Sunil S. Mehendale

Dr. Sunil S. Mehendale is Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director in the Department of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology at Michigan Technological University. After twelve years of industrial R&D at Delphi Thermal Systems and Carrier Corporation, he joined Michigan Tech, bringing deep expertise in thermal-fluids sciences, heat-exchanger innovation, and energy-efficient HVAC systems.

Education:

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

Research Interests:

Dr. Mehendale’s scholarship focuses on thermal-fluids phenomena, especially boiling and condensing flows, two-phase distribution in advanced heat-exchanger geometries, and the design of high-efficiency energy-conversion systems. His work integrates computational fluid dynamics, experimental heat-transfer measurement, and alternative-energy technologies such as solar, wind, biofuels and fuel cells to address emerging cooling, heating and power needs.

Across 150+ peer-reviewed articles and conference papers he has developed new correlations for flow-boiling and condensation inside micro-fin tubes, revealed mechanisms of flow maldistribution in plate-fin and micro-channel exchangers, and advanced compact heat-exchanger design for HVAC, automotive and process-industry applications. A recent surge of droplet-impact studies extends his thermal-fluid repertoire to phase-change dynamics on novel substrates, contributing to icing mitigation and surface-engineering solutions.

Professional Service:

He serves as reviewer for International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, International Journal of Refrigeration, ASME journals, and is an active member of ASME, ASEE and ASHRAE, reflecting his commitment to dissemination and continuous improvement of engineering education.

Funding & Collaboration:

Recent PI awards include an MTU sustainability grant on food-waste anaerobic digesters and industry gifts supporting heat-exchanger optimization. His research has been supported by federal agencies (DARPA, DOD) and leading corporations, underlining strong translational impact.