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Dr. Trevor M. Moeller


Research Associate Professor
Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering and Engineering Science
University of Tennessee Space Institute
Tullahoma, TN 37388-9700

(931) 393-7351
tmoeller@utsi.edu

Dr. Trevor M. Moeller

Education

  • B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, May 1991. Graduated Suma Cum Laude
  • M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Tennessee, August 1993. Thesis Title: “Comparison of Experimental and Numerical Results for Radiation Cooled and Water Cooled Hydrogen Arcjets”
  • Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Tennessee, May 1998. Dissertation Title: “Cascade Arc Studies of Nonequilibrium Hydrogen/Nitrogen Plasmas”

Professional Experience

  • 2004-present: UT Space Institute, Research Associate Professor
    Dr. Moeller’s primary responsibility is to develop and sustain a significant research program in plasma physics. He has broad interests in plasma physics including the modeling and testing of electric propulsion devices, plasma diagnostics, and the generation of nonthermal plasmas for chemical processing and surface treatment. He also has interest in the utilization of plasmas for hydrogen production and materials processing. Dr. Moeller is currently the principal investigator of three programs with a total funding level exceeding $1M.
  • 1998-2004: InnovaTek, Inc., Research Engineer
    Dr. Moeller led many of InnovaTek’s technology development efforts. He researched plasma surface treatment technologies and developed equipment for the decontamination of biological (anthrax) and chemical (Sarin) warfare agents and contributed to the development of a portable air sampling system for use by the US military. He was the prime investigator on two projects: 1) the development of a microchannel combustor for fuel processing (hydrogen production) for the US Navy and 2) the design, fabrication and testing of an air plasma device for chemical and biological weapons decontamination for the US Air Force. Dr. Moeller participated in the development of InnovaTek’s patented BioguardianŽ aerosol collectors and InnovagenŽ fuel processing technology being developed for the production of hydrogen for fuel cells. Dr. Moeller acted as the technical lead on the thermal management issues associated with the InnovagenŽ fuel processor. He directed the work activities of technical staff, scientists and technicians. He also prepared proposals, wrote technical reports for publication and managed project budgets. Dr. Moeller acted as principal investigator or co-principal investigator on projects with a total funding level of over $460k.
  • 1991-1998: Center for Laser Applications, University of Tennessee, Graduate Research Assistant
    For his master’s degree, Dr. Moeller’s developed computer models for plasma satellite thrusters that determined that arcjet propellant plasmas are in thermal and chemical nonequilibrium. He also determined that these plasma properties were insufficiently characterized to allow realistic computer simulations. For his doctoral studies, he designed and supervised the fabrication and construction of the UTSI Cascade Arc Facility. This facility was used to compare and validate new research models. He prepared funding proposals, status reports, and documented the work in journal articles and conference presentations.

Courses Taught

  • AE599 Electric Propulsion

Research Interests

Dr. Moeller has broad interests in plasma physics and electromagnetics. Areas of interest include:

  • modeling and testing of electric propulsion devices
  • electromagnetic acceleration
  • plasma diagnostics
  • generation of nonthermal plasmas for chemical processing and surface treatment
  • utilization of plasmas for hydrogen production and materials processing

Patents

  • Irving, Patricia M., Allen, W. Lloyd, Hindman, Nathan D., Moeller, Trevor M., Mini-Cyclone Biocollector and Concentrator, InnovaTek, Inc., US Patent No. 6,468,330 B1, October 22, 2002.

Publications and Presentations

  • Trevor Moeller and Young Chang, “MACH2 Simulations of a Laser Ablation Thruster,” submitted to Actuators A.
  • Gerry Dozier, Win Britt, Michael SanSoucie, Patrick Hull, Michael Tinker, Ron Unger, Steve Bancroft, Trevor Moeller and Dan Rooney, “Evolving High-Performance Evolutionary Computations for Space Vehicle Design,” IEEE World Congress on Computational Intelligence, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, July 16-21, 2006.
  • T. Moeller, R. Rhodes, D. Keefer, C. Merkle and D. Li, “Experimental ad Computer Simulation Studies of a Pulsed Plasma Accelerator,” To be presented at the 33rd IEEE International Conference on Plasma Science, Traverse City, Michigan, June 4 through June 8, 2006.
  • T. Moeller, D. Keefer, R. Rhodes, D. Rooney, D. Li, and C. Merkle, “Comparison of Experimental and Computational Simulations Results of a Pulsed Plasma Accelerator,” IEPC-2005-008, presented at the 29th International Electric Propulsion Conference, Princeton University, October 31 – November 4, 2005.
  • P.D. Pedrow, R. Dhar, T.M. Moeller, Q. Ming, K.C. Lidell, and M.A. Osman, “Synthesis of Platinum-Loaded Zirconia on Fecralloy Using Composite Plasma-Polymerized Films.” IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, Volume 33, Issue 6, Part 2, Dec. 2005 Page(s):2035 – 2045.
  • Romit Dhar, Patrick D. Pedrow, Knona C. Liddell, Quentin Ming, Trevor M. Moeller, and Mohamed A. Osman, “Plasma Enhanced Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (PEMOCVD) of Catalytic Coatings for Fuel Cell Reformers,” IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, Vol. 33, Issue 1, Part 2, Feb. 2005, pp. 138-146.
  • T. Moeller, D. Keefer, and R. Rhodes, “Experimental Pulsed Plasma Thruster for Code Evaluation.” Presented at the 31st IEEE International Conference on Plasma Science, Baltimore, MD, June 28 – July 1, 2004.
  • P.D. Pedrow, R. Dhar, T.M. Moeller, Q. Ming, K.C. Lidell, and M.A. Osman, “Synthesis of Platinum-Loaded Zirconia on Fecralloy Using Composite Plasma-Polymerized Films.” Presented at the 31st IEEE International Conference on Plasma Science, Baltimore, MD, June 28 – July 1, 2004.
  • Trevor M. Moeller, “Mechanisms in an Air Plasma for the Destruction of Biological Surface Contaminants.” Presented at the 2002 Joint Service Chemical and Biological Decontamination Conference, San Diego, CA, October 21-October 24, 2002
  • Trevor M. Moeller, Michael L. Alexander, Mark H. Engelhard, Daniel J. Gaspar, Maria L. Luna, and Patricia M. Irving, “Surface Decontamination of Simulated Chemical Warfare Agents Using a Nonequilibrium Plasma with Off-Gas Monitoring,” IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, August 2002.
  • Trevor Moeller, Dennis Keefer, and Robert Rhodes, “Cascade Arc Studies of Hydrogen/Nitrogen Plasmas in Nonequilibrium,” Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 18, No. 1, January-February 2002.