Kevin Lyons

Dr. Lyons is interested in chemically reacting flows, imaging measurement in combustion experiments, flow control for propulsion applications, manipulation of reaction zones with electric and magnetic fields, industrial burner design, flame stabilization, spray combustion, turbulent mixing, and flame threats to fire fighters and soldiers. He has been on the NCSU-MAE faculty since receiving his Ph.D. from Yale University in 1994.

At the undergraduate level he teaches Engineering Thermodynamics I and II (MAE 201 and 302) . 201 is the students’ first class in thermodynamics and the material presented related to property evaluation, phase diagrams, the 1st Law of Thermodynamics and an introduction to engineering devices. Lyons places a particular emphasis on these background fundamentals for the development of strong problem-solving skills. MAE 302 deals with topics in engine cycles, heating, air conditioning, combustion, high speed flow and an introduction to statistical thermodynamics. Additionally, Lyons is enjoying teaching MAE 412, which is a project course in thermal-fluids. While part of the course is devoted to pumps and heat exchangers, much of the course is directed at team project work in thermo-fluids, involving both standard as well as emerging topics of interest.

At the graduate level, he sometimes teaches Advanced Engineering Thermodynamics (MAE 501) and Statistical Thermodynamics (MAE 702). MAE 501 is a course that investigates thermodynamics from a more fundamental perspective than that encountered in typical undergraduate thermodynamics. MAE 702 examines the meaning of energy and temperature at the microscopic-level and develops the connection between microscopic and macroscopic thermophysics. Special topics courses in research areas can be offered depending on demand. As a faculty advisor, Lyons thinks it is important for his students to become independent investigators, appreciating the importance that comes from formulating experiments that are simple, yet telling. He provides his students the freedom to follow their own directions, with an eye toward open-ended research and discovery. These types of skills will serve them well whether destined for careers in industrial research, academia or government laboratories.