About

Yiannis Levendis is a Northeastern University College of Engineering Distinguished Professor in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. His research focuses on combustion engineering and sustainable fuel technologies aimed at efficient energy conversion, pollution reduction, and greenhouse gas control. He has made significant contributions to the development of clean combustion and sustainable fuels, including innovations such as recyclable iron fuel and wildfire-resistant technologies. Levendis holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering Science from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), earned in 1987, and both his master's and bachelor's degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan. Throughout his career, Levendis has received numerous honors and awards, including the ASEE Robert G. Quinn Award, Excellence in Mentoring Award, and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics STEM Educator Award. He is a fellow of several prestigious organizations, such as the Combustion Institute, the Royal Society of Chemistry, the National Academy of Inventors, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. His professional affiliations also include memberships in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and the Society of Automotive Engineers. Levendis's research encompasses combustion processes, sustainable energy systems, and environmental protection, with notable projects on burning iron particles as carbon-free fuels and containment of greenhouse gases using refrigerants based on petroleum-derived products and recycled CO2.

Research topics

• Materials science
• Chemistry
• Organic chemistry
• Thermodynamics
• Composite material
• Metallurgy
• Chemical engineering
• Environmental chemistry

Selected publications

• Combustion behavior of single iron particles-part I: An experimental study in a drop-tube furnace under high heating rates and high temperatures

  Applications in Energy and Combustion Science · 2022 · 83 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Materials science
  • Metallurgy
  • Chemistry

  Micrometric spherical particles of iron in two narrow size ranges of (38–45) µm and (45–53) µm were injected in a bench scale, transparent drop-tube furnace (DTF), electrically heated to 1400 K. Upon experiencing high heating rates (104–105 K/s) the iron particles ignited and burned. Their combustion behavior was monitored pyrometrically and cinematographically at three different oxygen mole fractions (21%, 50% and 100%) in nitrogen. The results revealed that iron particles ignited readily and exhibited a bright stage of combustion followed by a dimmer stage. There was evidence of formation of envelope micro-flames around iron particles (nanometric particle mantles) during the bright stage of combustion. As the burning iron particles fell by gravity in the DTF, contrails of these fine particles formed in their wakes. Peak temperatures of the envelope flames were in the range of 2500 K in air, climbing to 2800 K in either 50% or 100% O2. Total luminous combustion durations of particles, in the aforesaid size ranges, were in the range of 40–65 ms. Combustion products were bimodal in size distribution, consisting of micrometric black magnetite particles (Fe3O4), of sizes similar to the iron particle precursors, and reddish nanometric iron oxide particles consisting mostly of hematite (Fe2O3).

  DOI

• Activated coke preparation by physical activation of coal and biomass co-carbonized chars

  Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis · 2021 · 48 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Chemical engineering
  • Materials science
  • Chemistry
  DOI

• Flame characteristics of propane-air-carbon dioxide blends at elevated temperatures and pressures

  Energy · 2021 · 37 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Thermodynamics
  • Chemistry
  • Materials science
  DOI

• Performance maximization by temperature glide matching in energy exchangers of cooling systems operating with natural hydrocarbon/CO2 refrigerants

  International Journal of Refrigeration · 2020 · 62 citations

  • Thermodynamics
  • Materials science
  DOI

Recent grants

• Combustion characteristics of pulverized torrefied biomass for use in co-firing boilers

  NSF · $240k · 2018–2022

• Temperature Measurements and Submicron Ash Formation in Oxy-Coal Combustion

  NSF · $331k · 2008–2013

• On the Emissions of Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Particulate Matter and Other Pollutants from Burning Organic Wastes, Targeting Applications in Municipal/Medical Incinerators

  NSF · $376k · 2000–2004

Frequent coauthors

• Joel Carlson

  Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center

  72 shared

• Henning Richter

  Nano-C (United States)

  51 shared

• Aidin Panahi

  Worcester Polytechnic Institute

  47 shared

• Jack B. Howard

  Ambulance Victoria

  44 shared

• Jorge Alberto Soares Tenório

  Universidade de São Paulo

  30 shared

• Jun Wang

  Ministry of Industry and Information Technology

  27 shared

• Chuanwei Zhuo

  Northeastern University

  27 shared

• Xiaohan Ren

  Shandong University

  25 shared

Awards & honors

• American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Robert G.…
• Excellence in Mentoring Award 2025
• American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics STEM Educ…
• American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Associate…
• Constantinos Mavroidis Translational Research Faculty Award…

Similar researchers at Northeastern University

• Albert-László Barabásih-234
• Lisa Feldman Barretth-169
• Herbert Levineh-119
• Eduardo Sontagh-108
• Mansoor Amijih-97