Rebecca Trojanowski
Energy Conversion Group, Interdisciplinary Science Department
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Interdisciplinary Science Department
Bldg. 815
P.O. Box 5000
Upton, NY 11973-5000
(631) 344-5149
rtrojanowski@bnl.gov
Rebecca’s interests focus on research and development efforts to advance building energy systems, reduce fossil fuel dependence, and technical solutions to minimize combustion-related emissions. She has been involved in research projects that include: the evaluation and characterization of liquid fuel alternatives for stationary applications and compatibility studies with legacy equipment, thermochemical conversion of biomass to fuels and chemicals through pyrolysis and gasification (with the use of commercial and nano-catalysts to upgrade bio-oils), the impact of control strategies, fuel source, and catalysts to mitigate emissions and increase efficiency from residential heating appliances (liquid, gas and solid fuels), mapping the performance of cold-climate air-source heat pumps under actual field conditions, and advancing heat exchanger designs to improve system performance and efficiency. She is also now a lead mentor for trace gases (CO, Ozone, SO2) and the PSAP, part of DOE’s Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility.
Education | Publications | Awards
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
P.O. Box 5000
Upton, NY 11973-5000
(631) 344-5149
rtrojanowski@bnl.gov
