Jesse Salas Email and Phone Number

Our core business at Alfred Conhagen is rotating machinery repair. Probably 90% of our business is pump repair (centrifugal, positive displacement, etc.), the rest is steam turbines and miscellaneous machine work (inspection, wear part replacements, balancing, etc.). Every machine that comes into our shop has its own story and fits into its own system, so we do our best to understand the end-user requirements and provide them with a plug-and-play machine that gets them back into production.My responsibilities at Conhagen include:Write hydraulic development python scripts and develop surface meshing tools for centrifugal pump components (impellers, diffusers, inlet bays, etc.). Surfaces are then imported to CAD clients and can be used to design entire pumps or individual parts.Develop lateral and torsional rotordynamic models per API 610 and API 673. Results are used in the design process and in some cases to audit existing designs.Interface with end-users, such as engineers and operators, on-site and remotely to review performance metrics, confirm design changes, and troubleshoot equipment and piping systems.Design and execute pump performance tests, including specifying and installing instrumentation and confirming test results with CFD.Reverse-engineer and re-rate steam turbines for changing operating conditions. Collaborate with CNC machinist to manufacture parts in-house.Use customer functional requirements and input to develop engineering drawings, improve our project management capabilities, develop both simple and complex engineering models, write project proposals and final job reports, and identify areas for quality improvements.

Undertaking research and development of porous, graphite air-bearings with applications in the rotating machinery industry. Projects are joint with Flowserve and are particularly aimed at characterizing the effects of the bearings on system rotordynamics. The recent pushes from industry for increased machine efficiency have given rise to few alternatives. New Way's advantages focus on the simplicity of our products, low-cost configuration, and our willingness to work with customers to ensure that our bearings are appropriate for their needs.New Way has been in operation for over 25 years, with the majority of business in low-friction applications where machines must run without oil as a means of lubrication. This includes manufacturing, medical, and automation industries. As recent members of the Turbomachinery Research Consortium, we hope to extend the reach of our products in the field of rotating machinery.

Worked under the guidance of Dr. Dara Childs to design and test an alternative annular seal for use in downhole ESPs. The concept combined a traditional annular seal or bushing with a pressure-dam bearing, aimed at retaining centering forces even after the bushing clearance had worn. I developed the predictive model, designed the seals, and tested them in multiple load configurations. The results for leakage, K, C, and M were compared to that of nominal annular seals with cylindrical bores with a range of clearances.

Designed a test frame capable of testing a single tapered-roller railroad bearing with impact, radial, and axial loads to simulate service conditions and aid in early detection of defects. Conducted thermal FEA studies in Solidworks for a rugged set of wireless temperature sensors, aimed at characterizing the relationship between bearing temperature trends and bearing defect growth. Results were verified experimentally with good correlation; sensors eventually field tested on a set of railcars in Perth, Australia.

Developed preventative maintenance schedules for machinery used in the refurbishment of aircraft turbine components based on statistical data. Developed P&ID and MSDS labelling system for routing high pressure air and gases. Developed LOTO in accordance with OSHA standards such that VPP recognition status was met.