Jean-Michel Tournier
Research Assistant Professor
Farris Engineering Center - Room 243

505 277.7961
tournier@unm.edu

 

Education:

  • Ph.D. University of New Mexico Engineering, 1996
  • P.E. École Centrale des Arts et Manufactures de Paris, France, 1988
  • M.S. University PARIS XIII Applied Mathematics, 1986

 

Research

  • Thermal management of terrestrial and space nuclear power systems: thermal-hydraulics, pumped loops, alkali metal and low-temperature (water,…) heat pipes, phase-change, interfacial phenomena.
  • Design, optimization and analysis of novel static and dynamic energy converters; turbomachinery, Closed Brayton Cycles, ThermoElectrics, Alkali Metal Thermal-to-Electric Converters (AMTEC)
  • Plutonia coated-particle fuel for use in advanced radioisotope power systems and heat units.
  • Numerical modeling of the trasient operation of integrated power systems.
  • Development of engineering software with stable/accurate numerical solution techniques for optimizing and modeling complex systems involving strongly coupled multi-physics processes.

Professional Experience

  • 1996 - Present: Research Assistant Professor , The Institute for Space and Nuclear Power Studies, Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Department • University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM.

Awards

  • Patent Application No. 12/152,386: Methods and Apparatuses for Removal and Transport of Thermal Energy
  • ASME Journal of Heat Transfer and National Heat Transfer Conference Reviewer
  • Space Technology and Applications International Forum (STAIF):
    •Conference Program Coordinator (2008):http://www.unm.edu/~isnps/staifhome.html
    •Award Committee Judge (1998-2004)
    •Outstanding Paper Award (1998): AMTEC Performance and Evaluation Analysis Model (APEAM): Comparison with Test Results
    •Manuel Lujan, Jr. Best Student Paper Award (1996): Transient Analysis of the Startup of a Sodium Heat Pipe from a Frozen State

Teaching


•ChNE 314 Thermodynamics and Nuclear systems
•First-Choice Substitute Teacher: ChNE 464 Thermal-Hydraulics of Nuclear systems; ChNE 468/568 Introduction to Space Nuclear Power

 

Selected Publications:

  • El-Genk, M. S. and J.-M. Tournier, "Development and Validation of a Model for the Chemical Kinetics of Graphite Oxidation," Journal of Nuclear Materials, 411, 2011, 193 - 207.
  • El-Genk, M. S. and J.-M. Tournier, "Effects of Working Fluid and shaft Rotation Speed on the Performance of HTR Plants and the Size of CBC Turbo-Machine," Nuclear Engineering and Design, 239, 2009, 1811-1827.
  • Tournier, J.-M. and M. S. El-Genk, "Properties of Noble Gases and Binary Mixtures for Closed Brayton Cycle Applications," Journal of Energy Conversion and Management, 49 (3), 2008, 469-492.
  • El-Genk, M. S. and J.-M. Tournier, "DynMo-TE: Dynamic Simulation Model of Space Reactor Power System with ThermoElectric Converters," Nuclear Engineering and Design, 236 (23), 2006, 2501-2529.
  • Tournier, J.-M. and M. S. El-Genk, "Liquid Metal Loop and Heat Pipe Radiator for Space Reactor Power Systems," Journal of Propulsion and Power, 22 (5), 2006, 1117-1134.
  • El-Genk, M. S. and J.-M. Tournier, "A Review of Refractory Metal Alloys and Mechanically Alloyed-Oxide Dispersion Strengthened Steels for Space Nuclear Power Systems," J. of Nuclear Materials, 340, 2005, 93-112.
  • El-Genk, M. S. and J.-M. Tournier, "SAIRS - Scalable AMTEC Integrated Reactor Space Power System," International Journal of Progress in Nuclear Energy, 45 (1), 2004, 25-69.
  • El-Genk, M. S. and J.-M. Tournier, "AMTEC/TE Static Converters for High Energy Utilization, Small Nuclear Power Plants," Energy Conversion and Management, 45, 2004, 511-535.
  • Tournier, J.-M. and M. S. El-Genk, "Startup of a Horizontal Lithium-Molybdenum Heat Pipe from a Frozen State," International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 46, 2003, 671-685.
  • El-Genk, M. S. and J.-M. Tournier, "Performance Comparison of Potassium and Sodium Vapor Anode, Multi-Tube AMTEC Converters," Journal of Energy Conversion and Management, 43, 2002, 1931-1951.
  • El-Genk, M. S. and J.-M. Tournier, "Performance Analysis of Coated Plutonia Particle Fuel Compact for Radioisotope Heater Units," Journal of Nuclear Engineering and Design, 208 (1), 2001, 29-50.
  • El-Genk, M. S. and J.-M. Tournier, "Design Optimization and Integration of Nickel/Haynes-25 AMTEC Cells into Radioisotope Power Systems," Journal of Energy Conversion and Management, 41, 2000, 1703-1728.
  • Tournier, J.-M. and M. S. El-Genk, "An Electric Model of a Vapor-Anode, Multi-Tube Alkali-Metal Thermal-to-Electric Converter," Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, 29 (11), 1999, 1263-1275.
  • Tournier, J.-M. and M. S. El-Genk, "Analysis of Test Results of a Ground Demonstration of a Pluto/Express Power Generator," Journal of Energy Conversion and Management, 40, 1999, 1113-1128.
  • Tournier, J.-M. and M. S. El-Genk, "Transient Analysis of the Startup of a Water Heat Pipe from a Frozen State," Journal of Numerical Heat Transfer - Part A, Applications, 28, 1995, 461-486.
  • Tournier, J.-M. and M. S. El-Genk, "A Segregated Solution Technique for Simulating the Transient Operation of Heat Pipes," Journal of Numerical Heat Transfer - Part B, Fundamentals, 25 (3), 1994, 331-355.

    For complete listing of publications click here.