Mechanical engineering students win competition award at nationally recognized conference

June 18, 2025

Two students from the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing have been recognized for their work on a new kind of turbine seal design at the 2025 National Conference on Undergraduate Research.

Brenton Hall and Tyrus Carter, both mechanical engineering majors, won an engineering video competition award for developing a new seal for supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO₂) turbomachinery.

An alternative to traditional steam turbines, sCO₂ turbines can be more efficient, occupy less space, use less water and fuel, and have lower operating costs. Several challenges remain before the technology can be fully developed. Hall and Carter’s research, funded in part by a $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, led them to create an elastohydrodynamic (EHD) seal design to mitigate these issues.

“Current seals have limitations that keep sCO₂ power generation from reaching its full potential,” said Carter. “Our proposed EHD seal solution would limit leakage, wear and drag, allowing sCO₂ turbomachinery to compare more favorably to steam engine turbines.”

Steam turbines are the backbone of most power plants, playing a crucial role in electricity generation. Transitioning to sCO₂ turbines would result in significant energy savings.

Hall, a freshman, and Carter, a sophomore, say the project allowed them to grow as researchers.

“It gave me the skills and confidence to take what I learned in the classroom and apply it in the real world,” Hall said. 

Carter said the experience improved his skills and allowed him to engage in hands-on work outside the classroom—an exciting opportunity for underclassmen—one he credits his mentor, Sevki Cesmeci, Ph.D., for giving him.

“Working under Dr. Cesmeci for his research was a valuable experience that prepared me for both the research process and the conference,” Carter said. “He has fostered an environment emphasizing critical thinking, attention to detail, and collaboration. His guidance has helped refine my presentation skills and develop a deeper understanding of our research.”

Hall agreed that Cesmeci, an associate professor of mechanical engineering, was critical to his success in research and at the conference.

“He’s been instrumental in helping me be successful from the classroom all the way to the conferences,” Hall said. “He has supported and guided me along the way and has given me all the tools and resources I need to succeed.”

But Cesmeci, principal investigator on the project, is quick to credit his students.

“It’s fascinating to see these junior scholars get their hands dirty in the machine shop before presenting at conferences and representing Georgia Southern on a national stage,” he said. “I am very proud of them.” 

Cesmeci says a supportive culture in the laboratory also contributes to their success.

“We have a strong mentorship structure in our lab,” said Cesmeci, “I want to thank Mohammad Fuad Hassan, my Ph.D. student, for his help in mentoring these bright researchers.”