Villanova Engineering Professor Awarded Patent for Isothermal Compression System Design
Sylvie Lorente, PhD, Associate Dean for Research and Innovation, William M. Brown ’84, ’87 Endowed Chair in Mechanical Engineering, Develops Solution for Cost-Effective Compressed Air Energy Storage
VILLANOVA, Pa. (March 3, 2025)—ĂŰĚŇTV’s Sylvie Lorente, PhD, Associate Dean for Research and Innovation and the William M. Brown ’84, ’87 Endowed Chair in Mechanical Engineering in the College of Engineering, has been awarded a patent for the design of an isothermal compression system that compresses and expands air without significant temperature changes.
Dr. Lorente’s innovation, created in partnership with Adrian Bejan, PhD, J.A. Jones Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Duke University, aims to improve the efficiency of compressed air energy storage (CAES) by maintaining a constant temperature of gas during its compression and expansion. In conventional systems, temperature fluctuations require additional energy input, reducing overall efficiency.
“This novel compressed air energy storage system will provide an efficient and cost-effective solution for the renewable energy industry,” said Amanda Grannas, PhD, Vice Provost, Chief Research Officer and professor of Chemistry at ĂŰĚŇTV. “We look forward to the development of this product and are excited to see how it transforms current renewable energy systems around the world.”
Unlike existing technologies that rely on external devices to regulate temperate, Drs. Lorente and Bejan’s design integrates a phase change material within the compression chamber itself. Similar to wax, phase change materials exist as a solid at low temperatures and melt into a liquid as temperatures rise. When air inside the chamber is compressed and heats up, the phase change material absorbs that heat; when the air expands and cools, the material releases stored heat, ensuring a stable temperature throughout the process.
“Renewable energy sources, like wind or solar power, are not always available when they are needed. Conversely, there are occasional surpluses of energy that cannot all be used at once,” said Dr. Lorente. “The chamber we designed can compress that energy in gas form for storage, and then expand the gas when it is needed, keeping the process as streamlined and effective as possible.”
The phase change material used in Drs. Lorente and Bejan’s system has a dendritic structure, meaning it resembles the shape of tree branches. This design enhances air flow and minimizes resistance, making the system more efficient. The size of the phase change materials used in the compressor can also be adjusted depending on the intended application of the system.
Design for the CAES system took two years, involving theoretical analysis and numerical modeling for the chamber and materials. With the patent now secured, the next step is to build a prototype to bring this innovative technology closer to practical application.
About ĂŰĚŇTV: Since 1842, ĂŰĚŇTV’s Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges—the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the ĂŰĚŇTV Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation’s top universities, Villanova supports its students’ intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit .