2023 Wang Family Excellence Award for Outstanding Scholarship, the highest CSU system wide recognition
2022 Cal State LA Outstanding Professor
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Ph. D. Mechanical Engineering 2002
University at Buffalo, SUNY
"A Theoretical and Experimental Study of High-Temperature Compressive Gas Heating."
B.S. M.S. Thermal Physics and Engineering 1995
St Petersburg State Technical University, Russia
"Mathematical Design of a High-Temperature Vertical Kiln," thesis internship at the Institute of Flame-Resistant Materials, St. Petersburg, Russia.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Hydrogen Infrastructure, Alternative and Renewable Energy, Fuel Cells, Hybrid and Electric Vehicles, Automotive Applications, Fuel Reforming, Combustion, Thermal and Fluid Systems, CFD, Data Acquisition and Instrumentation, Rotating Machinery.
We are standing in the doorway of the next technical revolution in transportation and renewable energy sectors. Autonomous, electric, hybrid and fuel cell vehicles are making a quantum leap and are strongly positioning themselves in manufacturing and service over the next 20-30 years.
Wind and solar technologies have reached the development and affordability levels to compete with coal burning. These are the jobs of today and tomorrow, where I see my students taking technology leadership positions.
California, and especially Southern California, is like none other state in the union. Here is the prime market for new hydrogen, EV and FCEV mobile and renewable technologies. The Sustainable Energy and Transportation program enjoys the support of dozens world wide known Research & Development and manufacturing companies. Students are regularly taken on field trips or have guest lectures.
Cal State LA competed in 2011-14 EcoCAR 2 and 2014-18 EcoCAR 3 competitions converting vehicles to plug in hybrids. In 2018 the team was awarded the Clean Air Award by South Coast Air Quality Management District. Dr. Blekhman was the lead advisor for both teams.
TEACHING INTERESTS
The Sustainable Energy and Transportation program offers the following courses:
- ETEC 1000 Introduction to Automotive Mechanisms
- ETEC 3700 Sustainable Energy and Transportation
- ETEC 4700 Electric, Hybrid and Alternatively Fueled Vehicles
- ETEC 4710 Engine Design and Performance
- ETEC 4720 Photovoltaic Applications
- ETEC 4740 Fuel Cell Applications, MCFC course project
- ETEC4760 Measurement, Instrumentation and Control
- ETEC 4880 Fluid Power
Built in 2011, the 79-module solar system powers lab experiments and research, as well as supply energy to the hydrogen fueling station.
System was upgraded to 58 Sharp (circa 2000, 10% efficiency) and 11 LG (circa 2016, 22% efficiency) in 2018. Power 9-10 kW.
KEY PROJECTS
2019-2020 Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Alternative Energy Technology at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
Technical Director for Cal State LA Hydrogen Research and Fueling Facility
Lead Faculty Advisor for EcoCAR 3 (Facebook) (2014-20180 and EcoCAR 2 (2011-2014) Projects
Project Lead and Designer for Cal State LA Photovoltaic System
Project Lead for Cal State LA Electrical Vehicle Infrastructure, 59 Level II and 6 FCDC
Faculty Advisor for Hydrogen Super Eagle Racer
