Linear cause-effect relationship; molecular aspects, microscopic mass, momentum and energy balances leading to the field equations of change; emphasis is on both isothermal and nonisothermal, steady state flow of incompressible Newtonian fluids; integral forms of the equations of change: macroscopic balances for laminar as well as turbulent isothermal and nonisothermal systems: engineering correlations.
Senior Design provides, over the course of two semesters, collaborative design experiences with a problems of industrial or societal significance. Projects can originate with an industrial sponsor, from an engineering project on campus, or from other industrial or academic sources. In all cases, a project is a capstone experience that draws extensively from the student's engineering and scientific background and requires independent judgments and actions. Advice from the faculty and industrial sponsors is made readily available. The projects generally involve a number of unit operations, a detailed economic analysis, simulation, use of industrial economic and process software packages, and experimentation and/or prototype construction. The economic thread initiated in Design VI is continued in the first semester of Senior Design by close interaction on a project basis with E 421. Leadership and entrepreneurship are nourished throughout all phases of the project. The project goals are met stepwise, with each milestone forming a part of a final report with a common structure.
Analysis of batch and continuous chemical reactions for homogeneous, heterogeneous, catalytic, and non-catalytic reactions; influence of temperature, pressure, reactor size and type, mass and heat transport on yield and product distribution; design criteria based on optimal operating conditions and reactor stability will be developed.
Discussions of aspects of the technology of processing procedures involved in the fabrication of microelectronic devices and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Topics with respect to IC fabrication include crystal growth, epitaxy, silicon oxide growth, impurity doping, ion implantation, photo and electron beam lithography, etching, sputtering, thin film metallization, passivation and packaging. Students will also learn that MEMS are sensors and actuators that are designed using different areas of engineering disciplines and they are constructed using a microlithographically-based manufacturing process in conjunction with both semiconductor and micromachining microfabrication technologies.
Assessment of current and potential energy systems, covering extraction, conversion and end use, with emphasis on meeting regional and global energy needs in the 21st century in a sustainable manner; systems engineering and economic analysis tools for sustainable energy systems; climate change; energy technologies in each fuel cycle stage for fossil (oil, gas, synthetic), nuclear (fission and fusion) and renewable (solar, biomass, wind, hydro, and geothermal) energy types; storage, transmission, and conservation; evaluation and analysis of energy technology systems in the context of engineering, economic, environmental, political and social aspects.
Research & Education
Education
With experience in Silicon Valley industry and academic training (Stanford University, U.C. Berkeley) in chemical and materials engineering with specialization in semiconductor materials and device development, Dr. Besser entered the world of MCS in 1999 by accepting an associate professorship at Louisiana Tech University.
Research
His current focus is on understanding the critical limitations of MCS in a variety of applications. Current projects involve pharmaceutical compound synthesis, process control in the context of MCS, processing of liquid hydrocarbon fuels into hydrogen for fuel cells, and generation of oxygen for compact, air-independent fuel cell systems.
Experience & Service
Experience
At Tech, he was a group leader in the Institute for Micromanufacturing, a center dedicated to the development of micro- and nano-fabricated devices. While at Tech he developed one of the few international groups pursuing MCS
Since 2002, Dr. Besser has been a professor of Chemical Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ, and a principal in the New Jersey Center for Microchemical Systems at Stevens.
His current focus is on understanding the critical limitations of MCS in a variety of applications.
Current projects involve pharmaceutical compound synthesis, process control in the context of MCS, processing of liquid hydrocarbon fuels into hydrogen for fuel cells, and generation of oxygen for compact, air-independent fuel cell systems.
General Information
In Fall of 2002, Dr. Besser joined the New Jersey Center for Microchemical Systems at Stevens Institute in Hoboken, NJ, neighboring perhaps the world's richest area for high technology, pharamaceuticals, chemicals, bio-tech, and fuel cells--the important application areas for MCS. Stevens' proximity to the global center of finance and to collaborators at an array of reputed academic institutions encourages a supportive atmosphere for new technologies like MCS.
Selected Publications
Book Chapters
S. Ouyang and R.S. Besser, “CO Clean-up: Preferential Oxidation. (2009). "Micro Process Engineering, A Comprehensive Handbook", V. Hessel, A. Renken, J.C. Schouten, J. Yoshida, eds, Volume 2: Devices, Reactions, and Applications 479-502.
H. Surangalikar, S. McGovern, R.S. Besser. (2009). "Gas-Liquid-phase Reactions", Micro Process Engineering, A Comprehensive Handbook, Hessel, A. Renken, J.C. Schouten, J. Yoshida, eds, 2: Devices, Reactions, and Applications 167-186.
Journals
K. Shah and R.S. Besser. (2008). "Understanding Thermal Integration Issues and Heat Loss Pathways in a Planar Microscale Fuel Processor: Demonstration of an Integrated Silicon Microreactor Based Methanol Steam Reformer", Chemical Engineering Journal. 135 (supplement 1), S46-S56.
S. McGovern, G. Harish, C.S. Pai, W. Mansfield, J.A. Taylor, S. Pau, R. Besser. (2008). "Multiphase flow regimes for hydrogenation in a catalyst-trap microreactor", Chemical Engineering Journal. 135 (Supplement 1), S229-S236.
S. McGovern and R.S. Besser. (2009). "Investigation of Multiphase Hydrogenation in a Catalyst-Trap Microreactor", Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology. 84 382-390.
E. Lennon, A.A. Burke, M. Ocampo and R.S. Besser. (2009). "Microscale packed bed reactor for controlled hydrogen peroxide decomposition as a fuel cell oxidant aboard unmanned undersea vehicles", Journal of Power Sources. 195 299-306.
S. McGovern and R.S. Besser. (2009). "Investigation of Multiphase Hydrogenation in a Catalyst-Trap Microreactor", Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology , 84 382-390 .
S. McGovern, G. Harish, C.S. Pai, W. Mansfield, J.A. Taylor, S. Pau, R. Besser. (2008). "Multiphase flow regimes for hydrogenation in a catalyst-trap microreactor", Chemical Engineering Journal, 135 (Supplement 1), S229-S236.
K. Shah and R.S. Besser. (2007). "Understanding Thermal Integration Issues and Heat Loss Pathways in a Planar Microscale Fuel Processor: Demonstration of an Integrated Silicon Microreactor Based Methanol Steam Reformer", Chemical Engineering Journal, (doi:10.1016/j.cej.2007.07.044).
K. Shah and R.S. Besser. (2007). "Key issues in the microchemical systems-based methanol fuel processor: Energy density, thermal integration, and heat loss mechanisms", Journal of Power Sources, 166 177-193 .
W.C. Shin and R.S. Besser. (2007). "Toward autonomous control of microreactor system for steam reforming of methanol", Journal of Power Sources, 164 328-335 .
W.C. Shin and R.S. Besser. (2006). "Micromachined Thin-Film Gas Flow Sensor for Microchemical Reactors", Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering, 16 731-741 .
R. Besser. (Jan 01, 2005). "Microreaction for Microfuel Processing: Challenges and Prospects", Chemical Engineering Technology. (1), Download (1 mb PDF).
X. Ouyang. (Feb 16, 2005). "Effect of reactor heat transfer limitations on CO preferential oxidation", Journal of Power Sources. 141 (1), Download (1.23 Mb PDF).
R. Besser. (Apr 27, 2005). "Preferential Oxidation of Carbon Monoxide in a Thin-Film Catalytic Microreactor: Advantages and Limitations", AIChE Journal. 51 (6), Download (839 kb PDF).
R. Besser. "Micromachined thin-film gas flow sensor for microchemical reactorss", Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering. 16 (5).
Presentation/Meeting
P. Lindner, A. Najem, W. Zhu, and R.S. Besser. (Feb 21, 2008). "Microplasma Reforming of JP-8", Workshop on Soldier-Portable Power Systems: Status Review and Research Needs, College Park, Maryland.
R.S. Besser. (Jul 30, 2008). "Microplasmas in Microfluidics for Compact Chemical Processing", Graduate Summer Institute on Complex Plasmas, Hoboken, NJ.
R.S. Besser. (Jun 19, 2009). "Micro and Nanotechnology for Sustainable Energy", Mechanical Engineering Department Seminar, Facultad de Ingenieria Mecanica y Produccion, Escuela Superior Politecnica del Litoral (ESPOL), Guayaquil, Ecuador.
R. S. Besser. (Oct 15, 2009). "Microplasma Reforming of Hydrocarbons", Army Research Lab, Adelphi, MD.
R. Besser. (Feb 22, 2006). "A Look At Microchemical Systems : What are MCS? What are some key limitations?", Microchemical Systems. Download (2 Mb PDF).
R. Besser. (Oct 19, 2005). "Miniaturization for Chemical Processing: Smaller Can Be Better", Download (5.02 Mb PDF).
R. Besser. (Oct 08, 2004). "Preferential Oxidation in a Microchemical System, Advantages and Limitations", Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh. Download (2.98 mb PDF).
R. Besser. (Jun 24, 2004). "Microchemical Systems: New Tools for Chemical Engineers Through Miniaturization", Download (2.93 mb PDF).
R. Besser. "Catalyst-Trap Microreactor for Hydrogenation of a Pharmaceutical Intermediate", Download (601 kb PDF).
Generic
R. Besser. (Oct 10, 2004). "Silicon Based Microchemical Concepts for Miniature Fuel Processor", Download (175 kb PDF).
Conference Proceedings
E. Lennon, A. A. Burke, RS. Besser. (2008). "Controlled Hydrogen Peroxide Decomposition for a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) Oxidant Source with Microreactors", New Orleans, LA, AIChE. Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Microreaction Technology.
P. Lindner, R.S. Besser. (2008). "Microplasma Reforming for SOFC Power", New Orleans, LA, AIChE. Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Microreaction Technology.
E. Lennon, A.A. Burke and R.S. Besser. (2008). "Hydrogen Peroxide as an Oxidant for UUV Power Sources", Philadelphia, PA, AIChE. Proceedings of the 2008 Annual AIChE Meeting.
P.J. Lindner and R.S. Besser. (2008). "Microplasma Reforming of Hydrocarbons", Philadelphia, PA, AIChE. Proceedings of the 2008 Annual AIChE Meeting.
P.J. Lindner, R.S. Besser. (2009). "Reforming of JP-8 Logistal Fuel in a Microplasma for Compact SOFC Power: Microfabrication Improvements of Reactors", Tampa, FL, American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Proceedings of the 2009 Spring AIChE Meeting.
J. Huang, J. Weinstein, R.S. Besser. (2009). "Particle Loading in a Catalyst-Trap Microreactor", Tampa, FL, American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Proceedings of the 2009 Spring AIChE Meeting.
E. Lennon, A.A. Burke, R.S. Besser. (2009). "Updated Assessment of Microreactors for Improved Thermal Management of H2O2 Decomposition as a SOFC Oxidant Source aboard Unmanned Undersea Vehicles", Tampa, FL, American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Proceedings of the 2009 Spring AIChE Meeting.
