douglas J. Nelson and H. Lohse-Busch(2009) "Vehicle Inertia on Fuel Consumption of Conventional and Hybrid Electric Vehicles Using Acceleration and Coast Driving Strategy," SAE paper 2009-01-1322, Advanced Hybrid Vehicle Powetrains 2009 SP-2235, 2009 SAE International World Congress, April 20-23, Detroit, MI, 11 pages.
- Henning Lohse-Busch, Neeraj Shidore, Douglas J. Nelson, Michael Duoba, Richard Carlson, Theodore Bohn (2009), " A Modular Automotive Hybrid Testbed Designed to Evaluate Various Components from the Vehicle System,: SAE Paper 2009-01-1315 Advanced Hybrid Vehicle Powertrains 2009, SP02235, 2009 SAE International World Congress, April 20-23, Detroit, MI, 16 pgs.
- Nelson, Douglas J, (2009), " Motor and Battery Power Requirements for Plug-In HEV's", Presented at SAE 2009 Hybrid Vehicle Technologies Symposium, Feb. 12, 2009, San Diego, CA, Published online by the SAE.
- Steven Boyd and Douglas J. Nelson (2008), "Hybrid Electric Vehicle Control Strategy Based on Power Loss Calculations," Paper 2008-01-0084, 2008 SAE International World Congress, Detroit, MI, April 14-17, 15 pg. 2008.
- Jih-Sheng(Jason) Lai, and Douglas J. Nelson (2008), "Energy Management Power Converters Hybrid Electric and Fuel Cell Vehicles," IEEE Proceedings - Special Issue on Electric, Hybrid and Fuel Cell Vehicles, Vol 96, No. 4, pp. 766-777, April 2007, (Invited review paper).
- Boyd, J. Lee and D.J. Nelson (2007), " A Simplified Battery Model for Hybrid Vehicle Technology Assessment," paper 2007-01-0301, 2007 SAE International World Congress, Detroit, MI, April 16-19, 2007.
- S. Boyd, K. Johnson, D. Sheffield, I. Berry, E. Hissong, and D.J. Nelson (2007), " Vehicle Design Analysis and Validation for the Equinox REVlse E85 Hybrid Electric Vehicle," Paper 2007-01-1066, 2007 SAE World Congress, Detroit MI, April 16-19, 17 pg. 2007.
- Douglas J. Nelson (2005) "Challenges for Hydrogen as a Transportation Fuel," (invited), Hydrogen Economy Panel, ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, Orlando, FL Nov. 9, 2005.
- Lohse-Busch, H.T., Stinchfield, M. Mital, A. Hines, and D.J. Nelson (2004) " Design and implementation of a Hybrid Electric Vehicle Powered by a Hydrogen Engine" SAE paper 2004-01-0194, 2004 SAE International World Congress, 3/8-3/11, Detroit, MI., 18 pg.
- N.P. Siegel, M.W. Ellis, D.J. Nelson M.R. von Spakovsky (2004) " A Two-Dimensional Computational Model of a PEMFC with Liquid Water Transport," J. Power Sources, Vol. 128, No.2, pp. 173-184 2004.
Conference Papers
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Steven Boyd, Paul Hiester, Seth Lawson, Dustin Sheffield and Douglas J. Nelson (2006), "Design and Development Process for the Equinox REVlse E85 Hybrid Electric Vehicle", 2006 SAE International World Congress, 4/3 - 4/7, Detroit, Mi., paper 2006-01-0514, 19 pgs.
- J. Lee, and Douglas J. Nelson (2005), "Rotating Inertia Impact on Propulsion and Regenerative Braking for Electric Motor Driven Vehicles", 2005 IEEE Vehicle Power and Propulsion (VPP) Conference, September 7-9, 2005, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL., 7 pages. Paper 10149 published on CD-ROM by IEEE.