Dr. Shi Chune Yao

Biography

Shi-Chune Yao is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. His research interests primarily focus on multiphase flow and heat transfer, which are crucial for various energy and thermal control industries. Yao has conducted both experimental and theoretical research on subjects deemed essential to the fundamental nature of industry, actively developing micro-scale energy systems utilizing MEMS technology. His work includes modeling and developing micro-scale refrigeration systems on silicon chips, phase fluidics, and micro-scale direct methanol fuel cells. Additionally, he is a member of the NextManufacturing Center, where he is involved in thermal modeling of additive manufacturing for metal products across both micro and macro scales. Due to an increased packaging density and clock speed, the heat fluxes in electronics have been steadily rising, making cooling solutions like micro-channels and sprays inevitable. Yao pioneered spray cooling technology in 1989, which is now integral in military electronics and super-computers. He currently focuses on using micro-channel systems to cool electronic chips, leveraging the large surface-to-volume ratio of droplets and sprays for critical industrial processes. His research also extends to spray transport deposition, impaction cooling of metallurgical processes, micro-sprays for cooling electronic chips, drop combustion, and flame propagation of fuel sprays. He has significant experience in numerical simulation, including 3D printing of metal products and has previously won a top award in a DARPA-sponsored open competition.

Research Interests