Dr. David Dvorak is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering Technology and former Director (2000-6) of the School of Engineering Technology at the University of Maine, Orono, United States. Dr. Dvorak,
as Director of the School of Engineering Technology, was responsible for over 350 engineering students in four separate degree programs, and management and supervision of 15 faculty and 2
administrative staff.
Dr. Dvorak received Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urban-Champaign in 1981 and 1982 respectively, and a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Maine in 1998. The title of his Ph.D. thesis: “The Microtribological Properties of Aluminum Oxide, Aluminum Oxynitride, and Aluminum Nitride Ceramic Thin Films”.
Prior to joining the UMaine faculty in 1988, Dr. Dvorak worked for several years in research and development at General Electric Aircraft Engines in Cincinnati, Ohio. His work there included the development of digital control systems, engine performance testing and evaluation, also aero-thermo modeling of engines and components. Dr. Dvorak received GE Achievement Awards for advanced engine test coverage and data analysis, as well as for development of instability detection logic for a digital engine control.
In his 19 years of teaching at UMaine he has taught 13 different courses, developing or significantly revising 6 of these courses. The range of subjects that Dr. Dvorak has taught includes
engineering mechanics (statics, dynamics, and strength of materials), physical thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and electrical engineering (circuit analysis, instrumentation, and power). He
instigated the development of a new degree program in Surveying Engineering Technology. He is now developing courses in renewable energy technologies at UMaine, including a focus on fuel cells.
He is a devoted teacher and works closely with the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), where he has served as Program Evaluator for Mechanical Engineering Technology, Director of
Strategic Planning of the Executive Board of the Engineering Technology Division, and as Secretary and Chair of the Executive Council of the Engineering Technology Leadership Institute. He has
consistently been voted by engineering students as one of the best teaching faculty member in the School of Engineering Technology at UMaine.
Dr. Dvorak’s university research focused initially on the development of a visco-plastic mathematical model to describe the behavior of solid lubricants in sliding contacts, and collaboration on the development of a novel “nanotribometer” and the use of this instrument to identify both ductile and brittle wear mechanisms at nano-scale sliding contacts. He was the Co-Principal Investigator for a USDOE-sponsored research project dealing with friction and wear in advanced materials, run by UMaine Laboratory for Surface Science and Technology; and also worked on the US Naval Research Laboratory (Washington, D.C.) project “Using In Situ Raman Spectroscopy to Study the Friction and Wear Properties of Coated Surfaces”.
More recently his research focus has shifted to marine and industrial applications of gas turbine engines, including the feasibility studies of wood gasification as an alternative fuel, and most recently (last 4-5 years) to fuel cell applications. From 2003 to 2005 Dr. Dvorak was the Co-Principal Investigator for the Office of Naval Research sponsored project “Marine Fuel Cell Verification – Trainer Program” in cooperation with Bath Iron Works (Bath, ME), Fuel Cell Energy of Danbury CT, and Maine Maritime Academy of Castine.
The project goals were to demonstrate the feasibility of using fuel cells to provide ship service power aboard navy vessels. The project involved partners collaboration to develop fuel cell curricula for engineers and operators of marine fuel cells, define realistic test profiles to simulate shipboard power usage, and conduct operational testing on a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) and PEM fuel cells using high-temperature polybensimidazole (PBI) membrane technology. High-temperature PEM fuel cells with PBI membranes show a much higher tolerance to carbon monoxide and other impurities.
Dr. Dvorak and his research team is currently seeking Maine state-funding for a demonstration project to derive ethanol/methanol fuels from wood waste, and another bio-gasification project to produce syngas fuel. An important aspect of these projects is to demonstrate electrical power production from these fuels using appropriate fuel cell technology. Two fuel cell technologies are currently proposed; solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), and PEM fuel cells using high-temperature PBI membrane technology. The purpose of these demonstration projects is to benchmark technical performance, provide a platform for exploring the socioeconomic and environmental considerations in adopting renewable power, and fostering community awareness and education.
Dr. Dvorak has over the past year been building up a fuel cell laboratory at the University of Maine. His engineering students have been involved at every step of the laboratory development, which is still an ongoing process. Students have designed fuel cell experiments, and designed a fuel cell powered model-car for the “Chem-E Car” competition, sponsored by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). Dr. Dvorak has also been a member of the Hydrogen Energy Center (HEC), a non-profit organization based in Maine. The President of HEC is Mr. Richard W. Smith, Esq., which co-chaired the 2002 Hydrogen Investment Forum in Washington, D.C., but this forum was attended by Dr. Bragi Arnason both as a presenter and panelist.
The role of the HEC is to facilitate the adoption of hydrogen technologies and associated renewable energy resources through education, demonstration projects, and advocacy. Current HEC demonstration project involve the production of hydrogen from solar, tidal, and hydroelectric power. And, finally in August 2006 the Maine’s Governor signed an Executive Order creating the Maine Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Partnership. Dr. Dvorak was nominated as a partner in this new Partnership.
