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Tony Chen, Ph.D. Associate Professor Department of ISAT 540.568.2530 chendt@jmu.edu Research Page

Education, Honors, Awards

• Associate Professor James Madison University (1998 - Present)
• Research Associate Oak Ridge National Laboratory (1992 - 1998)
• Ph.D. Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia (1987 - 1992)
• Associate Researcher Thermal Energy Research Laboratory, Hsinchu, Taiwan (1983 - 1987)
• M.S., The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa (1981 -1983)
• B.S., Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung Li, Taiwan (1973 - 1977)
• JMU College of Integrated Science and Technology 2006-2007 Distinguished Teacher Award
• James Madison University 2002 “All Together One” Recognition <http://www.alltogetherone.org/2002.html>
• “Certificate of Distinction” presented by the ISAT Senior Classes of 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 (in two categories)
• NASA Recognition of Technological Contribution, "Two-Stage Gas Measurement System"
• NASA Tech Brief Award, March 1994, "Two-Stage Constant Pressure and Temperature Oxygen Measurement System"

Research Interests

• Computational Fluid Dynamics and Numerical Heat Transfer
• CFC (Chlorofluorocarbon) Replacements and Carbon Dioxide Refrigerator/Freezer Modeling
• Heating Ventilation Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration System Design
• Alternative Energy Resources and Energy Security

Research Description

Dr. Tony Chen is currently working on the following research fields:

• “Performance Test and Demonstration of Ultrahigh Efficiency Photovoltaic Cells” to conduct performance test and classroom demonstration of several of photovoltaic cells, and focus on researching and fabricating of low-cost dye-sensitized nano-structure TiO2 solar cells. Enormous progress has been made in recent years on a number of photovoltaic (PV) materials and devices in terms of conversion efficiency and cost. Basically, there are two approaches to increasing the efficiency of solar cells: (1) selecting the semiconductor materials with appropriate energy gaps to match the solar spectrum and the optimizing their optical, electrical, and structural properties; and (2) innovative device engineering, which enable more effective charge collection as well as better utilization of the solar spectrum through single and multi-junction approaches.
• “Design and Performance Test of an Add-On Heat Pump Water Heater” to convert an air-to-air heat pump into a heat pump water heater (HPWH), the performance of such a system was tested in the lab using the LabViewÔ software, a feasibility model was developed based on the current heat pump water heater, and the pros and cons of running this type of system in a residential or commercial setting was examined.
• “Efficient End-Use for Energy Security” Energy security starts with efficient end-use and conversion. There is plenty of room. The U.S. throws away about two times as much energy in the form of power plant waste heat as Japan uses for everything. Efficient use of energy also reduces upstream supply pressures, allows alternative sources to supply a bigger share, and stretches emergency stockpiles, buying time for repairs and substitutions. Monitoring and collecting data from all participants in a local power company’s Demand Response and Green Power Rate Programs and analyzing the data would be the main objective of this research work. A research team of one JMU faculty and two students will work with Dominion Virginia Power Company in Richmond, Virginia in implementing these two programs in the Shenandoah Central Valley. A follow-up evaluation of these two programs would provide valuable information to the region and our nation’s energy security.

Selected Recent Publications

• Chen, D. T., 2008, "Comparison of Analytical and Experimental Effectiveness of Five-row Plate-fin-tube Heat Exchanger with Water, R-22 and R-410A," Journal of Enhanced Heat Transfer. Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 147-158, March-April, 2008.
• Vu, L., Yost, K., Landes, R., and Chen, D. T., 2007, “Design and Performance Test of An Add-On Heat Pump Water Heater,” Virginia Academy of Science Annual Meeting, May 23-26, James Madison University.
• Decker, R., Lange, C., Wilson, P., and Chen, D. T., 2005, “Smart Building Systems for Reducing the Vulnerability of Buildings to Chemical Biological and Radiological Attacks,” James Madison University Institute for Infrastructure and Information Assurance Report, July, 2005.
• Durkee, A. and Chen, D. T., 2004, “Vulnerability Assessment and Weak-Link Identification for Virginia State’s Highway Network,” James Madison University Institute for Infrastructure and Information Assurance Report, September, 2004.
• Chen, D. T., 2004, "Effectiveness of 6-Row Crossflow Heat Exchangers with Alternating Circuitry," Proceedings of ASME HT04, American Society of Mechanical Engineers Summer Heat Transfer Conference, Charlotte, North Carolina, July 11- 15, 2004. Paper No. HT-FED2004-56705.

Patents

• U.S. Patent (Number 5374400), December 1994, "Two-Stage Gas Measurement System

Last Modified: 07/21/08