Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering program (CFDA 47.041) awarded Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) a $575,000 project grant effective February 1, 2026, through January 31, 2031, to develop advanced aerodynamic modeling tools for energy harvesting in stratified boundary layers. The project addresses critical gaps in turbomachinery design by creating computational models that account for realistic operating environments, specifically the interaction between turbomachinery flows and atmospheric or oceanic conditions. Using large eddy simulations (LES), the research systematically isolates and analyzes multi-scale fluid dynamics phenomena, including rotor aerodynamics, turbine wakes, and boundary layer entrainment, to generate first-principles engineering models for thrust and power prediction optimization.

The deliverables include open-source computational tools to be shared publicly via GitHub for design and control optimization of modern turbines, coupled with model validation against wind tunnel and field data. Additionally, the project incorporates an educational component developing hands-on K-12 learning activities focused on wind power generation and energy engineering. These products are designed to enhance U.S. energy infrastructure capabilities and encourage student pursuit of careers in energy engineering. The research will be conducted at MIT's Cambridge, Massachusetts facility under the NSF Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems.