Designed and manufactured a dynamic insulation that leverages the external environment to reach desired temperatures without the need of active heating or cooling. This was done by using a combined lump capacitance analysis to model temperature distribution of the inside based on fluctuations of outside temperatures. With this design type of insulation, actuation is passively controlled by a shape memory nitinol alloy, which can expand and contract when heated and cooled. The insulation’s performance will be analyzed in two different designs, whereby the shape memory actuation reconfigures liquid and solid metals to form and break pathway for heat transfer. The analysis of the insulation was modeled analytically using MATLAB and numerically with ANSYS.

Course: Energy System Modeling• Assisted a graduate class of 15 students with analyzing and assessing thermodynamic systems.

Determined critical loading conditions on a new product using ANSYS to study different failure scenarios. This involved using different contact modeling techniques to verify the behavior of the product. I validated the companies fracture analysis software update for different loading conditions in Excel VBA. Lastly, I calculated crack propagation for through wall crack models using ANSYS.

Analyzed energy savings on California energy measures for 24 different building types and 16 climate zones. Conducted sensitivity analysis on HVAC equipment enhancements such as changes in AC and Heat pump units. Developed technical support tools to analyze HVAC measures to assess saving production generated by buildings. Wrote energy reports to describe the details of the energy savings.

I conducted research in the field of concentrated solar thermal power generation. This project centers around the characterization of a microchannel solar thermal receiver with supercritical carbon-dioxide as the working fluid. I developed a serial MATLAB code that was able to model the thermofluidic behavior of the closed coolant loop, and automatically compute the pressure drop, expected heat gains and other pertinent thermofluidic quantities of the microchannel receiver. I also designed and specified the proper size of the radiator, pump and other fluidic components required to complete the coolant test-loop. I developed a MATLAB code to assess the efficiency of the microchannel receivers.

I have been heavily active with the Solar-Decathlon team, a multidisciplinary group that is responsible to design, construct, and test solar-powered homes that are affordable, innovative and highly energy-efficient. I have assisted the team with the analysis of the HVAC system that included the energy analysis of the solar panel heat re-collection system. The analysis involved computation of pressure drop, proper sizing of the home components such as the radiant floor plans, heat recovery ventilation systems, and the heat pump and tested all these components in different ambient conditions. I was also in charge of the humidity control system design of the house.

I was involved in an additive-manufacturing laboratory where I repaired and 3D modeled components using SOLIDWORKS for a Hahn’s grinding machine.I performed stress analysis to minimize the taper error induced by unwanted deflection in grinder spindles. Machined mechanical parts using lathe and CNC milling machine for deconstructing and constructing subtractive manufacturing equipment.