Biography

Professor Podowski is a former Head of Department of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics at RPI.    Currently he serves as: Director of Center for Multiphase Research, Head of Nuclear Safety Review Board, Academic Director of Program for Graduated of Navy Nuclear Power School, and Director of GNEP University Consortium.He has served as technical expert to the International Atomic Energy Commission (IAEA), DOE, NRC, NASA and DOH&HS. He performed consulting work to numerous industrial organizations and governmental agencies, both in the US and internationally.He authored or co-authored over 260 technical publications, including 7 books/book chapters and 50 journal articles. He also served as Chairman and Scientific Committee Member for numerous international conferences, and as keynote and invited seminar speaker. He is Follow of American Nuclear Society and Member of American Society of Mechanical Engineers and American Institute of Chemical Engineers.


Research

Michael Podowski’s research activities include both fundamentals of multiphase flows and practical applications over a large spectrum of scales, from micro- to macro- and large systems   In particular, he has worked on the development of local mechanistic models of gas/liquid two-phase flows, including bubbly, churn-turbulent, slug and annular flow regimes. He proposed new models of interfacial forces, bubble coalescence and breakup, subcooled boiling and critical heat flux.  He investigated two- and multiphase flows in conduits and volumes of various geometries and orientations (from vertical to horizontal).An important application of the new models is concerned with Computational Multiphase Fluid Dynamics (CMFD) simulations of nuclear reactor thermal-hydraulics, dynamics and stability, and accident propagation.   Examples include the modeling flow and heat transfer in advanced nuclear reactors such as the natural-circulation Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) and Generation-IV reactors: Supercritical Water Reactor (SCWR), High Temperature Gas Reactor (HTGR) and (most recently) Sodium Fast Reactor (SFR).

Dr. Michael Podowski



Professor, Director of the Center for Multiphase Research

Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics Program

Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering


Jonsson Engineering Center, Room 5044

Lab location: Jonsson Engineering Center, Room 5044

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Troy, New York 12180-3590, USA 


Phone: (518) 276-4000  |  Fax: (518) 276-2623

Research Program Site:  http://homepages.rpi.edu/~podowm/CMR/cmr.html

E-mail:  podowm@rpi.edu

Education

Warsaw University of Technology
    Nuclear Engineering Ph.D.

University of Warsaw
    Mathematics M.S.


Awards and Honors

  1. BulletOutstanding Ph.D. Thesis Award, 1973

  2. BulletMeritorious Service Award, Polish Society of Mechanical Engineers, 1978

  3. BulletMeritorious Service Award, Eastern Simulation Conferences, 1985

  4. BulletCertificate of Governance, American Nuclear Society, 1986, 1999