Greener Steel Through Microwaves
Materials science and engineering professor JiannYang "Jim" Hwang and 2012 PhD graduate Zhiwei Peng have received Michigan Tech's 2013 Bhakta Rath Research Award for their studies on the use of microwaves in steelmaking.
They were nominated by Stephen Kampe, the St. John Professor and chair of the materials science and engineering department.
Kampe called Peng's work "incredibly thorough in scope and rigorous in its approach." He noted that Hwang has researched microwave steelmaking for years "and has become a renowned authority on environmental and sustainability issues within the materials processing industries."
The researchers did theoretical and experimental work on using microwaves to heat materials, particularly magnetic substances, and developed ways to improve microwaves' heating efficiency. They also provided guidelines for making large-scale microwave furnaces for industrial use. Peng's dissertation research was an integral part of three grants totaling $2.6 million.
Their work has led to five books, twenty-five papers, and invitations to prepare books on microwave heating.
Mingming Zhang of the Canadian steel and mining company ArcelorMittal wrote that Peng's research "attracted my attention because of its huge potential in energy savings and environmental protection compared with conventional technologies," adding that the achievement is all the more remarkable because steelmaking consumes more energy than any other industry. "Moreover, there is a great possibility to substantially reduce the CO2, SOx and NOx emissions, contributing to an environmentally friendly world," Zhang said.
Peng's solid foundation in math and science and his interdisciplinary approach have been key to the project's success, said his advisor. "He is not afraid of challenges, and he willingly took courses from other departments that advanced his research," Hwang said. "By combining knowledge from several disciplines, Zhiwei has developed a new field of research."
The award, endowed by Michigan Tech alumnus Bhakta Rath and his wife, Sushama, recognizes a doctoral student at Michigan Tech and his/her faculty advisor for "exceptional research of particular value that anticipates the future needs of the nation while supporting advances in emerging technology."
Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to more than 7,000 students from 55 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.
