Christopher F. Edwards

Associate Professor
Research Theme Leader for Carbon Mitigation, Global Climate and Energy Project
Faculty of Thermosciences Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Degrees

B.S. University of Santa Clara - Mechanical Engineering (1981)

M.S. University of California, Berkeley - Mechanical Engineering (1982)

Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley - Mechanical Engineering (1985)

Research Interests

The Edwards research group is focused on fundamental research for advanced energy technologies. The group performs theoretical and experimental studies of sprays and combustion processes related to advanced combustion engines-piston, gas turbine, pulse detonation, etc. The primary focus of the group is to establish new ways to conduct the energy transformation process such that the conversion process is cleaner, more efficient, and more controllable than has been possible with traditional technologies. In addition to being the Deputy Director of the Global Climate and Energy Project at Stanford, Professor Edwards is the Chair of the Institute of Liquid Atomization and Spray Systems, and the Director of the Advanced Energy Systems Laboratory at Stanford.

Awards/Honors

John Henry Samter University Fellow in Undergraduate Education, 2002 to 2007.
Professor of the Year, Stanford University Society of Women Engineers, 2001-2002.
Tau Beta Pi Undergraduate Teaching Award, Stanford University, 2000.
Phi Beta Kappa Undergraduate Teaching Prize, Stanford University, 1999.
Teacher of the Year, Stanford University Society of Women Engineers, 1999.
The Bing Fellowship, Stanford University, 1998-2001.
Distinguished Member of Technical Staff, Sandia National Labs, 1995.
Tanasawa Award, International Conference on Liquid Atomization and Spray Systems, July, 1994.
Adams Award, Sandia National Laboratories, May, 1994.
W. Robert Marshall Award, Institute of Liquid Atomization and Spray Systems, May, 1994.
Starkman Memorial Award, University of California, Berkeley, 1983.

Patents

"Method of growing films by flame synthesis using a stagnation-flow reactor," US Patent 5,840,373, 1998.
"Flame stabilizer for stagnation-flow reactor," US Patent 5,951,768, with David Hahn, 1999.

Recent Publications

C. M. Sipperley and C. F. Edwards, "Demonstration of a Robust Method for Measuring the Spectral Content of Sprays Using Time Series Data," in press for Atomization and Sprays.

B. T. Helenbrook and C. F. Edwards, "Quasi-Steady Uncontaminated Liquid Drops: Deformation and Drag," in press for International Journal of Multiphase Flows.

N. B. Kaahaaina, A. J. Simon, P. A. Caton, and C. F. Edwards, "Use of Dynamic Valving to Achieve Residual-Affected Combustion," SAE Technical Paper 2001-01-0549, presented at the SAE 2001 World Congress, Detroit, Michigan, March, 2001, in press for the SAE Journal of Engines.

M. R. Archambault, C. F. Edwards, and R. W. MacCormack, "Computation of Spray Dynamics by Moment Transport Equations II: Application to Calculation of a Quasi-One-Dimensional Spray," in press for Atomization and Sprays.

M. R. Archambault, C. F. Edwards, and R. W. MacCormack, "Computation of Spray Dynamics by Moment Transport Equations I: Theory and Development," in press for Atomization and Sprays.

H. Chang, D. F. Nelson, C. M. Sipperley, and C. F. Edwards, "Development of a Temporally Modulated Spray Actuator with Controlled Particle Dynamics", in press for the ASME Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines & Power.

C. F. Edwards, "Towards a Comprehensive Theory of Dense Sprays," Atomization and Sprays, Vol. 10, pp. 335-353, 2000.

Current Projects

Achieving Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition via VVA (DOE, OTT)
Ultra-Efficient Gas Turbine Engine Technologies (NASA, GRC)
Two-Phase Spray Detonation Research (ONR)
Large Eddy Simulation of Two-Phase Spray Flows (DOE, ASCI Alliance)

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