Each year, Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering asks our students engaged in summer research to tell us about themselves, their work and the goals of the research they are working with professors on. This year, the questionnaire was completed by intrepid scientists, mathematicians, engineers and tech experts on campus at Loyola Marymount University — and beyond the bluff!
Joe Alapat ’27, a mechanical engineering student whose research was overseen by professor Mahsa Ebrahim, is exploring how the timing of water sprays affects metal cooling efficiency.
Can you describe your research for those outside your field of study?
Metals can get very hot, especially within electronics. We’re trying to look at cooling them down using a pulsated water spray. Research conducted in the field tells us that pulsating the water spray is better than shooting a continuous spray of water. Think of it like this: you have a really hot frying pan and you need to cool it down with water. If you keep pouring water onto the pan, you’ll end up with a big puddle that actually helps the pan heat up. This is because you get a thin layer on the surface of the pan called a liquid film that prevents all the fresh, cool water you’re pouring out from actually touching the surface of the pan.
Now if you pulsate your spray, the water hits the pan in quick bursts. This gives the water time to evaporate completely before more water is added. This allows each new droplet of water to hit the surface of the pan, cooling it more effectively.
In my research, I have sensors called thermocouples embedded into my surface so I can track all the temperature data. By analysing how the temperature changes, I can learn more about how timing the spray can lead to better and faster cooling that also wastes less water!
What do you think readers will find most interesting about your project?
Cooling things down is a challenge that almost everyone faces. Whether it’s cooling yourself down after a hot day or trying to keep a rocket from exploding, heat management is crucial. I’m trying to explore a smarter approach to cooling down metals but ideas and insights from this research can be applied to a variety of tasks just because heat management affects almost everything and everyone.
In your experience, how does doing research complement coursework?
It’s like riding a bike. You see people do it, maybe your friend tells you where the pedal is and where the handlebar is and how to steer. But until you actually get on a bike and ride it, you’ll never truly understand what it means to ride a bike. The same goes for my research. I’ve learned about thermodynamics, work and efficiency but until I actually worked with a system, they were all just symbols on a whiteboard.
What have you learned about doing research that other students might benefit from?
Not everything goes to plan! Sometimes machines refuse to work, sometimes things break unexpectedly and sometimes fluids refuse to do what you need them to do. It’s all part of the process and patience is key. All these struggles make the journey fruitful.
Being able to ask for help is also important. It’s okay to forget simple things or ask silly questions, because if you never ask, you’ll never get started and that’s worse than failing every time.
What advice would you give to someone on the fence about doing research?
Do it! You get to spend hours working on some really interesting stuff alongside some really interesting people. My research brought me closer to so many professors and even machines on campus that I can operate all by myself. I feel a lot more accomplished and sure about my decision to pursue my major.
