Faculty Profile

Tonghun Lee

Mechanical Science and Engineering
Tonghun Lee
Tonghun Lee
Professor
3001 Mechanical Engineering Lab
105 S. Mathews
Urbana Illinois 61801
(217) 300-7107
tonghun@illinois.edu

Primary Research Area

  • Thermo and Heat Transfer

Education

  • Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University (Stanford, USA) 6/2006
  • M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University (Stanford, USA) 3/2002
  • B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University (Seoul, Korea) 3/2000

Academic Positions

  • Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 7/2013-present
  • Associate, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University 6/2011-7/2013
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University 8/2006-6/2011

For more information

Research Interests

  • Combustion & Propulsion: energetically enhanced combustion, advanced hypersonic propulsion systems
  • Alternative Energy Sources: next-generation renewable biofuels, hydrogen based power generation
  • Laser and Optical Diagnostics: high-speed laser diagnostics of chemical and physical parameters in reactive flows

Research Areas

  • Chemistry
  • Energy
  • Environment
  • Thermo and Heat Transfer

Selected Articles in Journals

  • Valco, D., M. Tess, J. Temme, M. Turman, A. Oldani, C. Kweon, A. Oehlschlaeger, T. Lee, "Ignition Characterization of F-76 and Algae-Derived HRD-76 at Elevated Temperature and Pressure," Combustion and Flame, 181, 157-163 (2017).
  • Esclapez, L., P. Ma, E. Mayhew, R. Xu, S. Stouffer, T. Lee, H. Wang, and M. Ihme, "Fuel Effects on Lean Blowout in a Realistic Gas Turbine Combustor, Combustion and Flame," 181, 82-99 (2017).
  • McGann, B., C. Carter, T. Ombrello, S. Hammack, T. Lee, and H. Do, "Gas Property Measurements in a Supersonic Combustor using Nanosecond Gated Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy with Direct Spectrum Matching," Proc. Comb. Symp. 36, 2, 2857-2864 (2017).
  • Skiba, A., T. Wabel, C. Carter, S. Hammack, J. Temme, T. Lee, and J. Driscoll, "Reaction layer visualization: a comparison of two PLIF techniques and advantages of kHz imaging," Proc. Comb. Symp. 36, 3, 4593-4601 (2017).
  • Valco, D., K. Min, A. Oldani, T. Edwards, and T. Lee, "Low Temperature Autoignition of Conventional Jet Fuels and Surrogate Jet Fuels with Targeted Properties in a Rapid Compression Machine," Proc. Comb. Symp. 36, 3, 3687-3694 (2017).
  • Rajasegar, R.,C.M. Mitsingas, E. Mayhew, J. Yoo, and T. Lee, "Proper Orthogonal Decomposition for Analysis of Plasma-Assisted Premixed Swirl-Stabilized Flame Dynamics," IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, 44, 12, 2940-2951 (2016).
  • Jeong, H., J. Kim, J. Park, J. An, T. Lee, F. Prinz, and J. Shim, "Bimetallic Nickel/Ruthenium Catalysts Synthesized by Atomic Layer Deposition for Low-Temperature Direct Methanol Solid Oxide Fuel Cells," Applied Materials & Interfaces, 8(44), 30090-30098 (2016).
  • Liu, Q., D. Baccarella, S. Hammack, T. Lee, C. Carter, and H. Do, "Influences of Inlet Geometry Modification on Scramjet Flow and Flame Dynamics," Journal of Propulsion and Power, http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/1.B36434 (2016).
  • Liu, Q., D. Baccarella, S. Hammack, T. Lee, C. Carter, and Do H.,"Influence of Freestream Turbulence on Flame Dynamics in a Supersonic Combustor," AIAA J., 55, 3, 913-918 (2016).
  • Baccarella, D., Q. Liu, A. Passaro, T. Lee, and H. Do, "Development of testing of the ACT-1 experimental facility for hypersonic combustion research," Measurement Science and Technology, 27, 4 (2016).
  • Ma, L., Y. Wu, W. Xu, S. Hammack, T. Lee, and C. Carter, "Comparison of 2D and 3D flame topography measured by PLIF and tomographic chemiluminescence," Applied Optics, 55, 20, 5310-5315 (2016).
  • Carter, C., S. Hammack, and T. Lee, "High-Speed Flamefront Imaging in Premixed Turbulent Flames using Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence of the CH C-X Band," Combustion and Flame, 168, 66-74 (2016).
  • Mitsingas, C.M., R. Rajasegar, S. Hammack, H. Do, and T. Lee, "High energy efficiency plasma conversion of CO2 at atmospheric pressure using a direct coupled microwave plasma system," IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, 44, 4, 651-656 (2016).
  • Osborne, J., S. Ramji, C. Carter, S. Peltier, S. Hammack, T. Lee, and A. Steinberg, "Simultaneous 10 kHz TPIV, OH PLIF, and CH2O PLIF measurements of turbulent flame structure and dynamics," Experiments in Fluids, 57, 65 (2016).
  • Rajasegar, R., C.M. Mitsingas, E.K. Mayhew, S. Hammack, H. Do, and T. Lee, "Effects of Continuous, Volumetric, Direct Coupled, Non˗Equilibrium, Atmospheric Microwave Plasma Discharge on Swirl Stabilized, Premixed flames," IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, 44, 1, 39-48 (2016).
  • Yoo, J., N. Traina, M. Halloran, and T. Lee, "Minute concentration measurements of simple hydrocarbon species using supercontinuum laser absorption spectroscopy," Applied Spectroscopy, 70, 6, 1063-1071 (2016).
  • McGann, B., C. Carter, T. Ombrello, S. Hammack, T. Lee, H. Do, Direct Spectrum Matching of laser-induced breakdown for concentration and gas density measurements in turbulent reacting flows, Combustion and Flame 162, 12, 4479-4485 (2015).
  • Oldani, A., D. Valco, K. Min, J. Edwards, C. Kweon, C. Allen, and T. Lee, "Conventional and Bio-Derived Jet Fuel Surrogate Modeling in Low Temperature and Lean Combustion," Energy and Fuels, 29 (7), 4597-4607 (2015).
  • Valco, D., G. Gentz, C. Allen, M. Colket, T. Edwards, S. Gowdagiri, M. Oehlschlaeger, E. Toulson, and T. Lee, "Autoignition Behavior of Synthetic Alternative Jet Fuels: An Examination of Chemical Composition Effects on Ignition Delays at Low to Intermediate Temperatures," Proc. Comb. 35 (3), 2983-2991 (2015).
  • Carter, C., S. Hammack, and T. Lee, "High-Speed Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence of the CH Radical Using the C2(sigma)+-X2(pi)(0,0) Band," Applied Physics B, 116, 3, 515-519 (2014).
  • Do, H., C. Carter, Q. Liu, T. Ombrello, S. Hammack, T. Lee, and K-Y. Hsu, "Simultaneous Gas Density and Fuel Concentration Measurements in a Supersonic Combustor using Laser Induced Breakdown," Proc. Comb. Symp. 35 (2), 2155-2162 (2014).
  • Hammack, S., C. Carter, and T. Lee, "Continuous OH Planar Laser Imaging at 50 kHz Repetition Rate," Applied Optics, 53, 23, 5246-5251 (2014).
  • Allen, C., D. Valco, E. Toulson, J. Yoo, and T. Lee, "JP-5 and HRJ-5 Autoignition Characteristics and Surrogate Modeling, Energy and Fuels," 27(12), 7790-7799 (2013).
  • Thelen, B., D. Chun, E. Toulson, and T. Lee, "A study of an Energetically Enhanced Plasma Ignition System for Internal Combustion Engines," IEEE Transactions, Special Issue on Plasma Assisted Technologies, 41, 12, 3223-3232 (2013).
  • Hammack, S., S. Kostka, A. Lynch, C. Carter, and T. Lee, "Simultaneous 10-kHz PLIF and Chemiluminescence Imaging of OH Radicals in a Microwave Plasma-Enhanced Flame," IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, 41, 12, 6612636, 3279-3286 (2013).
  • Williamson, Z., D. Kim, K. Kwon, D. Chun, T. Lee, and C. Squibb, "Evaluation of fin structure effects on a heated air-breathing polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell," Applied Thermal Engineering, 56, 1-2, 54-61(2013).
  • Hammack, S., T. Lee, K. Hsu, and C. Carter, "High-Repetition-Rate OH Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence of a Supersonic Cavity Flameholder," AIAA Journal, 29, 5, 1248-1251 (2013).
  • Williamson, Z., D. Kim, D. Chun, C. Squibb, and T. Lee, "Investigation of fin based oxygen supply modules on the performance of air-breathing polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells," Applied Thermal Engineering, 50, 1, 293-301 (2013).
  • Allen, C., E. Toulson, D. Tepe, H. Schock, D. Miller, and T. Lee, "Characterization of the Effect of Fatty Ester Composition on the Ignition Behavior of Biodiesel Fuel Sprays," Fuels, 111, 659-669 (2013).
  • Allen, C., D. Valco, E. Toulson, T. Edwards, and T. Lee, "Ignition Behavior and Surrogate Modeling of JP-8 and of Camelina and Tallow Hydrotreated Renewable Jet Fuels at Low Temperatures," Combustion and Flame, 160, 2, 232-239 (2012).
  • Hammack, S., J. Gord, C. Carter, and T. Lee, "Nitric Oxide PLIF at 10 kHz in a seeded flow, a plasma discharge, and a flame," Optics Letters, 51, 36, 8817-8824 (2012).
  • Allen, C., E. Toulson, T. Edwards, and T. Lee, "Application of a Novel Charge Preparation Approach to Testing the Autoignition Characteristics of JP-8 and Camelina Hydroprocessed Renewable Jet Fuel in a Rapid Compression Machine," Combustion and Flame, 159, 9, 2780-2788 (2012).
  • Hammack, S., C. Carter, and T. Lee, "Microwave Plasma Enhancement of Various Flame Geometries at Atmospheric Pressure," IEEE Transactions, Special Issue on Plasma Science, 40, 12, 3139-3146 (2012).
  • Allen, C., E. Toulson, D. Hung, H. Schock, D. Miller, and T. Lee, "Ignition Characteristics of Diesel and Canola Biodiesel Sprays in the Low Temperature Combustion Regime," Energy & Fuels, 25 (7), 2895-2908 (2011).
  • Hammack, S., C. Carter, and T. Lee, "Direct Coupled Plasma Assisted Combustion using a Microwave Waveguide Torch," IEEE Transactions, Special Issue on Plasma Science, 39, 12, 3300-3306 (2011).
  • Williamson, Z., D. Kim, D. Chun, C. Squibb, and T. Lee, "Experimental Evaluation of Cell Temperature Effects on Miniature Air Breathing Fuel Cells," Applied Thermal Engineering, 31 (17-18), 3761-3767 (2011).
  • Rao, X., S. Hammack, T. Grotjohn, J. Asmussen, C. Carter, and T. Lee, "Microwave Plasma Coupled Re-Ignition of Methane and Oxygen Mixture under Auto-Ignition Temperature," IEEE Transactions, Special Issue on Plasma Science, 39, 12, 3307-3313 (2011).
  • Rao, X., S. Hammack, C. Carter, and T. Lee, "Laser Diagnostics Imaging of Energetically Enhanced Flames using Direct Microwave Plasma Coupling," IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, 39, 11, 2354-2355 (2011).
  • Toulson, E., C. Allen, J. McFarlane, D. Miller, H. Schock, and T. Lee, "Modeling the Auto-Ignition of Fuel Blends with a Multi-Step Model," Energy and Fuels, 25 (2), 632-639 (2011).
  • Rao, X., S. Hammack, C. Carter, I. Matveev, and T. Lee, "Combustion Dynamics of Plasma Enhanced Premixed and Non-Premixed Flames," IEEE Transactions, Special Issue on Plasma Science, 38, 12, 3265-3271, (2010).
  • Toulson, E., C. Allen, D. Miller, and T. Lee, "Optimization of a Multi-step Model for the Autoignition of Dimethyl Ether in a Rapid Compression Machine," Energy and Fuels, 24 (6), 3510-3516 (2010).
  • Rao, X., K. Hemawan, C. Carter, I. Wichman, T. Grotjohn, J. Asmussen, and T. Lee, "Combustion Dynamics for Energetically Enhanced Flames using Microwave Energy Coupling," Proc. Comb. Symp. 33, 2, 3233-3240 (2010).
  • Allen, C., G. Mittal, C.J. Sung, E. Toulson, and T. Lee, "An Aerosol Rapid Compression Machine for Studying Energetic-Nanoparticle-Enhanced Combustion of Liquid Fuels," Proc. Comb. Symp. 33, 2, 3367-3374 (2010).
  • Ma, L., W. Cai, L. Kranendonk, and T. Lee, "Characterization of composite nanoparticles using an improved light scattering program for coated spheres," Computer Physics Communications, 181, 978-984 (2010).
  • Toulson, E., C. Allen, D. Miller, and T. Lee, "Modeling the Auto-Ignition of Oxygenated Fuels using a Multi-Step Model," Energy and Fuels, 24 (2), 888-896 (2010).
  • Rao, X., I. Matveev, and T. Lee, "Nitric Oxide Formation in a Premixed Flame with High Level Plasma Energy Coupling," IEEE Transactions, Special Issue on Plasma Science, 37, 12, 2303-2313 (2009).
  • Hemawan, K., I. Wichman, T. Lee, T. Grotjohn, and J. Asmussen, "Compact microwave re-enrant cavity applicator for plasma-assisted combustion," Review of Scientific Instrument, 80, 053507 (1-9) (2009).
  • Yoo, J., T. Lee, J.B. Jeffries, and R.K. Hanson, "Detection of Trace Nitric Oxide Concentrations Using 1-D Laser-Induced Fluorescence Imaging," Applied Physics B. 91, 661-667 (2008).
  • Lee, T., W. G. Bessler, J. Yoo, C. Schulz, J.B. Jeffries, and R.K. Hanson, "Fluorescence Quantum Yield of Carbon Dioxide for Quantitative UV Laser-Induced Fluorescence in high-pressure flames," Applied Physics B. 93, 677-685 (2008).
  • Lee, T., J.B. Jeffries, and R.K. Hanson, "Experimental Evaluation of Strategies for Quantitative Laser-Induced-Fluorescence Imaging of Nitric Oxide in High-Pressure Flames (1−60bar)," Proc. Comb. Inst. 31, 757-764 (2007).
  • Lee, T., W. G. Bessler, H. Kronemayer, C. Schulz, J. B. Jeffries, and R. K. Hanson, "Quantitative temperature measurements in high-pressure flames with multi-line NO-LIF thermometry," Applied Optics 44-31, 6718-6728 (2005).
  • Jeffries, J.B., C. Schulz, D.W. Mattison, M.A. Oehlschlaeger, W.G. Bessler, T. Lee, D.F. Davidson, and R.K. Hanson, "UV Absorption of CO2 for Temperature Diagnostics of Hydrocarbon Combustion Applications," Proc. Comb. Inst. 30, 1591-1599 (2005).
  • Bessler, W.G., M. Hofmann, F. Zimmermann, G. Suck, J. Jakobs, S. Nicklitzsch, T. Lee, J. Wolfrum, and C. Schulz, "Quantitative in-cylinder NO-LIF imaging in a realistic gasoline engine with spray-guided direct injection," Proc. Comb. Inst. 30, 2667-2674 (2005).
  • Lee, T., W.G. Bessler, C. Schulz, M. Patel, J. B. Jeffries, and R. K. Hanson, "UV Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence Imaging of Hot Carbon Dioxide in a High-Pressure Flame," Appl. Phys. B 79, 427-430 (2004).
  • Bessler, W.G., C. Schulz, T. Lee, J.B. Jeffries, and R.K. Hanson, "Carbon dioxide UV laser-induced fluorescence in high-pressure flames," Chem. Phys. Lett. 375, 344-349 (2003).
  • Bessler, W.G., C. Schulz, T. Lee, J.B. Jeffries, and R.K. Hanson, "Strategies for laser-induced fluorescence detection of nitric oxide in high-pressure flames: III. Comparison of A-X Strategies," Appl. Opt. 42-24, 4922-4936 (2003).
  • Bessler, W.G., C. Schulz, T. Lee, J.B. Jeffries, and R.K. Hanson, "Strategies for laser-induced fluorescence detection of nitric oxide in high-pressure flames: II," A-X (0,1) excitation, Appl. Opt. 42-12, 2031-2042 (2003).
  • Bessler, W.G., C. Schulz, T. Lee, J.B. Jeffries, and R.K. Hanson, "Strategies for laser-induced fluorescence detection of nitric oxide in high-pressure flames: I," A-X (0,0) excitation, Appl. Opt. 41-18, 3547-3557 (2002).
  • Bessler, W.G., C. Schulz, T. Lee, D.-I. Shin, M. Hofmann, J. B. Jeffries, J. Wolfrum, and R. K. Hanson, "Quantitative NO-LIF imaging in high-pressure flames," Appl. Phys. B 75, 97-102, 0946-2171 (2002).

Teaching Honors

  • Teacher Scholar Award, Michigan State University 2011
  • SAE Ralph R. Teetor Educational Award, SAE International 2010
  • Withrow Teaching Excellence Award, John D. and Dortha J. Withrow Endowment 2009

Research Honors

  • Withrow Junior Distinguished Scholar Award, Michigan State University 2012
  • Air Force Summer Faculty Fellowship, Air Force Research Laboratory 2011
  • ONR Young Investigator Program Award, Office of Naval Research 2011
  • Air Force Summer Faculty Fellowship, Air Force Research Laboratory 2010
  • Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), President Barack Obama 2010
  • AFOSR Young Investigator Program Award, Air Force Office of Scientific Research 2008
  • Air Force Summer Faculty Fellowship, Air Force Research Laboratory 2009
  • IRGP New Faculty Award 2006, Michigan State University 2006
  • Bernard Lewis Fellowship, Combustion Institute 2006