Anthony Fernandez (Mechanical Engineering)
About DOE Fellow
Anthony Fernandez is a junior undergraduate student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at Florida International University (FIU). He worked as a student employee at the Applied Research Center for a year and a half prior to his acceptance as a DOE Fellow in the DOE/FIU Science and Technology Workforce Development Program. Anthony’s professional interests include design optimization, robotics, computational modeling, manufacturing, applied mechanics, and energy efficiency, with a special interest in clean, renewable energy. After the completion of his bachelor’s degree, he plans to continue his education in pursuit of a master’s degree in engineering management, as well as a master’s degree in mechanical engineering.
DOE Related Research and Projects
Anthony is working under the mentorship of Mr. Amer Awwad, P.E., and Mr. Jairo Crespo on the un-plugging technology known as the asynchronous pulsing unit. The asynchronous pulsing unit will serve to deliver a more reliable and effective solution when plugging occurs within high-level waste transfer lines at DOE sites such as Hanford and Savannah River. 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 end of the pipe sections generate pressure disturbances from both sides of the blockage, asynchronously, to dislodge the plug. Anthony analyzes the data recorded by pressure transducers and accelerometers located throughout the pipeline to determine how each pulse influences the total plug dynamic loading. He uses computer software such as Excel and Matlab to represent the recorded data through graphs and simulations.
Anthony is currently participating in a summer (2014) internship at Washington River Protective Solutions (WRPS) in Hanford where he is working with Ruben Mendoza, P.E., on updating the Hanford Tank Waste Level Indicating Transmitter (LIT) reference level calculations. Anthony is particularly concerned with the updating and monitoring of the Enraf Nonius LIT’s, which monitor waste levels in all 149 single-shell tanks (SST), all 28 double-shell tanks (DST) and other miscellaneous catch tanks. Anthony also worked with his mentor to update the Waste Transfer Safety Equipment Compliance Database by reviewing and comparing the information to various different design media, such as AutoCAD drawings that he helped create.