Directory
Andrew Chiasson
Associate Professor; Assistant Director, Industrial Training and Assessment Center; HSI Director Catalyzing Institutional Transformation
Full-Time Faculty
School of Engineering: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Biography
Andrew Chiasson currently is an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, where he conducts research and teaches courses in the areas of energy efficient buildings, geothermal energy, solar energy, heat transfer and thermodynamics. He is the Director of the Master's Program in Renewable and Clean Energy, Director of the Building Energy Center, Assistant Director of the UD's Industrial Training and Assessment Center and Director of Catalyzing Institutional Transformation at the Hanley Sustainability Institute. Specializing in energy transfers in the natural and built environment, he has been involved with numerous projects related to thermal energy applications such as: heating and cooling of buildings, heat pump applications, thermal energy storage, low energy-use homes, district energy systems, greenhouse heating, fish farming, zoo habitat heating, snow melting and turf heating, pond and pool heating, onion dehydration, beer brewing, ethanol production, biodiesel production, thermal energy extraction from underground coal fires and geothermal electric power generation. Dr. Chiasson has been extensively involved in research and development of design and simulation tools for optimal earth heat exchanger coupling, hybrid geothermal systems, and underground solar energy storage. Dr. Chiasson’s research citations can be found here on Google Scholar. Dr. Chiasson is a member of ASHRAE Technical Committees, faculty lead of the ASHRAE student branch at the University of Dayton and is an International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) member and past certified ground-source heat pump installer and trainer (2006-18). Prior to joining UD, Dr. Chiasson worked in engineering consulting practice as a Professional Engineer in the United States and in Canada.
Selected Publications
Books
- DiPippo, R., Gutiérrez-Negrín, L.C., and Chiasson, A.D. (Eds.), 2025. Geothermal Power Generation: Developments and Innovation, 2nd Edition. Woodhead Publishing (Elsevier), 880 p.
- Chiasson, A. D. (2016). Geothermal heat pumps and heat engines: Theory and practice. New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
Book Chapters
- Chiasson, A. D., Kissock, J., & Selvacanabady, A. (2019). Lean energy buildings: Applications of machine learning, optimal central chilled-water systems, and hybrid solar-ground source heat pump systems. In A. Vasel & D. S. K. Ting (Eds.), Advances in sustainable energy, lecture notes in energy series (vol. 70, chapter 4, pp. 59-92). Springer. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-05636-0
- Chiasson, A. D. (2016). Waste heat rejection methods in geothermal power generation. In R. DiPippo, Chancellor Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (Ed.), Geothermal power generation: Developments and innovation (chapter 15). Oxford, UK: Woodhead Publishing, Ltd.
- Chiasson, A. D. (2015). Direct use of geothermal energy. In J. Yan, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden (Ed.), Handbook of clean energy systems (vol. 1: Renewable energy, chapter 35, pp. 621-633). New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
Journal Articles and Conference Papers
- Almoatham, S., Chiasson, A. Mulford, R., and Moreno-Pena, M., 2024. Development of data-informed models for nocturnal cooling with photovoltaic thermal systems. Solar Energy, International Solar Energy Society (ISES), Vol. 268, 15 Jan (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2023.112279).
- Hoody, P., Chiasson, A. and Brecha, R.J., 2023. The transition to a renewable energy electric grid in the Caribbean Island Nation of Antigua and Barbuda. Energies 2023, 16, 6206 (https://doi.org/10.3390/en16176206).
- Kaheal, M.M., Chiasson, A.D., and Alsehli. M, 2023. Component-based, dynamic simulation of a novel once through multistage flash (MSF-OT) solar thermal desalination plant. Desalination, Elsevier, Vol 548,15 Feb, (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2022.116290).
- Aljabr, A., Chiasson, A.D., and Alhajjaji, A., 2021. Numerical modeling of the effects of micro-encapsulated phase change materials intermixed with grout in vertical borehole heat exchangers. Geothermics, Elsevier, Vol. 96 (November). (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geothermics.2021.102197)
- Elhasmi, R., Hallinan, K., and Chiasson, A.D., 2020. Low-energy opportunity for multi-family residences: A review and simulation-based study of a solar borehole thermal energy storage system. Energy, Elsevier, Vol. 204 (August). (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2020.117870)
- Alkhwildi, A., Elhasmi, R., and Chiasson, A.D., 2020. Parametric modeling and simulation of low temperature energy storage for cold-climate multi-family residences using a geothermal heat pump system with integrated phase change material storage tank. Geothermics, Elsevier, Vol. 86 (July). (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geothermics.2020.101864)
- Shea, R., Worsham, M., Chiasson, A.D., Kissock, J., and McCall, B.J., 2020. A lifecycle cost analysis of transitioning to a fully electrified, renewably powered, and carbon neutral campus at the University of Dayton. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, Elsevier, Vol. 37. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2019.100576.)
- Kastrinos, J., Chiasson, A. D., & Ormond, P. (2019, November). Estimating groundwater heat exchange in a standing column well by injection of a bromide tracer. Geothermics, 82, 121-127, Elsevier.
- Alsagri, A., Chiasson, A. D., & Gadalla, M. (2019). Viability assessment of a concentrating solar power tower with supercritical CO2 Brayton-cycle power plant. Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, 141(5), 15 pages, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).
- Alsagri, A., Chiasson, A. D., & Aljabr, A. (2018, November). Performance comparison and parametric analysis of super-critical CO2 power cycle configurations. Proceedings of the ASME 2018 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, IMECE2018, Pittsburgh, PA.
- Chiasson, A. D., & Elhasmi, R. (2017). Alternate approach to the calculation of thermal response factors for vertical borehole ground heat exchanger arrays using an incomplete Bessel functions. Proceedings of the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGHSHPA) Technical Conference.
- Chiasson, A. D., & Yavuzturk, C. (2014). Simulation of hybrid solar-geothermal heat pump systems. Proceedings of the 39th Stanford Workshop on Geothermal Reservoir Engineering, 39(9), Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
- Chiasson, A. D. (2012). Thermal response testing of geothermal wells for downhole heat exchanger applications. Proceedings of the 37th Stanford Workshop on Geothermal Reservoir Engineering, 37(5), Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
- Chiasson, A. D. (2011). A feasibility study of a district hybrid geothermal heat pump system in northern Canada. Geothermal Resources Council Transactions, 35, 1071-1076.
- Chiasson, A. D., & O’Connell, A. (2011). New analytical solution for sizing vertical borehole ground heat exchangers in environments with significant groundwater flow: Parameter estimation from thermal response test data. HVAC & R Research, 17(6), 1000-1011.
- Chiasson, A. D. (2010). Modeling horizontal ground heat exchangers in geothermal heat pump systems. Proceedings of the 2010 COMSOL Multiphysics Conference, Boston, MA.
- Chiasson, A. D., & Yavuzturk, C. (2009). A design tool for hybrid geothermal heat pump systems in heating-dominated buildings. ASHRAE Transactions, 115(2), 60-73.
- Chiasson, A. D., & Yavuzturk, C. (2009). A design tool for hybrid geothermal heat pump systems in cooling-dominated buildings. ASHRAE Transactions, 115(2), 74-87.
- Chiasson, A. & Gill, A. T. (2008). Field performance assessment of downhole heat exchangers in Puna District, Hawaii. Geothermal Resources Council Transactions, 32, 3-8.
- Chiasson, A. D., Yavuzturk, C., & Walrath, D. E. (2007). Evaluation of electricity generation from underground coal fires and waste banks. ASME Journal of Energy Resources Technology, 129(2), 81-88.
- Chiasson, A. (2006). A simplified design method for PEX plastic downhole heat exchangers. Geothermal Resources Council Transactions, 30, 191-196.
- Chiasson, A., Culver, G., Favata, D, & Keiffer, S. (2005). Design, installation, and monitoring of a new downhole heat exchanger. Geothermal Resources Council Transactions, 29, 51-56.
- Orio, C. D., Johnson, C. N., Rees, S. J., Chiasson, A., Zheng, D., & Spitler, J. D. (2005). A survey of standing column well installations in North America. ASHRAE Transactions, 111(2), 109-121.
- Yavuzturk, C., Ksaibati, K., & Chiasson, A. (2005). Assessment of temperature fluctuations in asphalt pavements due to thermal environmental conditions using a two-dimensional, transient finite-difference approach. ASCE Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 17(4), 465-475.
- Chiasson, A. & Yavuzturk, C. (2003). Assessment of the performance of hybrid geothermal heat pump systems with solar thermal collectors. ASHRAE Transactions, 109(2), 487-500.
- Yavuzturk, C. & Chiasson, A. (2002). Performance analysis of U-tube, concentric tube, and standing column well earth heat exchangers using a system simulation approach. ASHRAE Transactions, 108(1), 925-938.
- Chiasson, A. & Spitler, J. D. (2001). Modeling approach to design of a ground-source heat pump bridge deck heating system. Transportation Research Record, NRC 1741, 207-215.
- Ramamoorthy, M., Jin H., Chiasson, A. & Spitler, J. D. (2001). optimal sizing of hybrid ground-source heat pump systems that use a cooling pond as a supplemental heat rejecter – A system simulation approach. ASHRAE Transactions, 107(1), 26-38.
- Chiasson, A., Spitler, J. D., Rees, S. J., & Smith, M. D. (2000). A model for simulating the performance of a pavement heating system as a supplemental heat rejecter with closed-loop ground-source heat pump systems. Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, ASME, 122(4), 183-191.
- Chiasson, A., Spitler, J. D., Rees, S. J., & Smith, M. D. (2000). A model for simulating the performance of a shallow pond as a supplemental heat rejecter with closed-loop ground-source heat pump systems. ASHRAE Transactions, 106(2), 107-121.
- Chiasson, A., Rees, S. J., & Spitler, J. D. (2000). A preliminary assessment of the effects of ground-water flow on closed-loop ground-source heat pump systems. ASHRAE Transactions, 106(1), 380-393.
Selected Research and Work (Current and Past)
- Ohio Lean Buildings Program. Sponsored by Ohio Development Services Agency through U.S. Department of Energy.
- Geothermal HVAC – Novel Designs in Borehole Thermal Energy Storage Systems. Sponsored by U.S. Department of Energy SBIR Program (Phases I & II,) with Melink Corp.
- Grid Integration of Renewable Energy Sources ("Smart Grid" with "Smart Buildings"). Sponsored by ETIC of Oregon.
- Studies of the Use of Jet A to Replace JP-8 Fuel. Sponsored by AFRL.
- Development of a novel software design tool for hybrid solar-geothermal heat pump systems in heating-and cooling-dominated buildings. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy.
- Performance Analysis and Comparison of Horizontal Ground Heat Exchangers. Sponsored by Waterfurnace.
- Assessment of Thermal Stresses in Asphalt Pavements due to Environmental Conditions including Freeze and Thaw Cycles. Sponsored through Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute and MPC of DOT.
- Assessment of Temperature Fluctuations in Asphalt Pavements Due to Thermal Environmental Conditions using a Two-Dimensional, Transient Finite Difference Approach. Sponsored by Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute and Mountain Plains Consortium of DOT.
- Feasibility of Generating Electricity using Thermal Energy Extracted from existing Underground Coal and Waste Bank Fires. Sponsored by NSF-STTR.
Courses Taught
- EGR 202 Thermodynamics
- MEE 410 Heat Transfer
- MEE 456/RCL 556 Energy Systems Engineering
- MEE 461/RCL 561 Solar Energy Engineering
- MEE 462/RCL 562 Geothermal Energy Systems
- MEE 473/RCL 573 Renewable Energy Systems
Degrees
- Ph.D., University of Wyoming, 2007
- M.S., Oklahoma State University, 1999
- M.A.Sc., University of Windsor, Canada, 1992
- B.A.Sc., University of Windsor, Canada, 1989
Licenses, Certifications, and Credentials
- Licensed Professional Engineer: Michigan, USA; and Alberta, Canada
Professional Activities
- ASHRAE
- International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA)
- Geothermics (International Journal of Geothermal Research and its Applications) – Associate Editor
Research Interests
- Thermal systems simulation and optimization
- Energy efficient buildings
- Geothermal heat pumps and geothermal energy
- Solar energy utilization
- District/community energy systems