Robert “Rob” Farrington began his NREL career in 1979. Today, he works in the Center for Integrated Mobility Sciences strategic planning and business development arenas. Previously, he managed the center's advanced vehicle systems work and the U.S. Department of Energy/Ford Hybrid Electric Vehicle Propulsion Systems Project.
Farrington is experienced with measurement techniques and uncertainty analysis, experimental and computational fluid dynamics, thermal analysis, modeling, reliability testing, and project management. He has applied that expertise to solar thermal systems, building energy systems, vehicle propulsion technologies, and vehicle thermal management.
Farrington holds four patents and has published more than 70 reports, papers, and articles.
Research Interests
Automotive systems
Fluid dynamics
Heat transfer
Experimental design and measurement uncertainty analysis
Education
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado
M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University
Professional Experience
Licensed Professional Engineer, Colorado (1984–Present)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory:
Strategic Planning and Business Development Manager (2017–Present)
Principal Research Engineer and Manager, Advanced Vehicle Systems Group (2002–2017)
Principal Research Engineer, Vehicle Auxiliary Loads Project Leader (1998–2003)
Senior Mechanical Engineer II, Hybrid Electric Vehicle Team Leader (1992–1998)
Senior Mechanical Engineer I, Air Flow Team Leader (1990–1992)
Staff Mechanical Engineer (1983–1990)
Associate Mechanical Engineer (1979–1982)
Community College of Denver at Red Rocks, Colorado, Instructor (1980–1981)
Flack and Kurtz Consulting Engineers (1978–1979)
Featured Work
Hybrid Automotive Power Systems, AccessScience (2008)
Overview of Vehicle Test and Analysis Results from NREL's A/C Fuel Use Reduction Research, Vehicle Thermal Management Systems Conference (2007)
Predicting Human Thermal Comfort in a Transient Nonuniform Thermal Environment, European Journal of Applied Physiology (2004)
Observations of a Planar Jet Subjected to Large-Amplitude, Low-Frequency Disturbances, AIAA Journal (1995)
Infrared Imaging of Large-Amplitude, Low-Frequency Disturbances on a Planar Jet, AIAA Journal (1994)
Infrared Imaging Results of an Excited Planar Jet, Journal of Solar Energy Engineering (1993)
Evaluation of Solar Domestic Hot Water Control Systems, Journal of Solar Energy Engineering (1984)
Patents
Solar System Fault Detection, U.S. Patent No. 4,626,832
Means for Increasing Jet Entrainment, Mixing and Spreading, U.S. Patent No. 5,338,254
Enhancement of Wall Jet Transport Properties, U.S. Patent No. 5,599,229
Vehicle Cabin Cooling System for Capturing and Exhausting Heated Boundary Layer Air from Inter Surfaces of Solar Heated Windows, U.S. Patent No. 6,186,886
Awards and Honors
Graduated with Academic Distinction from Columbia University
Listed in Strathmore’s Millennium Edition of Who’s Who:
Who's Who in the World
Who’s Who in America
Who's Who in the West
Who's Who in Finance and Industry
Who's Who in Frontiers of Science and Technology
Who's Who in Science and Engineering
Who's Who Among Young American Professionals
Who's Who of Emerging Leaders in America
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