Dr. Nguyen is a Senior R&D Staff at the Energy Systems Development Group, Advanced Reactor Engineering and Development Section, Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He is an accomplished leader and researcher with extensive experience in thermal-fluid dynamics, advanced instrumentation, and computational modeling for advanced nuclear reactors and energy systems. Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary technical projects, secure competitive funding and mentor emerging scientists and students. Over the course of his career at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Texas A&M University, and other prestigious institutions, Dr. Nguyen has successfully contributed to advancing technical knowledge, delivering actionable insights, fostering talent, and producing solutions for high-priority energy challenges.
He has extensive experience in the development and application of advanced instrumentation and innovative measurement techniques, such as:
- Laser-diagnostics: laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV), laser-induced fluorescent (LIF), particle image velocimetry (PIV), stereoscopic-PIV, and Tomographic PIV,
- High-speed thermography, shadowgraphy and Schlieren imaging,
- Ultrasound imaging, optical fiber sensor, and optical sensors.
Dr. Nguyen also has a strong background in computational fluid dynamics modeling (RANS and LES) for investigating coupled fluid flow and heat transfer in single- and multiphase-flow applications, laminar to turbulent flows, in-compressible and compressible flows under normal and critical conditions. He has performed high-fidelity simulations for
- Thermal-hydraulics studies of turbulent flows over complex geometries of nuclear reactor systems and components, such as fuel rod bundles, steam generators, randomly packed beds, and
- Single- and multiphase heat & mass transfer of flow mixing within various energy systems, such as heat pump technologies, energy storage, and transport of aerosol in nonreactor nuclear facilities.
- Hydrodynamics characterizations of turbulent flows around underwater vehicles.
Dr. Nguyen is also an expert in turbulent flow analysis via mode decomposition approach (POD, DMD), Validation and Verification, and Uncertainty Quantification.
