DOUGLAS J. NELSON
Professor
Mechanical Engineering Department 0238
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA 24061

EDUCATION AND TRAINING:

• Ph.D 1986 Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, Mechanical Engineering
• MSME 1979 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
• BSME 1978 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA

RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES:

• 1998 – Present Professor of ME, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg, VA
• 1992 – 1998: Associate Professor, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg, VA.
• 1986 – 1992: Assistant Professor, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg, VA.
• 1979 – 1981: Graduate Research Assistant, ME, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ.
• 1979 – 1981: Systems Engineer, Exxon Solar Thermal Systems Div., Florham Park, NJ.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

1. Steven Boyd, and Douglas J. Nelson (2008), "Hybrid Electric Vehicle Control Strategy Based on power Loss Calculations”, Paper 2008-01-0084, 2008 SAE International World Congress, Detroit, Mi, April 14-17, 2008, 15 pgs.
2. Jih-Sheng (Jason) Lai, and Douglas J. Nelson (2007), “Energy Management Power Converters in Hybrid Electric and Fuel Cell Vehicles”, IEEE Proceedings - Special Issue on Electric, Hybrid & Fuel Cell Vehicles, Vol 96, No.4, April 2007, pp. 766-777 (invited review paper).
3. S. Boyd, J. Lee and D. J. Nelson (2007), "A Simplified Battery Model for Hybrid Vehicle Technology Assessment”, Paper 2007-01-0301 SAE World Congress, Detroit, Mi, April 16-19, 2007.
4. S. Boyd, K. Johnson, D. Sheffield, I. Berry, E. Hissong, and D. J. Nelson (2007), “Vehicle Design Analysis and Validation for the Equinox REVlse E85 Hybrid Electric Vehicle”, Paper 2007-01-1066 SAE World Congress, Detroit, Mi, April 16-19, 2007.
5. Douglas J. Nelson (2005) “Challenges for Hydrogen as a Transportation Fuel” (invited), Hydrogen Economy Panel, ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, November 9, 2005, Orlando, Fl.
6. J. Lee, and Douglas J. Nelson (2005), "Rotating Inertia Impact on Propulsion and Regenerative Braking for Electric Motor Driven Vehicles", 2005 IEEE Vehicle Power and Propulsion (VPP) Conference, September 7-9, 2005, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL., 7 pgs.
7. Lohse-Busch, H., T. Stinchfield, M. Mital, A. Hines, and D.J. Nelson (2004), "Design and Implementation of a Hybrid Electric Vehicle Powered by a Hydrogen Engine" SAE Paper 2004-01-0194, 2004 SAE Congress, 3/8 - 3/11,  Detroit, Mi., 18 pgs.
8. N.P. Siegel, M.W. Ellis, D.J. Nelson, M.R. von Spakovsky (2004),“A two-dimensional computational model of a PEMFC with liquid water transport”, J. Power Sources, vol. 128, no. 2, pp. 173-184..
9. S. Gurski and D.J. Nelson (2003), “Cold Start Fuel Economy and Power Limitations for a PEM Fuel Cell Vehicle”, 2003 SAE World Congress, SAE paper 2003-01-0422, SP-1741.
10. G. Kulp and D.J. Nelson (2002), “A Comparison of Two Fuel Cell Air Compression Systems at Low Load”, SAE Transactions, Vol. 110, Journal of Passenger Cars: Electronic and Electrical Systems, Section 7, pp. 660-669.
11. T. Markel, K. Wipke, and D.J. Nelson (2002), “Vehicle System Impacts of Fuel Cell System Transient Response Capability,” Proceedings of the 2002 Future Car Congress, June 3-5, Arlington, VA, SAE paper 2002-01-1959, 9 pgs.

SYNERGISTIC ACTIVITIES:

• 1999-Present Co-Director, DoE GATE Center for Automotive Fuel Cell Systems at Virginia Tech
• 1994-Present Faculty Advisor, Hybrid Electric Vehicle Team of Virginia Tech, student-built vehicles to participate in DoE/ANL Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions
• 2003-Present Member, Challenge Bibendum International Technical Committee (invited), sustainable mobility and environmental vehicle evaluation event
• 2002-Present Instructor, SAE 3 day professional development seminar, Automotive Fuel Cell Systems, offered 3 times per year

NARRATIVE:

Douglas J. Nelson received the B.S.M.E. degree in 1978 and the M.S.M.E. degree in 1979 from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He then worked for two years as a systems engineer for Exxon Corporation, Solar Thermal Systems Division before returning to full-time graduate study. He received the Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Arizona State University in 1986 where he worked on research applied to open cycle solar absorption cooling systems.

He is currently Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in Fuel Cell Systems, Hydrogen Energy Systems, Advanced Technology Vehicles and Design. He is the co-director of the Dept. of Energy GATE Center for Automotive Fuel Cell Systems, a multidisciplinary graduate automotive engineering program that focuses on technologies critical to the development of fuelefficient/low-emission vehicles. He has expertise in modeling, testing, and validation of a fuel cell and hybrid and electric vehicles and components. He is also working on hydrogen energy systems and wellto-wheels analysis of transportation fuels. He consults for industry on the design and simulation of hybrid and electric vehicles.

Dr. Nelson is the faculty advisor for the Hybrid Electric Vehicle Team (HEVT) of Virginia Tech, a student organization which designs and builds hybrid electric and alternative-fueled vehicles for advanced vehicle technology competitions.. The team of 50 students participated in the FutureCar Challenge to build a low emission, high fuel economy family sedan. HEVT successfully demonstrated the first university-built fuel cell hybrid vehicle at the 1999 FutureCar Challenge, and placed Second overall. HEVT was selected to participate in the next Dept. of Energy premier student engineering research competition, FutureTruck, and developed fuel cell and hydrogen engine powered hybrid electric sport utility vehicles. The current competition, Challenge X: Crossover to Sustainable Mobility, is sponsored by General Motors and the U.S. Dept. of Energy. HEVT and Virginia Tech have been selected to participate in the next Advanced Vehicle Technology Competition, EcoCAR. See the HEVT web page at http://www.me.vt.edu/hevt.

Dr. Nelson is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Arizona; and a member of SAE International and ASME. He is a member of the International Technical Committee for the Challenge Bibendum sustainable mobility event for advanced technology vehicles. He received the Ralph R. Teetor Educational Award from SAE International in 1996, the NSF FutureCar Faculty Advisor’s Award in 1998, and NSF Outstanding Long-term Faculty Advisor Award in 2005.