Hameed Metghalchi
Professor,
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Contact
- m.metghalchi@northeastern.edu
- 334 SN
360 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
Office
- 319 SN
- 617.373.2973
Lab
- 011 FR
Research Focus
Thermodynamics, combustion, chemical kinetics, renewable energy, exergy analysis
Education
- ScD (1980), Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- MS (1977), Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- BS (1975), Mechanical Engineering, Oklahoma University
Honors & Awards
- Honorary Member of ASME
- Honorary Fellow of the International Society for Energy, Environment, and Sustainability
- Life Fellow of ASME
- 2019 ASME George Westinghouse Gold Medal
- 2014 ASME Edward F. Obert award
- Editor-in-Chief, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Open Journal of Engineering, 2022-present
- Editor-in-Chief, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Journal of Energy Resources Technology, 2013-2022
- 2011 ASME Harry Potter Award
- 2011 ASME Dedicated Service Award
- Member of Board of Editors of International Journal of Thermodynamics
Teaching Interests
- Undergraduate and graduate thermodynamics
- Combustion Fundamentals
Professional Affiliations
- Honorary member of American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
- Life Fellow, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
- Member, Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
- Member, Combustion Institute
- Member, American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE)
Research Overview
Thermodynamics, combustion, chemical kinetics, renewable energy, exergy analysis
Thermodynamics and Combustion Laboratory
The research concentrates on thermodynamics and combustion. The thermodynamic research involves equilibrium and non-equilibrium thermodynamics dealing with fundamental relations and determination of Onsager’s coefficients for reacting gas mixtures.
The laboratory conducts both experimental and theoretical combustion research. The experimental work covers fundamental research in flame speed measurement and autoignition using constant volume vessel with high speed photograph. The theoretical kinetic studies is the implementation of Rate-Controlled Constrained-Equilibrium in complex chemical reacting system.
Selected Research Projects
- A Study on Burning Iron Particles as Carbon-Free Circular Fuels with co-Generation of Value-Added Nanomaterials
- – co-Principal Investigator, National Science Foundation
- Combustion of GTL Fuel
- – Principal Investigator, Qatar Foundation
- LSAMP Research Project
- – Principal Investigator, National Science Foundation
Department Research Areas
Selected Publications
- Zhenyu Lu, Ziyu Wang, Hameed Metghalchi, and Yiannis Levendis, “Measurement of Laminar Burning Speed of propylene, Carbon Dioxide and Air Mixtures”, Spring Technical Meeting, Eastern States Section of the Combustion Institute, March 6-9, 2022, Orlando, Florida.
- Zhenyu, Lu and Hameed Metghalchi, “Measurement of Laminar Burning Speed of propylene, Carbon Dioxid and Air Mixtures at High Temperatures”, Spring Technical Meeting, Eastern States Section of the Combustion Institute, March 10-13, 2024, Athens, Georgia.
- Zenouzi, M, Kowalski, G. J., and Metghalchi, H., “Mechanical Engineering Curriculum Modifications and Adaptions to Address Climate Mitigation and Changes in the Energy Mix”, Proceedings of the ASME 2024, IMECE, November 17-21, 2024, Portland, Oregon.
- Maheswaran, B, Sridhar, M, Levendis, Y., and Metghalchi, H., “Developing a Sustainable Engineering Mindset Through Heliostat Activities in Project-Based Learning”. Presented in 2025 ASEE Northeast Section Conference, March 22, 2025, University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT, USA.
- Kowalski, G. J, levendis, L., and Metghalchi, H., “Integrating Concentrating Solar Power Technologies into the Northeastern University Engineering Curriculum”. Presented in SPIE Optics conference in San Diego, CA, 5-7 August 2025.
Sep 11, 2025
Unexpected Path to Innovative Research on Concentrated Solar Power
Benjamin Lynch, E’24, PhD’29, mechanical engineering, was always interested in engineering. His non-traditional path to Northeastern led him to discover his zeal and fascination with concentrated solar power and renewable energy. During his PhD studies, he had the opportunity to pursue his passion and expand his capstone project into an extensive research project.
Mar 24, 2025
Undergrad Students Present at 2025 ASEE-NE Conference
Under the guidance of COE Distinguished Teaching Professor Bala Maheswaran, undergraduate engineering students published and presented papers at the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Northeast Section Conference on March 22, 2025, in Bridgeport, CT.
Aug 02, 2024
Advancing Heliostat Design and Operation Education
MIE Professors Hameed Metghalchi (PI), Yiannis Levendis, and Emeritus Associate Professor Gregory Kowalski were awarded a $360,065 grant for “Advancing University Level Education on Heliostat Design and Operation” from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory Heliostat Consortium.
May 20, 2024
Metghalchi Selected as HelioCon Featured Researcher
MIE Professor Hameed Metghalchi was selected as a Featured Researcher by the Heliostat Consortium for Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power, and was invited to join the HelioCon Board of Advisors.
Feb 14, 2024
Developing a Career in Renewable Energy on Co-op and in the Lab
After two co-ops, working in an on-campus lab, and their time with AerospaceNU, CJ Huey, E’24, mechanical engineering and physics, feels that they have made the most of their Northeastern experience. The secret to their success was not being afraid to take charge of important work.
Oct 04, 2023
Using Iron Powder as a Renewable Energy Source
MIE Professors Yiannis Levendis, Hameed Metghalchi, and Associate Professor Randall Erb were awarded a $600,000 NSF grant, titled “A Study on Burning Iron Particles as Carbon-Free Circular Fuels With Co-Generation of Value-Added Nanomaterials,” to improve the process of burning iron to produce carbon-free renewable energy.
Jul 24, 2023
Burning Iron Particles To Generate Clean Energy
MIE Professors Yiannis Levendis, Hameed Metghalchi, and Associate Professor Randall Erb were awarded a $600,000 NSF grant for “A Study on Burning Iron Particles as Carbon-Free Circular Fuels With Co-Generation of Value-Added Nanomaterials.”
Jun 01, 2023
Advancing Concentrated Solar Power Education
MIE Professors Hameed Metghalchi (PI), Yiannis Levendis, and Emeritus Associate Professor Gregory Kowalski were awarded a $265,000 grant to create “An Educational Program on Concentrated Solar Power and Heliostats for Power Generation and Industrial Processes” from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)’s Heliostat Consortium.
May 16, 2022
Smyser Gives “Last Lecture” to Graduates
MIE Teaching Professor Bridget Smyser spoke to the graduating class during the “Last Lecture” series on the importance of doing what works for them and that it is not always […]
Sep 02, 2021
Increasing the Number of Underrepresented Students in STEM Fields
MIE Professor Hameed Metghalchi and Assistant Dean Richard Harris were awarded a $250K NSF sub-award for the “Louis Stokes Renewal STEM Pathways and Research Alliance: Northeast LSAMP 2021-2026.”