NFPA Awards Six Fluid Power Research Supplements

The NFPA Education and Technology Foundation is actively working to increase the number of university students educated in fluid power. One of the ways it does this is by supporting professors and graduate students who research and advance the field of fluid power. By engaging with graduate students early in their careers, we are encouraging them to stay in the fluid power field and teach it at campuses they may work at in the future. With this purpose in mind, the NFPA Foundation has recently awarded $6,250 research supplements to six faculty members working on fluid power research at four universities.

The recipient universities, faculty members, and research projects are:

Iowa State University

• Brian Steward – Off-Highway Vehicle Chassis Dyno Laboratory Development and Hydraulic Dyno Development

Milwaukee School of Engineering

• Paul Michael – An investigation of varnish formation and removal in a high-pressure piston pump

Purdue University

• Jose Garcia – Mixed Reality for Fluid Power Education
• Farid Breidi – Simulation and Design of Externally Actuated Digital Pumps 

University of Minnesota

• Perry Li – Fully Electric Powered, Hydraulic Assisted, Compact Track Loader
• Zongxuan Sun – Optimization and Evaluation of Energy Savings for Connected and Autonomous Off-Road Vehicles

These research projects represent more than $3.9 million in funding from various organizations, including the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and the Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power (CCEFP). They offer a glimpse at the growing body of fluid power research funded by the federal government, other research organizations, and private businesses.

The research supplements from the NFPA Foundation offset the cost of travel, allowing each faculty member and one or more of their graduate students to attend and present their research at the CCEFP Summit in Spring 2023. This helps connect these researchers with the fluid power industry and allows for a better exchange of ideas. Any funds not spent on travel will be used to support the research project itself.

Please watch NFPA News for further updates on the spring CCEFP Summit and the six research projects receiving support through this vital program.