OBJECTIVE: Mechanical engineer for research, development & design of thermal/mechanical/ fluid-flow systems.

EDUCATION: Ph. D. in Mechanical Engineering. Dissertation: Pyrolytic and oxidative syntheses of high-yield carbons from biomass.

M.S. in Mechanical Engineering. Thesis: Charcoal production & gasification under pressure.

B.S. in Power Engineering. Thesis: Design of inlet filter of marine type gas turbine (GT) & its experimental setup.

COMPUTER SKILLS: Proficient in IDEAS for solid modeling and finite element analysis. Experienced in computer modeling in chemical kinetics, heat transfer and fluid-flow in Fortran, and AutoCad.

01/92--present Hawaii Natural Energy Inst. (HNEI), UH Manoa, Hawaii. Promoted to F/T junior researcher in July 1998 from P/T research assistant. Carry out experimental research on high-yield charcoal production; modify and operate a pressurized pilot reactor, design/fabricate/ operate ASME code rated pressurized chemical reactor/steam boiler and low emission exhaust systems. Perform modeling and experimental research on synthesis of high-yield activated carbon from biomass. Study chemical kinetics on carbon oxidation. Conduct stress analysis with FEM in design of reactors. Design and develop temperature/pressure/level/flow rate control /monitoring/acquisition systems using advanced instrumentations and computer softwares such as gas chromatography (GC) and infrared gas analyzer. Perform gas analysis and gas sorption analysis. This work leads to invention of a novel process of carbon activation, represent many details of US patent:5,435,983, and 8 publications/presentations.

4/88--8/91, 8/83--3/87 Wuxi Engine Research Institute, National Aviation Industry Corp., PRC. Mechanical engineer. Conducted experimental and analytical research on high performance metallic flexible couplings for power transmissions. Designed, developed and supervised manufacturing such advanced couplings. Designed and/or supervised manufacturing engine components including modified RR Spey engine and domestic engines. Provided design criteria, layouts and detailed drawings of and developed technologies and analytical procedures for gears, couplings, bearings, seals and lube systems. Provide stress, weights and life support for engine components, and dynamic design and analysis support for engine components to prevent (high cycle fatigue) failures; Planned, coordinated and performed complex testing of engine components. Acquired, reduced and documented static and dynamic engine component test data. Designed and developed electronic control/monitoring systems for test. Provided technical and language assistance in foreign trade conferences such as United Technologies' FT8 project.

3/87--4/88 Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, Indiana. Visiting scholar (researcher). Conducted experimental research on liquid (fuel) atomization and spray in GT combustion systems. Designed a novel spill-return airblast atomizer. Planned and designed testing for nozzles. Gathered and reduced test data on spray characteristics such as drop size and distribution using laser scattering technique. This work led to 2 publications/presentations.

AWARD The project "High performance metallic flexible couplings for power transmissions" was acquired the 2nd level award of the 1990's Science & Technology Progress of NAIC, PRC

(1) Dai, X. and Antal, M. J., "High yield activated carbon from biomass by air activation", to be presented at 1997 ACS Fall National Meeting, Las Vegas, NV, 9/97.

(2) Antal, M. J., Croiset, E. and Dai, X. et al., "High-yield biomass charcoal", published in Energy & Fuel, ACS, Vol. 10, No.3, pp.652-8, 1996.

(3) Dai, X. and Antal, M. J. et al., "Charcoal and activated carbon produced at elevated pressure", presented at 1995 International Chemical Congress of Pacific Basin Societies, ACS, Honolulu, HI, 12/95.

(4) Dai, X., Norburg, N., and Antal, M. J. et al., "Production of charcoal and activated carbon at elevated pressure", presented at 1995 Spring National Meeting of ACS, Anaheim, CA, and published at Symposium on Materials and Chemicals Synthesis from Fossil Fuels and Biomass, ACS, pp. 285-7, 4/95.

(5) Dai, X., Lefebvre, A.H. and Rollbuler, J., "Spray characteristics of a spill-return airblast atomizer", presented at the 33rd International Gas Turbine & Aero-engine Congress and Exhibitions, Holland, 6/88, published at Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines & Power, ASME, Vol. 111, No.1, pp. 63-9, 1/89.

(6) Dai, X., Lefebvre, A. H., "Mean drop size from a spill-return atomizer" X.Dai & A.H.Lefebvre, presented at the 2nd Annual Conference of Liquid Atomization and Spray Systems, ASME, Pittsburgh, Penn, USA, and published at the conference proceedings, pp. 1-5, 1989.

(7) Dai, X., Lu, J., and Huang, Y., "Special-purpose couplings for refinery services" API 671, a translation from English into Chinese, published at Symposium on Translations of Foreign Standards on Gas Turbine, CSAA, PRC, No.4, pp. 24-7, 5/88.

*Certificate of Preparing Future Professors Workshop for Graduate Students on College Teaching.

*Graduate courses: chemical kinetics, chemical reactor design & analysis, chemical thermodynamics, gas turbine combustion (audited in Purdue), classical thermodynamics, environmental heat transfer, conduction heat transfer, numerical method in fluid flow & heat transfer, turbulent flow, finite element method, continuum mechanics, advanced material science. Overall GPA 3.7/4.0

*Upper level courses related to career: strength of materials, principle of mechanism, machine design, heat transfer, fluid dynamics, fundamentals of electrical engineering, engineering thermodynamics, aerodynamics, structure of diesel & GT, principle of compressor & turbine, principle of diesel, measurement & controls of engines, GT principle, GT combustion, GT strength. Overall GPA 91/100.

Dr. M. J. Antal, Professor of Mechanical Engineering & Coral Industries Distinguished Professor, 2540 Dole St., H302, Honolulu, HI 96822, 808/956-7267, antal@wiliki,eng.hawaii.edu (on trip 9/29-10/15/98).

Dr. A. H. Lefebvre, Reilly Professor Emeritus of Combustion Engineering, Purdue University. Current address: Low Furrow, Pebworth, Stratford-upon-Avon, England, UK CV37 8XW, +44-1789-721-429.

Dr. C.-Y. Wang, Assistant Professor, 338A Reber Bldg., Penn State Univ., University park, PA 16802. 814/863-4762, CXW31@psu.edu

Dr. P. K. Takahashi, Director of Hawaii Natural Energy Institute and Professor of Civil Engineering, 2540 Dole St., H246, Honolulu, HI 96822, 808/956-8346, patrick@wiliki.eng.hawaii.edu