Bio:

Dr. Cheng joined San Francisco State University in 2004. His areas of specialty are thermodynamics, combustion, internal combustion engines, fluid mechanics, and air quality engineering. Please visit Dr. Cheng's webpage for additional information.

EDUCATION

Ph.D.     University of California, Berkeley

Department of Mechanical Engineering, May 2002

Effect of Oxygenates Blended With Diesel Fuel on Particulate Matter Emissions From a Compression-Ignition Engine, dissertation committee: Robert W. Dibble (chair), Jyh-Yuan Chen, Robert A. Harley

Major field: Thermodynamics / Combustion

Minor fields: Fluid Mechanics, Air Quality Engineering

S.M.       Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Department of Mechanical Engineering, February 1994

The Head Gasket Ionization Probe as a Combustion Diagnostic for Spark-Ignition Engines, thesis advisors: Wai K. Cheng, John B. Heywood

S.M.       Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Technology and Policy Program, February 1994

B.S.        University of California, Los Angeles

Department of Mechanical Engineering, cum laude, June 1991

PROFESSIONAL LICENSE

Registered Professional Mechanical Engineer, State of California

PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS AND RANKS HELD

San Francisco State University, School of Engineering, San Francisco, CA

• Associate Director, School of Engineering, August 2018 to present
• Professor, Mechanical Engineering, August 2018 to present
• Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering, August 2009 to August 2018
• Assistant Director, Industrial Assessment Center (IAC), August 2008 to May 2012
• Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering, August 2004 to August 2009

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Fuels & Combustion Science Group, Golden, CO

• Visiting Researcher, summer 2021

Sandia National Laboratories, Combustion Research Facility, Livermore, CA

• Visiting Researcher, various appointments between June 2003 and present

California State University, Sacramento, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sacramento, CA

• Assistant Professor, August 2002 to August 2004

University of California, Berkeley, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Berkeley, CA

• Research Assistant, Combustion Analysis Laboratory, August 1996 to May 2002
• Instructor, Mechanical Engineering Laboratory, Spring 2002, Fall 1998
• Teaching Associate, Teaching of Mechanical Engineering at the University Level, Fall 2001
• Teaching Assistant, Experimentation and Measurement, Fall 2000, Spring 1999
• Teaching Assistant, Thermodynamics, Spring 1997, Fall 1996
• Summer Undergraduate Program in Engineering Research at Berkeley (SUPERB) Mentor, Summer 1998

Acurex Environmental Corporation, Mountain View, CA

(now TIAX LLC and located in Cupertino, CA)

• Staff Engineer, Transportation Technology Program Area, August 1994 to July 1996

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Cambridge, MA

• Research Assistant, Sloan Automotive Laboratory, June 1992 to December 1993
• Teaching Assistant, Thermodynamics, Spring 1992, Fall 1991

International Business Machines Corporation, San Jose, CA

• Summer Pre-professional Engineer, Storage Systems Products Division, Summers of 1989 through 1991

HONORS AND AWARDS

• Department of Energy (DOE) Visiting Faculty Program (VFP) research fellowship awardee, Summer 2021
• SFSU Office of Faculty Affairs and Professional Development, Faculty Travel Award, 2017
• SFSU Emerging Leaders Program, 2014-15 cohort
• Best Diversity Paper Award, American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) 2015 Pacific Southwest Conference
• SFSU Office of Faculty Affairs and Professional Development, Faculty Travel Award, 2015
• Department of Energy (DOE) Visiting Faculty Program (VFP) research fellowship awardee, Summer 2012
• Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) 2006 Ralph A. Teetor Educational Award
• Best Scientific Poster Award, 9th International Conference on Accelerator Mass Spectrometry, 2002
• Teaching Effectiveness Award, University of California, Berkeley, 2001
• Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award, University of California, Berkeley, 2000-2001
• Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society induction, 1990
• IBM Thomas J. Watson Memorial Scholarship, 1987-1991

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND HONOR SOCIETIES

• Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society
• American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
• Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
• American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
• The Combustion Institute

Peer-Reviewed Journal Publications

• C. E. Dumitrescu, A. S. Cheng, E. Kurtz, and C.J. Mueller, “A Comparison of Methyl Decanoate and Tripropylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether for Soot-Free Combustion in an Optical Direct- Injection Diesel Engine,” J Energy Res Technol 139(4):042210, 2017. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/1.4036330)
• A. S. Cheng and C. J. Mueller, “Conceptual Investigation of the Origins of Hydrocarbon Emissions from Mixing-Controlled, Compression-Ignition Combustion,” SAE Int J Engines 10(3):2017. (http://dx.doi.org/10.4271/2017-01-0724)
• A. S. Cheng, C. E. Dumitrescu, and C. J. Mueller, “Investigation of Methyl Decanoate Combustion in an Optical Direct-Injection Diesel Engine,” Energy & Fuels 28 (12):7689-7700, November 2014.  (http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ef501934n)
• C. E. Dumitrescu, C. Polonowski, B. T. Fisher, A. S. Cheng, G. K. Lilik and C. J. Mueller, “An Experimental Study of Diesel-Fuel Property Effects on Mixing-Controlled Combustion in a Heavy-Duty Optical CI Engine,” SAE Int J Fuels Lubr 7(1):65-81, April 2014. (http://dx.doi.org/10.4271/2014-01-1260)
• A. S. Cheng, B. T. Fisher, G. C. Martin and C. J. Mueller. “Effects of Fuel Volatility on Early Direct-Injection, Low-Temperature Combustion in an Optical Diesel Engine,” Energy & Fuels 24(3):1538-1551, March 2010. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ef9011142)
• A. S. Cheng, A. Upatnieks and C. J. Mueller. “Investigation of Fuel Effects on Dilute, Mixing-Controlled Combustion in an Optical Direct-Injection Diesel Engine,” Energy & Fuels 21(4): 1989-2002, July 2007. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ef0606456)
• A. S. Cheng, A. Upatnieks and C. J. Mueller. “Investigation of the Impact of Biodiesel Fueling on NO_x Emissions Using an Optical DI Diesel Engine,” International Journal of Engine Research 7(4):297-318, 2006. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1243/14680874jer05005)
• B. A. Buchholz, C. J. Mueller, G. C. Martin, A. S. Cheng, R. W. Dibble and B. R. Franz. “Tracing Fuel Component Carbon in the Emissions from Diesel Engines,” Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 223-224:837-841, August 2004. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2004.04.154)
• A. S. Cheng, B. A. Buchholz and R. W. Dibble. “Isotopic Tracing of Fuel Carbon in the Emissions of a Compression-Ignition Engine Fueled With Biodiesel Blends,” SAE Transactions Journal 112(4):2015-2020, September 2004.
• B. A. Buchholz, R. W. Dibble, D. Rich and A. S. Cheng. “Quantifying the Contribution of Lubrication Oil Carbon to Particulate Matter Emissions From a Diesel Engine,” SAE Transactions Journal 112(4):1874-1879, September 2004.
• B. A. Buchholz, A. S. Cheng, R. W. Dibble, C. J. Mueller and G. C. Martin. “Isotopic Tracing of Fuel Component Carbon in the Emissions from Diesel Engines,” SAE Transactions Journal 111(4): 927-938, September 2003.
• A. S. Cheng and R. W. Dibble. “Emissions Performance of Oxygenate-in-Diesel Blends and Fischer-Tropsch Diesel in a Compression-Ignition Engine,” SAE Transactions Journal 108(3):927-938, September 2000.

Peer-Reviewed Conference Papers

• F. Altmann* and A. S. Cheng, “Evaluation of a Prototype Integrated Solar Combined-Cycle Power Plant Using a Linear Fresnel Reflector,” ASME 2017 11th International Conference on Energy Sustainability, June 29, 2017.
• H. Liu* and A. S. Cheng, “Comparison of Building Energy Simulation Models for Residential Homes,” Proceedings of the ASHRAE 2017 Winter Conference, January 2017.
• M. Woy* and A. S. Cheng, “Evaluation of Total Equivalent Global Warming Impacts of Supermarket Refrigeration Systems,” Proceedings of the ASHRAE 2017 Winter Conference, January 2017.
• E. Elmtoft*, A. Cheng, N. Killingsworth and R. Whitesides.“Injected Droplet Size Effects on Diesel Spray Results with RANS and LES Turbulence Models,” SAE Technical Paper 2015-01-0925, SAE World Congress, Detroit, MI, April 21-23, 2015. (http://dx.doi.org/10.4271/2015-01-0925)
• A. Enriquez, N. Langhoff, W. Pong, N. Ozer, H. Mahmoodi, C. Chen, H. Shahnasser, K.-S. Teh, X. Xiang and A. Cheng. “Expanding the Community College Engineering Educational Pipeline Through Collaborative Partnerships,” Proceedings of the ASEE 2015 Pacific Southwest Conference, 381-393, April 2015. (recipient, Best Diversity Paper Award)
• A. G. Enriquez, W. Pong, N. M. Ozer, H. Mahmoodi, H. Jiang, C. Chen, and A. S. Cheng.  “Preparing Underrepresented Students for Success in Engineering: Results and Lessons Learned from Four Years of the Summer Engineering Institute,” 120^th American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA, June 24, 2013.
• W. Pong, A. G. Enriquez, H. Shahnasser, C. Chen, N. M. Ozer, A. S. Cheng, H. Jiang, and H. Mahmoodi, “Enhancing the Interest, Participation, and Retention of Underrepresented Students in Engineering through a Summer Engineering Institute,” 118th American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference and Exhibition, Vancouver, BC, Canada, June 27, 2011.
• B. A. Buchholz, C. J. Mueller, G. C. Martin, A. Upatnieks, R. W. Dibble and A. S. Cheng. “Measuring the Effect of Fuel Chemical Structure on Particulate and Gaseous Emissions Using Isotope Tracing,” American Flame Research Committee International Symposium, Livermore, CA, USA, October 2003.
• C. J. Damm, A. S. Cheng, R. W. Dibble, D. Lucas, R. F. Sawyer, and C. P. Koshland. “The Effect of Low Sulfur Diesel, Oxygenate-in-Diesel Blends, and Fischer-Tropsch Diesel on Particulate Matter Emissions from a Compression-Ignition Engine,” 8th International Congress on Toxic Combustion Byproducts, Umea, Sweden, June 17-19, 2003.
• C. J. Damm, A. S. Cheng, R. W. Dibble, D. Lucas, R. F. Sawyer and C. P. Koshland, “Particulate Matter Emissions Monitoring from a Compression-Ignition Engine Fueled with Low Sulfur Diesel, Oxygenate-in-Diesel Blends, and Fischer-Tropsch Diesel,” Third Joint Meeting of the U.S. Sections of The Combustion Institute, Chicago, IL, March 16-19, 2003.
• B. A. Buchholz, C. J. Mueller, C. G. Martin, A. S. Cheng and R. W. Dibble. “Tracing Fuel Component Carbon in the Emissions From Diesel Engines” (poster presentation), 9th International Conference on Accelerator Mass Spectrometry, Nagoya, Japan, September 9-13, 2002.
• B. A. Buchholz, A. S. Cheng and R. W. Dibble.  “Isotopic Tracing of Fuel Components in Emissions From a Diesel Engine,” 222nd American Chemical Society National Meeting, Chicago, IL, August 26-30, 2001.
• C. J. Damm, A. S. Cheng, D. Lucas, R. W. Dibble, R. F. Sawyer and C. P. Koshland. “Photofragmentation-fluorescence Measurement of Particulate Emissions from a Diesel Engine Fueled by Oxygenate-in-Diesel and Fischer-Tropsch Diesel Blends,” 7th International Congress on Toxic Combustion Byproducts, Research Triangle Park, NC, June 4-6, 2001.
• A. S. Cheng, R. W. Dibble and B. A. Buchholz. “Isotopic Tracing of Particulate Matter From a Compression-Ignition Engine Fueled With Ethanol-in-Diesel Blends,” 219th American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, March 26-30, 2000.
• A. S. Cheng, J. R. Torres and R. W. Dibble. “Reduced Emissions From a Compression-Ignition Engine Through Blending of Oxygenates with Diesel Fuel” (poster presentation), 27th International Symposium on Combustion, Boulder, CO, August 2-7, 1998.

Other Conference Papers and Presentations
 

• C. J. Mueller, C. E. Dumitrescu, and A. S. Cheng.  “Optical-Engine Experiments to Assess the Feasibility of Leaner Lifted-Flame Combustion (LLFC) with Oxygenated Fuels,” presented at the Advanced Engine Combustion Working Group Meeting, February 9, 2015.
• A. S. Cheng. “Low-GWP Refrigeration Programs and Research: A California Perspective,” presented at the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) Meeting of the Working Party on LCCP Evaluation, Chicago, IL, January 27, 2015.
• C. J. Mueller, C. J. Polonowski, C. E. Dumitrescu, A. S. Cheng, and G. K. Lilik. “Fuel Effects on Emissions and Efficiency Under Mixing-Controlled Combustion Conditions,” presented at the Advanced Engine Combustion Working Group Meeting, Southfield, MI, August 19, 2014.
• A. S. Cheng. “Advanced Fuels and Combustion Strategies for Diesel Engines,” invited talk, US‑Korea Conference 2014, San Francisco, CA, August 8, 2014.
• A. S. Cheng. “Modeling the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Impacts of Refrigeration Systems,” presented at the ATMOsphere America 2014 Natural Refrigerants Conference, San Francisco, CA, June 19, 2014.
• C. E. Dumistrescu, C. J. Polonowski, G. K. Lilik, A. S. Cheng, and C. J. Mueller.  “Combustion Analysis of a Subset of the FACE Diesel Reference Fuels,” presented at the Advanced Engine Combustion Working Group Meeting, Southfield, MI, August 20, 2013.
• C. E. Dumitrescu, C. J. Polonowski, B. T. Fisher, A. S. Cheng, and C. J. Mueller.  “Mixing-Controlled Combustion Characterization of a Subset of the FACE Diesel Reference Fuels in an Optical Engine,” presented at the Advanced Engine Combustion Working Group Meeting, Livermore, CA, February 5, 2013.
• A. S. Cheng, B. Fisher, G. Martin and C. Mueller. “Effects of Fuel Volatility on Early Direct-Injection, Low-Temperature Combustion in an Optical Diesel Engine,” presented at the SAE 2009 Powertrains, Fuels, and Lubricants Meeting, San Antonio, TX, November 2, 2009.
• C. J. Mueller, B. T. Fisher, G. C. Martin, D. Milam, C. Gehrke and A. S. Cheng. “Fuel-Volatility Effects on an Early Direct-Injection, Low-Temperature Combustion Strategy in an Optical Engine Using a 15-hole, Dual-Row, Narrow-Included-Angle Nozzle,” presented at the Advanced Engine Combustion Working Group Meeting, Auburn Hills, MI, August 19, 2008.
• A. S. Cheng, A. Upatnieks and C. J. Mueller. “Investigation of Fuel Effects on Dilute, Mixing-Controlled Combustion in an Optical Direct-Injection Diesel Engine,” presented at the SAE 2007 Powertrain & Fluid Systems Conference, Rosemont (Chicago), IL, October 30, 2007.
• A. S. Cheng, A. Upatnieks and C. J. Mueller. “Investigation of the Impact of Biodiesel Fueling on NO_x Emissions Using an Optical DI Diesel Engine,” presented at the SAE 2006 Powertrain & Fluid Systems Conference, Toronto, Canada, October 17, 2006.
• C. J. Mueller, A. S. Cheng, G. C. Martin and A. Upatnieks. “Investigation of Fuel and Oxygen-Concentration Effects on Combustion and Emissions,” presented at the Advanced Engine Combustion Working Group Meeting, Detroit, MI, June 27, 2006.
• C. J. Mueller, A. S. Cheng, G. C. Martin and A. Upatnieks. “Fuel Effects on Mixing-Controlled Combustion and Emissions under High-EGR Conditions,” presented at the Advanced Engine Combustion Working Group Meeting, Livermore, CA, February 8, 2006.
• A. S. Cheng, A. Upatnieks and C. J. Mueller. “An Investigation into the Causes of Increased NO_x Emissions with Biodiesel Fueling,” invited talk, presented at the California Air Resources Board Biodiesel Work Group Meeting, Sacramento, CA, June 8, 2005.
• A. S. Cheng. “Further Insights into the Biodiesel NO_x Problem Based upon Engine Tests with Matched Combustion Phasing,” presented at the 2005 Biodiesel Technical Workshop, Chicago, IL, January 12-13, 2005.
• A. S. Cheng, D. Rich, R. W. Dibble and B. A. Buchholz. “Quantifying the Contribution of Lubrication Oil to Particulate Emissions from a Diesel Engine,” Third Joint Meeting of the U.S. Sections of the Combustion Institute, Chicago, IL, March 16-19, 2003.
• A. S. Cheng, C. J. Damm, R. W. Dibble, D. Lucas, R. F. Sawyer and C. P. Koshland. “The Effect of Oxygenate-in-Diesel Blends and Fischer-Tropsch Diesel on Particulate Matter Emissions From Compression-Ignition Engines,” 2nd Joint Meeting of the U.S. Sections of the Combustion Institute, Oakland, CA, March 25-28, 2001.

Reports

• A. S. Cheng, K. Larson, D. Scott, A. Henderson, and S. Unnasch. “Low-GWP Commercial Refrigeration Feasibility and Cost-Benefit Evaluation,” prepared for the California Air Resources Board, August 2017.
• A. R. Ganji, A. S. Cheng, [various IAC student engineers*].  Industrial Assessment Center Energy Assessment Report Number [###], prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy, [dates vary]. (49 reports between November 2008 and August 2012)
• A. S. Cheng and A. R. Ganji. “Review of Energy Efficiency and Co-Benefits Assessment Report: Chevron Products Company, Richmond Refinery,” prepared for the California Air Resources Board, November 2013.
• A. S. Cheng and A. R. Ganji. “Review of Energy Efficiency and Co-Benefits Assessment Report: Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Scattergood Generating Station,” prepared for the California Air Resources Board, March 2013.
• A. S. Cheng and A. R. Ganji. “Review of Energy Efficiency and Co-Benefits Assessment Report: Valero Benecia Refinery,” prepared for the California Air Resources Board, October 2012.
• L. H. Browning, A. S. Cheng and E. A. Devino. “Estimated Economic Impact of New Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty On-Highway Engines,”  prepared for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Mobile Sources, January 1996.
• C. J. Pera, A. S. Cheng, W. A. Wool, M. C. Montano, and D. R. Luscher. “Reducing NO_x emissions from Nonroad Equipment in the Sacramento Area: Analysis and Recommended Program Strategy,” prepared for the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, December 1995.
• A. S. Cheng. “Demonstration of a 7.3 Liter Natural Gas Engine for Heavy-Duty Vehicles,” prepared for the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee and the South Coast Air Quality Management District, August 1995.
• C. B. Moyer, L. H. Browning and A. S. Cheng. “Sulfur Effects on California OBD-II Systems,” prepared for Sun Oil Company, Inc., June 1995.

* student co-author