Kuba Szczepanik
PhD Candidate
E:
biography
Graduating from University of Melbourne in 2000 with a BE(Mech)/ BA, final year projects included Vortex Breakdown of Swirling Jets and Automation of Composite Manufacturing for Aerospace applications.
Graduate employment was undertaken with Basset consulting engineers, primarily a building services consultancy. Experience here included a number of projects involving standard mechanical/electrical building services as well as more advanced system design such as natural ventilation, geothermal condensing, waste heat reclaim and other Environmentally Sustainable Designs (ESD).
Experience included up to date modelling techniques such as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and energy simulation methods. Major projects included the Synchrotron, DSTO Laboratories, VCA, Bosch manufacturing infrastructure, the Austin Hospital Precinct and the Royal Melbourne Hospital precinct. Other experience includes general engineering at the Army Engineering Agency (AEA), acoustics and vibration consultancy Vimac and a position as Technical Assistant and Building Maintenance Supervisor at the Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering (Melbourne Uni.)
research interests
PhD involves conducting numerical simulations and experimental investigations into Phase Change Thermal Storage. This is the concept of storing thermal energy by utilising the greater thermal capacities of materials as they change phase. The research looks primarily at the liquid - solid phase change and also involves creating and testing thermal-composite materials, whereby thermal conductivity of a phase change material (PCM) is significantly improved. The research aims towards developing a thermal storage system which will utilise night time cold temperatures to create a store of cold material, which can then be used to cool air prior to it being air conditioned and thus saving energy. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) techniques are used for simulating air flow, heat transfer and phase change.
Other research interests include renewable energy systems, sustainable building design and kite/sail aerodynamics.
publications
K. Szczepanik, A. Ooi, L. Aye and Gary Rosengarten. 2004. “A Numerical Study of Heat Transfer from a Cylinder in Cross Flow,” 15th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, December 2004