Seven former Turbo Lab students returned to Aggieland last week to represent their companies at the 38th annual Turbomachinery Research Consortium Meeting. From left: Manish Thorat, Chris Kulhanek, Jeff Moore, Bernard Robic, Jennifer Gaines, Oscar De Santiago, David Stiles
Seven former Turbo Lab students return to Aggieland for annual TRC meeting
The Turbomachinery Laboratory makes a vital impact on turbomachinery and related industries through research, education and workforce development. The Turbomachinery Research Consortium (TRC) covers both the research and education aspects of that mission by providing Turbo Lab students and faculty the opportunity to solve industry problems through research.
TRC member companies provide annual fees to the Turbo Lab to support student projects. TRC members then get access to all TRC-sponsored research dating back to 1981, plus a number of other benefits. One of those benefits is access to highly-qualified students from the Turbo Lab. A number of TRC member companies have chosen to hire Turbo Lab students because of relationships made through the TRC.
Seven former Turbo Lab students returned to Aggieland last week to represent their companies during the 38th Annual TRC meeting. Here, we tell you what they’re up to now, and why they continue to parnter with the Turbo Lab.
Manish Thorat
Degree: Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, 2010
Principal Investigator: Dr. Dara W. Childs
Area of Study: Labyrinth seals
Employer/TRC Member Company: Elliott Group
Title: Product Development Engineer, Dynamics & Acoustics Group
Manish landed his job at Elliott Group thanks to TRC. Elliott Group informed Dr. Childs of an opening, Dr. Childs passed on Manish’s resume, and the rest is history.
“I would say it’s better to be on this side that the other side,” Manish said, laughing, referring to his role as a TRC member representative at the 2018 annual meeting. “There’s less pressure, and I get to ask the questions now.”
Aside from cutting-edge research, Manish said the greatest aspect of TRC is that it connects students with feedback directly from industry.
“When you’re developing a tool, you’re developing it for industry. So getting feedback on what specifics are needed is important. Not only is this helpful for students in their research, but it ultimately benefits TRC companies.”
Chris Kulhanek
Degree: Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, 2011
Principal Investigator: Dr. Dara W. Childs
Area of Study: High-pressure hole-pattern seals & fluid film journal bearings
Employer/TRC Member Company: Southwest Research Institute
Title: Research Engineer
“TRC is one of the best links between industry and academia. The Turbo Lab is not just doing research that produces data with no conclusions, with no results to impact anything. Just about everything done at the lab is impacting machines, impacting what’s going on in industry.”
Chris worked on TRC-funded projects while earning his master’s degree.
“It’s good. It’s good to come back,” Chris said of returning to Aggieland as a TRC member representative. “I relate to the students having been on the other side, but now I also see the global benefit to industry, to oil and gas and beyond.”
When asked if he and his colleagues utilize TRC research data Chris said, “Oh yeah.” He said the data that he generated more than seven years ago as a student is still used today to validate codes and findings at SWRI.
Jeff Moore would say, “That’s why we hired you,” Chris said, laughing. Speaking of Jeff Moore…
The Turbo Lab is not just doing research that produces data with no conclusions, with no results to impact anything. Just about everything done at the lab is impacting machines, impacting what’s going on in industry.
Chris Kulhanek
Southwest Research Institute
Jeff Moore
Degrees: Bachelor, Master, Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering; 1991, 1993, 1999
Principal Investigator: Dr. Alan Palazzolo
Areas of Study: Bearing damper development and impeller force coefficients for centrifugal pumps and compressors
Employer/TRC Member Company: Southwest Research Institute
Title: Institute Engineer
Jeff got his first job at Solar Turbines and his second job, following his Ph.D., at Dresser-Rand thanks to the TRC. The TRC also helped him land his next job at SWRI, where he’s worked for 14 years.
“The consortium offers many advantages to the students. It helps students get industry contacts and gives them an opportunity to present in front of an audience, which will pay dividends later, once they’re in the workforce.”
Jeff said it’s an honor to still be a part of the TRC after 25 years. In addition to his TRC representative role, Jeff is also a member of the Turbomachinery Advisory Committee, which selects the technical program for the turbomachinery side of the Turbomachinery & Pump Symposia.
Bernard Robic
Degrees: Master, Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering; 1995, 1999
Principal Investigator: Dr. Gerald Morrison
Areas of Study: Turbulence and pressure measurements, seals
Employer/TRC Member Company: SAFRAN Aircraft Engines
Title: Technology Manager
Bernard’s field is highly confidential. He said SAFRAN uses TRC material to benchmark their own research. Returning to the Turbo Lab as a TRC member representative sparks “remembrance,” Bernard said.
“It’s always nice to see people I studied with and to help my company get the benefits of the work the TRC is doing. I hope that I can help raise awareness that the Turbomachinery Research Consortium exists. It provides us with services that are useful to our business.”
Jennifer Gaines
Degree: Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, 2014
Principal Investigator: Dr. Dara Childs
Areas of Study: Affect of pad flexibility on rotordynamic coefficients
Employer/TRC Member Company: Sulzer Turbo Services Houston, Inc.
Title: Mechanical Design Engineer
Jennifer, like many of her fellow Turbo Lab Aggies, landed her job at Sulzer because of TRC.
“‘Rewarding keeps popping into my head. I was a student at the Turbo Lab, and because of TRC I have my career. I don’t necessarily have a big impact on funding projects, but it’s still nice to be able to come back and give support to the students who are now going through the exact same things I did.”
Oscar De Santiago
Degrees: Master, Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering; 1998, 2002
Principal Investigator: Dr. Luis San Andres
Areas of Study: Squeeze film dampers, parameter identification
Employer/TRC Member Company: ETU I+D
Title: Owner
Oscar’s first experience as a TRC representative was with Dresser-Rand, where he worked for six years, then with Mexico-based CIATEQ. He returned to the meeting this year representing his own company, ETU I+D, which designs and develops components for turbomachinery.
“It really feels like home, coming back here. I feel pride for being part of the program, and that the program keeps on going strong. I feel empathy with the students who are presenting, and I feel admiration for the professors.”
Three years ago, Oscar spent a summer at the Turbo Lab for an industrial stay. He worked with students, who he said were eager to have feedback from someone in industry.
“I plan to keep on supporting as much as I can. I really want to encourage new faculty coming up after Dr. Childs’ retirement; the program is very important for turbomachinery, worldwide.”
It really feels like home, coming back here. I feel pride for being part of the program, and that the program keeps on going strong.
Oscar De Santiago
ETU I+D
David Stiles
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, 1981
Areas of Study: Electromechanical controls
Employer/TRC Member Company: Hess
Title: Global Rotating Equipment Adviser
David was wrapping up his degree as the Turbomachinery Laboratory was founded, so he didn’t get to study in the Lab. However, he did take a vibrations course with Dr. Childs. His association with the Lab largely came after his time at Texas A&M, through the Turbomachinery & Pump Symposia.
David is responsible for bringing several companies to the TRC, including his current employer, Hess, and previous employer, Flint Hills Resources. What’s his value pitch for these companies?
“It’s because of what TRC does for the industry. It’s where and how it fits in. It’s the end-user that I have represented in my career. It also goes hand-in-hand with the Turbo Symposium and the Pump Symposium. That whole arena dovetails with the Turbo Lab and the research out of the TRC.”
TRC research by Dr. Luis San Andres and his students has led to the development of the Halo Seal. David has installed the pressure-balanced seal in a Flint Hills Research compressor platform and in the latest Hess platform, too. David was part of a team who presented a paper on the seal at the 2016 Turbomachinery & Pump Symposia.
“TRC connects industry with answers to research questions. What I try to do is provide direction from industry to enhance the research. Then you can target your findings to try and solve specific problems.”
For more details on TRC, including membership information, visit turbolab.tamu.edu/trc.
The Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) Turbomachinery Laboratory makes a vital impact on turbomachinery and related industries through research, education and professional workforce development.