Chris Depcik, University of Kansas

Dr. Christopher Depcik is a Professor of Mechanical engineering at the University of Kansas (KU) with a courtesy appointment in Aerospace Engineering. His research focuses on reacting flow modeling and energy systems, emphasizing reduce dimensional (1-D and 1+1-D) formulations of chemically reacting flows in catalytic reactors, particulate filters, gasification units, desiccant wheels, shock tubes, and pulse detonation engines. His group has published more than 130 peer reviewed papers, and his citations place him in the top 2% of researchers worldwide based on Elsevier Scopus. He has received numerous departmental, school, university, national, and international awards for service, research, and teaching, and is a Fellow ASME and SAE.

Abstract: Engineering the Barrel: Predictive Modeling of Spirit

Maturation Barrel aging is an important step in the production of distilled spirits, where tradition often guides decisions more than engineering. Flavor development in a barrel emerges from a coupled system of heat and mass transfer, wood extraction, adsorption, evaporation, and chemical transformation that unfolds over years. This talk presents a three dimensional framework for modeling spirit maturation using first principles, thermodynamics, and reaction pathways combined with data driven calibration. The model resolves how temperature cycling, humidity, barrel geometry and orientation, wood species, reuse, and spirit composition influence the formation of congeners such as vanillin and syringaldehyde. Porting the model to native C code and the development of a Graphical User Interface enables faster than real time evaluation and practical use. Linking barrel scale physics with compound level chemistry creates a predictive tool for evaluating maturation strategies and process innovations. This approach shifts barrel aging from an art guided by experience to a
process informed by quantitative, predictive design.