Thermal Transport Processes

About this funding opportunity

TheThermal Transport Processesprogram is part of the Transport Phenomena cluster, which alsoincludes1) theCombustion and Fire Systemsprogram; 2) theFluid Dynamicsprogram; and 3) theParticulate and Multiphase Processesprogram.

TheThermal Transport Processesprogram supports engineering research projects that lay the foundation for newadvances in thermal transport phenomena. These projects should either develop new fundamental knowledge or combine existing knowledge in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat and mass transfer to probe new areas of innovation in thermal transport processes. The program seeks transformative projects with the potential for improvingbasic understanding, predictability and application of thermal transport processes. Projects should articulate the contribution(s) to the fundamental knowledge supporting thermal transport processes and state clearly the potential application(s) impact when appropriate. Projects that combine analytical, experimental and numerical efforts, geared toward understanding, modeling and predicting thermal phenomena, are of great interest. Collaborative and interdisciplinary proposals for which the main contribution is in thermal transport fundamentals are also encouraged. Emphasis is placed on research that demonstrates how thermal transport phenomena affect the existence, behavior and dynamics of components and systems. Priority is given to insightful investigations of fundamental problems with clearly defined economic, environmental and societal impacts.

Some specific areas of interest include:

Convection/diffusion/radiation: Heat and mass transport incomplex structures and surfaces;thermal-related turbulence; development of form-functionrelationships in thermal processes; thermal design methodology; phonon transport and interactions between energy carriers; radiationamplification, controlling, and extinction; interfacial gas-solid andliquid-solid thermal and species-driven phenomena.

Thermodynamics: Thermal-electric energy conversion; battery-related thermal issues; power generation and propulsion; phase-change and supercritical energy cycles;non-equilibriumthermal processes.

Biologicalheatand mass transport: Biomimicry;intra- andextra-cellular heat and mass transport; freeze resistancemechanisms;thermotherapy and thermoregulation; organ conservation(freezing and thawing); mass transport in biomedical and health systems.

Nanothermics,microthermics,and mesothermics: Scaling upnanoscale heat transport processes or coupledheat-mass transport processes; utilization ofnew multi-functional, meta- and graded-materials in thermal transport;nano-texturingand phase-change; multi-scale thermal transport in aprocess.

Thermal solutions to climate change: Decarbonizing industrial processes; novel heating and cooling technologies with minimal greenhouse gas emissions; thermal-driven clean energy concepts; thermal and thermochemical energy storage; waste heat recovery and transmission; thermal science and technology to enable electrification of energy services.

Thermal science and quantum technology interface: Quantum sensors for thermal measurements;quantum computing for thermal sciences;thermodynamics and novel cryogenic cooling concepts for quantum devices;thermal transport in quantum materials and quantum phenomena; thermal solutions for next-generation qubits, qubit coupling, and quantum information storage.

New metrology and artificial intelligence (AI)/machinelearning methodologies in thermal sciences: Advanced thermal imagingand measurement techniques for high-resolutionin situthermal imaging and non-invasive temperature measurement; novel AI/machine learning methodologies and other data-intensive approaches that can be coupled with physics-based models and/or experiments to enable new understanding and discoveries in thermal transport processes.

NOTE: Proposalsincluding chemical kinetics should be submitted to the ENG/CBETCombustion and FireSystemsprogram. Proposals…

Topic areas: General and Cross-cutting R&D, Energy and Environment, Physical Sciences.

Funding amount

This grant provides Varies in funding.

Deadline

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis; there is no single fixed deadline.

Who can apply

This opportunity is open to the following applicant types:

• Open to all applicant types

Eligibility

The program did not publish a separate eligibility statement. See the official opportunity page for the full eligibility criteria.

Agency

Thermal Transport Processes is administered by U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), listed via Grants.gov.