Press Releases

LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) announced $497,999 in federal grant funding for energy research at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. This funding, which is being disbursed by the U.S. Department of Energy, will support the university’s Wireless High Temperature Sensor Network for Smart Boiler Systems project to construct a smart boiler monitoring system that will optimize energy savings and reliability.

“UMass Lowell has been doing incredible work to increase our energy efficiency and reduce our carbon footprint. This large federal investment will help them continue their efforts, and I look forward to seeing the results of this ambitious and necessary project,” said Congresswoman Lori Trahan.

“Boilers and furnaces are extensively used in thermal power plants and home heating systems. These systems consume the most significant amount of energy. Therefore, optimization of the operations of the boilers and furnaces to improve fuel efficiency can lead to tremendous energy-saving and thus bring tremendous benefits to the Earth and its environment. This DEO project aims to develop a new wireless high-temperature sensor network, which, combined with artificial intelligent algorithms, will lead to smart boiler systems for significant energy-saving and reliability improvement,” said UMass Lowell Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor Xuejan Lu, who is leading the project.

The Wireless High Temperature Sensor Network for Smart Boiler Systems project plans to develop a new, wireless high-temperature sensor network for real-time continuous boiler condition monitoring in harsh environments. The network will enable automatic temperature sensing and data collection. When used with artificial intelligence algorithms, the network will enable the construction of smart boiler systems with boiling condition management and optimization for significant energy savings and improved reliability. The network will consist of wireless radio frequency high-temperature sensors with integrated attached antennas for wireless internet-based continuous remote monitoring.

Professor Xuejan Lu of UMass Lowell’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is leading the research. The work will combine the expertise and facilities of the university with that of industry partners including Advanced Manufacturing LLC and General Electric, as well as educating UMass Lowell students in areas including high-temperature materials, nanofabrication, sensor networks and artificial intelligence for roles in the workforce after graduation.

UMass Lowell is one of twelve schools receiving part of a $6 million federal allocation from the Department of Energy to support high-risk fundamental research that advances the science of coal technologies while also helping train the next generation of energy researchers, scientists, and engineers at colleges and universities.

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