Blue Specter Engineering, LLC

R. Paul Borthwick, Ph.D.

Education:

  • Ph.D. - Mechanical Engineering.  Concentration in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics and combustion.  Minor in physics, with focus on optics, electrodynamics and electromagnetic wave phenomena.  University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison WI, August 2000
  • M.S. - Mechanical Engineering. Emphasis on fluid mechanics, thermal sciences and energy.  The George Washington University, Washington D.C., May 1995
  • B.S. - History of Science.  Specialization in Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI. August 1985

Experience:

  • Principal Engineer I, Teledyne Energy Systems Inc., Hunt Valley, MD.  Providing firm theoretical understanding to experimental and computer modeling analysis using FLUENT CFD Software, Engineering Equation Solver software and other analytical tools in the fields of fluid mechanics and thermodynamics for electrochemical and thermoelectric product lines.   June 2007 to November 2008. Principal Engineer II February 2001 to May 2007.
    • Management Responsibilities. Manage four MS engineers providing structural, thermal, thermoelectric and nuclear safety analysis support for DOD, DOE and NASA proposals and contracts.
    • System Development Analysis for 300 to 1500 Watt Fuel Cell Systems, Fuel Cell Test Stations and 200-1500 SLPM (Standard Liter per Minute) alkaline electrolysis hydrogen generation systems. Feasibility studies for renewable peak power augmentation systems for submerged, terrestrial and extra-terrestrial applications.
    • Combustion Heated Thermoelectric Generator Development.  Analyzed prior art and proposed a series of design solutions to update existing prototype design, as well as present solutions for proposed systems with five times greater power output.
    • Fuel Cell System and Stack Analysis and Development:
      * Hybrid cycle analysis emphasizing first and second law feasibility with methanol combustion based tailing cycle.
      * Cell Flow Field and Stack Manifold flow distribution modeling using FLUENT CFD and Engineering Equation Solver software.
    • Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell System operating analysis by applying Gibb's function, Nernst and Tafel equations to predict voltage variations within the cell.
    • Microgravity Phase Separator development for NASA fuel cell systems.
    • Alkaline Electrolysis Hydrogen Generator Modeling and Analysis:
      * Electrolyte flow distribution study in reverse flow manifold system.
      * Phase Separator Analysis.
      * Manifold electrolysis analysis. 
      * Gas Dryer Research.
  • Research Assistant, Engine Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Designed and built laboratory in which applicant's Ph.D. research was conducted.  Research topic was Fuel injection spray and combustion chamber wall impingement in large bore industrial Diesel engines. August 1995 to July 2000.
  • Project Assistant, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Freshman Introduction to Engineering Design.  Assisted over 200 students with design, material selection, and fabrication of semester project.  Fall Semester 1997 and 1998.
  • Research Assistant, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)-Gaithersburg, MD.  Part time position in the Building and Fire Research Laboratory.  Co-authored 3 papers with Drs. Anthony Hamins and Takashi Kashiwagi.  January 1994-April 1995.
  • Graduate Advisor, The George Washington University, for Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Mini-Baja engineering design project, September 1992-May 1995.
  • United States Naval Officer, and Pilot. (P-3) August 1985-August 1992.
    * Anti-submarine Warfare Pilot flying Lockheed P-3 Orion Aircraft. Over 1200 hours as Pilot in Command.

Home