Alexandra Fleitas (Mechanical Engineering)

Alexandra Fleitas (Mechanical Engineering)

About DOE Fellow

Alexandra Fleitas is an undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering at Florida International University (FIU). Alexandra’s professional interests include manufacturing, applied mechanics, and energy efficiency, with a special interest in renewable energy technologies such as turbines and energy sources such as nuclear power. She is interested in further developing sustainable energy systems that will serve to deliver relevant engineering resources to advance public safety and quality of life. After completing her Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering, Alexandra intends to continue her education by pursuing a master’s degree.

Alexandra is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and during her time at FIU, she has been a recipient of the Academic Excellence Award. Alexandra left the program to continue her studies at Florida International University.

DOE Related Projects

Alexandra is DOE Fellow for the DOE-FIU Science and Technology Workforce Development Program, working under the mentorship of Mr. Amer Awwad, P.E., and Jairo Crespo on the un-plugging technology known as the “asynchronous pulsing system.” The asynchronous pulsing system will serve to deliver a more reliable and effective solution when plugging occurs within high-level waste transfer lines. To simulate an actual blockage that would occur in the pipelines, 3-foot plugs made of a mixture composed of 30% kaolin, 35% plaster and 35% water (by weight) with a 4-day curing time, were placed between two 135 ft. pipe sections. A power unit which controls two-hydraulic piston pumps located at either ends of the pipe sections generates pressure disturbances from both sides of the blockage, asynchronously, to dislodge the plug. Alexandra analyzes the data recorded by pressure transducers and accelerometers located throughout the pipeline to determine how each pulse influences the total plug dynamic loading. She uses computer programs such as Excel and Matlab to represent the recorded data through graphs and simulations.