Sunil S. Mehendale

"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing."
—Socrates

Contact

ssmehend@mtu.edu
906-487-1663
EERC 325

Associate Professor, Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology

PhD, Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland-College Park
MTech, Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India
BS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Bombay, India

Biography

Sunil Mehendale is an Associate Professor in the Department of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology at Michigan Technological University. Prior to joining Michigan Tech as a faculty member in the College of Engineering, he worked for Carrier Corporation, Syracuse, NY as a Staff Engineer and Scientist in the Heat Transfer Technology and Components group. There, he was responsible for developing and implementing advanced heat exchanger technologies as well as state-of-the-art design and simulation tools in the areas of energy efficiency, heat transfer, and fluid flow. Before Carrier, he worked for seven years at Delphi Thermal Systems, Lockport, NY, where he was engaged in the research, design, and development of advanced energy-efficient heat exchangers, primarily evaporators for automotive climate control systems. Before joining Delphi, Dr. Mehendale worked as a post-doctoral research associate in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where he designed and developed micro-scale heat exchangers intended for US military personnel in a project sponsored by DARPA, US Department of Defense.

Dr. Mehendale’s area of teaching and research interest and expertise is primarily in the thermal-fluids sciences, with emphasis on the design and optimization of high-efficiency energy conversion systems and heat exchangers, boiling and condensing flows, and two-phase flow distribution in heat exchangers, as well as alternate energy resources / technologies such as solar energy, wind energy, fuel cells, and biofuels.

Dr. Mehendale is a member of ASME, ASEE, and ASHRAE. He also serves as a reviewer for the International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, International Journal of Refrigeration, ASME’s Journal of Heat Transfer, and ASME’s Journal of Thermal Science and Engineering Applications.

Research Interests

Computational fluid dynamics
Boiling and condensing flows
Two-phase flow distribution in heat exchangers
Novel heat exchanger technology
Heat exchanger modeling and optimization
Novel thermodynamic cycles for cooling, heating, and power
Alternative energy technology (solar, wind, biofuels, and others)
High-efficiency HVAC and refrigeration systems

Teaching Interests

Fluid mechanics
Thermodynamics
Heat transfer
Alternative energy
Air-conditioning and refrigeration
Dynamics

Recent Publications

Google Scholar Citations

Refereed Journal Articles:

Mehendale, S. 2019, Condensing heat transfer of pure refrigerants and refrigerant mixtures flowing within horizontal microfin tubes: a new model, International Journal of Refrigeration, in Press. Read more
Irwin, J.L., and Mehendale, S., 2019, Simulations and Manipulatives used to Better Understand Graphics, Statics & Dynamics Concepts, The Engineering Design Graphics Journal Volume 82 (2).
Mehendale, S., 2018, A new heat transfer coefficient correlation for pure refrigerants and near-azeotropic refrigerant mixtures flow boiling within horizontal microfin tubes, International Journal of Refrigeration Volume 120 , 34 - 46. Read More
Mehendale, S., 2018, Thermal performance of a pin fin with unequal convective coefficients over its tip and surface, Heat Transfer Research. Volume 49(13):1247–1273. Read more
Mehendale S.S. (2017) Single-Phase Heat Exchangers. In: Kulacki F. (eds) Handbook of Thermal Science and Engineering. Springer, Cham Read more
S. Mehendale. 2016. The impact of fin deformation on flow boiling heat transfer and pressure drop in microfin tubes, Journal of Enhanced Heat Transfer, Volume 23(3): 197–220. DOI: 10.1615/JEnhHeatTransf.2017020547 Read More
Zhang, Z., S. Mehendale, J. Tian, and Y. Li. April 2017. Experimental investigation of two-phase flow distribution in plate-fin heat exchangers Chemical Engineering Research and Design, Volume 120, 34-46, Read More
Zhang, Z., S. Mehendale, J. Tian, and Y. Li. 2015. Fluid Flow Distribution and Heat Transfer in Plate-Fin Heat Exchangers. Heat Transfer Engineering, 36:9, 806-819, DOI:10.1080/01457632.2015.963411.
Zhang, Z., S. Mehendale, J. Tian, and Y. Li. 2015. Experimental Investigation of Distributor Configuration on Flow Maldistribution in Plate-fin Heat Exchangers. Applied Thermal Engineering, 85, 111-123, DOI:10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2015.04.011.
Kim, M.H., S.Y. Lee, S.S. Mehendale, and R.L. Webb. 2003. Microchannel Heat Exchanger Design for Evaporator and Condenser Applications. Advances in Heat Transfer, Volume 37, pp. 297-429.
Mehendale, S.S., A.M. Jacobi, and R.K. Shah. 2000. Fluid Flow and Heat Transfer at Micro- and Meso- Scales with Application to Heat Exchanger Design. Applied Mechanics Reviews, 2000, Volume 53, No. 7, pp. 175-193.
Mehendale, S.S. and R. Radermacher. 2000. Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of Annular Film Flow Reversal in a Vertical Pipe: Application to Oil Return in Refrigeration Systems. International Journal of HVAC and R Research, 2000, Volume 6, Number 1, pp. 55-74.
Burton, C.M., A.M. Jacobi, and S.S. Mehendale. 1999. Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium for R-32 and R-410A Mixed with a Polyol Ester: Non-Ideality and Local Composition Modeling. International Journal of Refrigeration, 1999, Volume 22, No. 6, pp. 458-471.

Refereed Conference Articles:

Mehendale, S. 2018. A new correlation for predicting the heat transfer coefficients of R407C undergoing flow boiling within horizontal microfin tubes. 16th International Heat Transfer Conference, Beijing, China. Read more.
Mehendale, S.S., S. Boyapally, and J. Pandya. 2018. A New Heat Transfer Coefficient Correlation for Condensing Flows of Pure Refrigerants and Refrigerant Mixtures within Horizontal Microfin Tubes. 2018 International Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Conference, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
Mehendale, S.S., Z. Li, and V. Aute. 2016. Refrigerant Circuit Optimization of Dual-mode Single-Row Microchannel Heat Exchangers used for R410A Heat Pumps. 2016 International Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Conference, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
Panghat, K. and S. Mehendale. 2016. A Critical Assessment of Two-Phase Flow Distribution in Microchannel Heat Exchangers. 2016 International Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Conference, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
Merchant, R. and S.S. Mehendale. 2016. A New Model for Predicting Flow Boiling Heat Transfer Coefficients in Horizontal Microfin Tubes. ASME 2016 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE), Phoenix, AZ, USA.
Baruah, A. and S.S. Mehendale. 2016. A New Model for Predicting Falling Film Evaporation Heat Transfer Coefficients. ASME 2016 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE), Phoenix, AZ, USA.
Mehendale, S.S., V. Aute, and R. Radermacher. 2016. Optimization of Pass Arrangements for Microchannel Heat Pump Condensers using Isobutane. 2016, The 12th IIR Gustav Lorentzen Natural Working Fluids Conference, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
Merchant, R. and S.S. Mehendale. 2016. A New Model to Predict Flow Boiling Heat Transfer Coefficients for Carbon Dioxide and Ammonia in Microfin Tubes. National Conference on Advances in Refrigeration and Cryogenics, MGM’s College of Engineering and Technology, Kamothe, Navi Mumbai, India.
Kale, K. and S.S. Mehendale. 2015. Novel Application-Specific Methodology for the Assessment of Microfin Tube Condensation Heat Transfer Correlations. ASME 2015 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE), Houston, TX, USA.
Merchant, R. and S.S. Mehendale. 2015. Application-Based Methodology for Assessment of Flow Boiling Correlations in Microfin Tubes. ASME 2015 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE), Houston, TX, USA.
Mehendale, S., J.L. Irwin, and R.A. Marlor. 2015. An Interactive Dynamics Learning Course. ASEE 122nd Annual Conference and Exposition, Seattle, WA, USA.
Mehendale, S.S., V. Aute, and R. Radermacher. 2014. Principles of Refrigerant Circuit Optimization in Single Row Microchannel Condensers. 2014 International Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Conference, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA. Read More
Mehendale, S. 2014. The Impact of Fin Deformation on Evaporation Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop in Internally Grooved Tubes. 15th International Heat Transfer Conference, Kyoto, Japan, DOI:10.1615/IHTC15.fbl.008800.
Mehendale, S.S. 2013. Principles of Refrigerant Circuiting in Single Row Microchannel Evaporators. Proceedings of the ASME 2013 11th International Conference on Nanochannels, Microchannels, and Minichannels (ICNMM 2013), June 16-19, 2013, Sapporo, Japan, Paper No. ICNMM2013-73137, DOI:10.1115/ICNMM2013-73137.
Mehendale, S.S. 2013. The Impact of Fin Deformation on Condensation Heat Transfer Coefficients in Internally Grooved Tubes. Proceedings of the ASME 2013 Summer Heat Transfer Conference (HT 2013), July 14-19, 2013, Minneapolis, MN, USA, Paper No. HT2013-17111, DOI:10.1115/HT2013-17111.
Mehendale, S.S., D.C. Adams, and N.R. Miller. 2007. Flow Induced Noise Emanating from Evaporator Tube Plates. Proceedings of SAE World Congress, Detroit, MI, April 16-19, 2007.
Lee, J., Y. Hwang, R. Radermacher, and S.S. Mehendale. 2000. Experimental Investigations on Oil Accumulation Characteristics in a Vertical Suction Line. ASME IMCE, Vol. 3, Session on Heat and Mass Transfer in Heat Pumps, Division of Advanced Energy Systems-23607, New York, NY, November 2001.
Mehendale, S.S. and A.M. Jacobi. 2000. Evaporation Heat Transfer in Mesoscale Heat Exchangers. ASHRAE Transactions 2000, Volume 106, Part I, pp. 446-452.
Mehendale, S.S., A.M. Jacobi, and R.K. Shah. 1999. Micro- and Meso- Scales: Frontiers of Compact Heat Exchangers. International Symposium on Applied Optical Measurements, ed. Dieter Mewes, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, September 1999.
Mehendale, S.S., A.M. Jacobi, and R.K. Shah. 1999. Heat Exchangers at Micro- and Meso- Scales. International Conference on Compact Heat Exchangers and Enhancement Technology for the Process Industries, pp. 55-74, July 18-23, 1999, Banff, Canada.
Liu, T.Z., S.S. Mehendale, M.D. Mangriotis, A.M. Jacobi, M.A. Shannon, and D.J. Beebe. 1999. Flexible Microfluidic Polyimide Channels. Proceedings of Transducers '99, The 10th International Conference on Solid-State Sensors and Actuators, Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan, June 7-10, 1999, Sendai, Japan.
Mehendale, S.S. and R. Radermacher. 1996. Simulation of Hybrid Heat Pumps with Two- and Three- Stage Solution Circuits for High-Lift Applications. ASHRAE Transactions 1996, Volume 102, Part I, pp. 1101-1109.

Recent Funding

Mehendale, Sunil (PI), REF-FY16 Food-Waste Based Anaerobic Digesters for Sustainability, $25,080
Mehendale, Sunil, MTF-C2E2 Gift, $3,450

Industrial Experience: 12+ Years

Carrier Corporation
Delphi Thermal Systems