Engineering Portfolio

Over the past few years I’ve built and studied plasma-assisted ignition and pre-chamber systems across RCEM, optical/metal engines, and CVCCs—combining diagnostics (PLIF, Schlieren, OH*/IR), CFD/FEA, hardware design, and control to push lean stability, efficiency, and emissions.

20+
Projects
6+
Years Experience
50+
Designs
10+
Technologies

Research Projects

Explore the projects I have been involved in during my academic journey.

Plasma-assisted pre-chamber combustion

Plasma-assisted pre-chamber combustion

2021 – Present
US Department of Energy, Sandia National Laboratories, Carnegie Mellon University, Colorado School of Mines
  • Designed and operated an optical RCEM to study homogeneous and heterogeneous combustion processes of renewable fuels.
  • Explored nanosecond repetitive pulsed discharges in RCEM, CVCC, and single-cylinder engines.
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Plasma-assisted pre-chamber combustion

Plasma-assisted pre-chamber combustion image 1
2021 – Present · US Department of Energy, Sandia National Laboratories, Carnegie Mellon University, Colorado School of Mines

Project Description

This project focused on developing plasma-assisted pre-chamber combustion strategies for natural gas, ammonia, and DME. I designed and operated an optical rapid compression and expansion machine (RCEM) to study both homogeneous (compression ignition) and heterogeneous (spark and plasma-assisted) combustion processes. Using advanced diagnostics (OH* chemiluminescence, Schlieren imaging, PLIF), I quantified jet penetration, ignition delays, and lean-limit performance. Complementary studies in a constant volume combustion chamber (CVCC) and a single-cylinder optical engine demonstrated how nanosecond repetitive pulsed discharges (NRPD) improve ignition energy efficiency, reduce cyclic variation, and enable operation under high dilution conditions.

NRPD ignition of ammonia mixtures in an active pre-chamber

NRPD ignition of ammonia mixtures in an active pre-chamber

Dec 2024 – Present
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
  • Set up a new experimental platform to study plasma-assisted ammonia combustion in an optical pre-chamber.
  • Investigated nanosecond pulsed discharges on ammonia cracking and ignition using OH* chemiluminescence and NH-PLIF.
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NRPD ignition of ammonia mixtures in an active pre-chamber

NRPD ignition of ammonia mixtures in an active pre-chamber image 1
Dec 2024 – Present · King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)

Project Description

At KAUST, I established a new experimental platform to investigate nanosecond repetitive pulsed discharges (NRPD) in ammonia-fueled pre-chambers. The setup integrated advanced optical diagnostics including OH* chemiluminescence and NH-PLIF to capture in-situ flame evolution and ammonia cracking dynamics. The study demonstrated how NRPD reduced ignition delays by nearly 50% compared to spark ignition, while providing new insights into radical formation and ignition strengthening in pure and blended ammonia mixtures.

Turbulent jet ignition in a fully ammonia-fueled engine

Turbulent jet ignition in a fully ammonia-fueled engine

Dec 2024 – Present
U.S. State of Minnesota Session Law
  • Demonstrated stable pre-chamber combustion in a fully ammonia-fueled single-cylinder engine.
  • Investigated the effects of pre-chamber geometry on combustion dynamics and emissions.
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Turbulent jet ignition in a fully ammonia-fueled engine

Turbulent jet ignition in a fully ammonia-fueled engine image 1
Dec 2024 – Present · U.S. State of Minnesota Session Law

Project Description

This project marked the first successful demonstration of turbulent jet ignition (TJI) in a fully ammonia-fueled engine. Using a single-cylinder optical/metal engine, I studied how different pre-chamber geometries influenced combustion stability, burn rate, and emissions. The work showed that TJI reduced cyclic variability by up to 96% compared to spark ignition, enabled faster burn rates, and substantially lowered unburned NH₃ and N₂O emissions. These findings highlight the potential of pre-chamber ignition as a pathway to enable 100% carbon-free ammonia engines.

Breakdown and instability analysis of low-viscosity jets

Breakdown and instability analysis of low-viscosity jets

Nov 2018 – Dec 2020
Multiphase Transport Phenomena Lab
  • Investigated instability and breakdown of low-viscosity jets using hotwire anemometry and flow visualization.
  • Applied PIV and LIF to enable design of controlled mixing systems and flow control strategies.
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Breakdown and instability analysis of low-viscosity jets

Breakdown and instability analysis of low-viscosity jets image 1
Nov 2018 – Dec 2020 · Multiphase Transport Phenomena Lab

Project Description

During my M.S. at UMN, I studied the hydrodynamic instabilities of low-viscosity liquid jets subjected to external forcing. Using hotwire anemometry, particle image velocimetry (PIV), and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF), I identified jet stability regimes, mode transitions, and conditions leading to jet breakdown. The results provided new understanding of jet entrainment and shear-layer dynamics, with implications for designing controlled mixing systems and implementing open-loop flow control strategies in fluid power and combustion systems.