🧊 Nuclear & Thermal Energy Systems

This section explores advanced energy concepts focused on thermal-electric conversion, radiation shielding, and compact cooling design for space and reactor applications.

  • 🔥 Plasma Heat Recovery System — Conceptual power unit harnessing thermal energy from plasma-based sources using thermoelectric conversion
  • 🧱 Thermal Fatigue Shielding — Modeled material degradation in SMRs and high-radiation environments using ANSYS Fluent and Python
  • 🧊 Compact Finned Heat Sink — Adapted from NASA L'SPACE project to cool rad-hardened rover enclosures in extreme conditions
  • ⚛️ New Power Source Concept — Proposed a thermal-electric system combining plasma heat recovery with radiation shielding for space and nuclear platforms

🔍 Concepts documented in my portfolio and on YouTube

⚛️ Compact Cooling for Nuclear-Embedded Avionics

This research-driven concept integrates a thermal-electric power unit with embedded radiation shielding. It is designed to recover waste heat from plasma sources through thermoelectric conversion while simultaneously protecting onboard avionics from high-radiation environments, such as those found in small modular reactors (SMRs) or deep space propulsion modules.

  • 🌡️ Simulated heat flux and thermal degradation in compact enclosures
  • 🛡️ Modeled neutron attenuation through composite shielding layers
  • 🛰️ Applied to SMRs, Mars surface systems, and space nuclear propulsion

💥 Thermal Fatigue Shielding in High-Radiation Environments

This research-focused simulation models material degradation and heat fatigue in structural alloys exposed to high-radiation environments such as nuclear containment zones and small modular reactors (SMRs). I used ANSYS Fluent with Python-based postprocessing to predict failure patterns based on thermal cycling and residual stress over time.

  • 🌀 Simulated cyclic thermal loading on forged die geometries in Fluent
  • 📊 Used Python scripts to extract stress distribution and failure life plots
  • 🧪 Analyzed fatigue-prone zones using energy-based damage metrics
  • 🛠️ Applied to SMR vessels and high-temperature heat exchangers

🌌 Types of Plasma in Engineering Applications

Not all plasma behaves the same — its properties depend heavily on energy level, confinement, and pressure. Below is a breakdown of the major plasma regimes relevant to thermal-electric conversion, shielding, and MHD system design.

  • ⚡ Thermal (Equilibrium) Plasma: High-temperature, high-pressure plasma where electrons and ions are in thermal equilibrium. Used in plasma torches, arc welding, MHD generators.
  • ❄️ Non-Thermal (Cold) Plasma: Electrons are energetic, but ions remain near ambient temperature. Ideal for sterilization, semiconductor etching, and low-energy surface treatment.
  • 🧲 Magnetically Confined Plasma: Found in fusion energy and astrophysical systems. Governed by Lorentz forces, used in tokamaks, Hall-effect thrusters, and space propulsion.
  • 📡 Inductive or Radiative Plasma: Excited by electromagnetic fields (microwave, RF, laser). Useful for localized heating, diagnostics, and high-frequency power coupling.

🔍 The heat recovery concept I propose is based on thermally dominant plasma generated within high-energy confined systems, with design parameters aligned to SMR-scale reactor cores and MHD-compatible conditions.

🔬 Plasma Heat Recovery & Thermoelectric Conversion

This conceptual design investigates the recovery of plasma waste heat through a high-temperature thermoelectric system integrated with radiation shielding. Drawing on principles from magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) and nanoscale quantum heat transfer, the concept supports compact reactor cores and next-gen propulsion systems.

  • ⚛️ Proposed thermal-electric cycle integrating radiation shielding into power conversion
  • 🔁 Reused waste heat via layered heat exchanger–shield configurations
  • 📐 Considered MHD and sCO₂ turbine alternatives for compact reactors
  • 🛰️ Designed for space propulsion and SMR-scale power recovery modules

🔬 Interested in collaborating on a paper about plasma thermoelectrics?
Let’s talk.

  • 🧯 Simulated heat flux and thermal degradation in compact enclosures
  • 🛡️ Modeled neutron attenuation through composite shielding layers
  • 🚀 Applied to SMRs, Mars surface systems, and space nuclear propulsion

📄 A dedicated white paper on plasma thermoelectric conversion and compact shielding systems is currently in development.
It will include diagrams, modeling insights, and use-case breakdowns across SMRs, deep space systems, and thermal energy recovery.

⏳ Technical Paper Coming Soon

📄 Research Report: The Role of Nuclear Energy in Sustainable Power

This in-depth report explores the future of nuclear energy through the lens of modern challenges and technological frontiers — including small modular reactors (SMRs), plasma-based MHD energy, and quantum thermoelectric conversion. It was submitted for ME241A at UC Riverside.

  • ✅ Nuclear fission vs. fusion — energy yield and safety implications
  • ✅ Economics and public perception of SMRs
  • ✅ Next-gen technologies: plasma energy, MHD, sCO₂ cycles, and quantum heat harvesting

🤝 Let’s Collaborate on Thermal or Nuclear R&D

I’m currently exploring advanced thermal systems, phase-change modeling, compact shielding, and heat recovery for SMRs, aerospace, and future propulsion systems. If you're a researcher, student team, or lab interested in collaboration—or just want to exchange ideas—let’s connect.