Rebecca Trojanowski
Energy Conversion Group, Interdisciplinary Science Department
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Interdisciplinary Science Department
Bldg. 815, Room 2-6
P.O. Box 5000
Upton, NY 11973-5000
(631) 344-5149
rtrojanowski@bnl.gov
Rebecca’s research focuses on advancing high-efficiency building energy systems, optimizing fuel flexibility, and improving combustion performance to support reliable and cost-effective energy solutions. Her work contributes to the development of next-generation energy technologies that improve efficiency, emissions performance, and fuel adaptability across diverse applications. In addition to her research, Rebecca has previously served as the lead mentor for trace gas measurements (CO, O3, SO2) and the PSAP instrument as part of DOE’s Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility, supporting efforts to enhance air quality monitoring and atmospheric science research.
Research | Education | Publications | Awards
Research Activities
She has led and contributed to research and development projects that include:
- Evaluation and characterization of liquid fuel alternatives for stationary applications, including compatibility studies with legacy equipment to ensure a smooth transition to emerging fuel options.
- Thermochemical conversion of biomass to fuels and chemicals through pyrolysis and gasification, with catalytic upgrading of bio-oils using both commercial and nano-catalysts.
- Optimizing combustion systems by assessing the impact of control strategies, fuel sources, and catalysts to improve efficiency and reduce emissions from residential heating appliances across liquid, gas, and solid fuels.
- Performance mapping of cold-climate air-source heat pumps under real-world field conditions, ensuring reliability and efficiency in diverse environments.
- Advancing heat exchanger designs to improve overall system performance and thermal efficiency.
- Industry collaboration through the Wood Heater Innovation Collaboration CRADA, working alongside manufacturers to develop and test next-generation wood heating technologies that improve efficiency and reduce emissions while ensuring real-world feasibility.
Education
Eng. Sc.D., Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University. 2023 (completed on part-time basis)
M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute. 2014
B.S., Chemical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute. 2011
Selected Publications
- Loprete J, Trojanowski R, Butcher T, et al (2024) Enabling residential heating decarbonization through hydronic low-temperature thermal distribution using forced-air assistive devices. Applied Energy 353:122031. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2023.122031
- Caubel JJ, Trojanowski R, Butcher T, Rapp VH (2023) A review of regulatory standard test methods for residential wood heaters and recommendations for their advancement. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 184:113501. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2023.113501
- Trojanowski R, Lindberg J, Butcher T, Fthenakis V (2022) Realistic operation of two residential cordwood-fired outdoor hydronic heater appliances—Part 1: Particulate and gaseous emissions. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association 72:738–761. https://doi.org/10.1080/10962247.2022.2044409
- Panessa-Warren B, Butcher T, Warren JB, et al (2022) Wood combustion nanoparticles emitted by conventional and advanced technology cordwood boilers, and their interactions in vitro with human lung epithelial monolayers. Biofuel Research Journal 9:1659–1671. https://doi.org/10.18331/brj2022.9.3.3
- Butcher TA, Trojanowski R (2020) Effect of Thermal Storage on the Emissions and Efficiency Performance of a Wood-Pellet-Fired Residential Boiler. ACS Omega 5:28517–28528. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.0c03080
- Trojanowski R, Fthenakis V (2019) Nanoparticle emissions from residential wood combustion: A critical literature review, characterization, and recommendations. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 103:515–528. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2019.01.007
- Trojanowski R, Butcher T, Worek M, Wei G (2016) Polymer heat exchanger design for condensing boiler applications. Applied Thermal Engineering 103:150–158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.03.004
- Yang K, Endoh M, Trojanowski R, et al (2015) The thermo-mechanical response of PP nanocomposites at high graphene loading. Nanocomposites 1:126–137. https://doi.org/10.1179/2055033215y.0000000008
- Mante OD, Butcher TA, Wei G, et al (2015) Evaluation of Biomass-Derived Distillate Fuel as Renewable Heating Oil. Energy & Fuels 29:6536–6543. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.5b01751
Awards & Recognition
Best Young Researcher- Biomass at 2017 World Sustainable Energy Days in Wels, Austria
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Interdisciplinary Science Department
Bldg. 815, Room 2-6
P.O. Box 5000
Upton, NY 11973-5000
(631) 344-5149
rtrojanowski@bnl.gov
