Dr. Li received his Ph.D. degree from Clemson University in 1999 and currently serves as a professor in the Department of mechanical Engineering at Lamar University. He is interested in research related to renewable and conventional energy system analysis, heat transfer enhancement, combustion optimization, emission reduction, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). He initiated studies of film cooling with mist injection and film cooling with backward injection.

He applied numerical simulation to different areas such as gas turbine cooling, industry flare species and emissions, and ventilation with solar chimney. Besides modeling and simulation, Dr. Li’s research also covers various experimental studies using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), Phase Doppler Particle analyzer (PDPA), Infrared (IR) images, and spectrum analyzer.

Beyond his research experience in fundamentals of thermal-fluid science, he had worked with different power and chemical plants to improve their energy efficiencies. In addition, he applied his expertise in environmental science, for example, bubble flow in water and chamber design for mercury measurement.

His recent projects include gas turbine/steam turbine system modeling and numerical prediction of industrial flare soot yield.