Dr. Peter Loutzenhiser

Biography

Peter Loutzenhiser is a Professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He joined the faculty in May 2012, having previously worked as a Lecturer Research Associate at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich and a postdoctoral fellow at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland. His research focuses on heat transfer, combustion, and energy systems, particularly in the context of solar fuels technologies and thermodynamic kinetic analyses. Loutzenhiser’s primary area of interest is converting and storing sunlight in a chemical form, specifically through the production of synthesis gas, which serves as a key component in the Fischer-Tropsch catalytic reforming processes necessary for producing renewable liquid hydrocarbon fuels. His research examines novel two-step thermochemical cycles and solar gasification methods for carbonaceous materials. Loutzenhiser emphasizes fundamental phenomena in thermodynamics and chemical kinetics applied to real-world engineering problems involving solar thermochemistry. He fosters a collaborative environment for students to engage in both theoretical and experimental research at Georgia Tech's Carbon Neutral Energy Solutions Laboratory, where cutting-edge research on solar technologies is conducted.

Research Interests

Experience