Student Feature Friday with Kyle Shepard
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
Meet Kyle Shepard, a 2nd year master’s student, set to graduate in the spring of 2024. Unique, and optimistically curious, Kyle thrives on a blend of intellectual pursuits and simple pleasures. With a penchant for gardening, theological debates, and video games, he's a well-rounded individual. But his true passion lies in revolutionizing HVAC systems through research.
His journey started with a fascination for thermodynamics, heat transfer, and thermal fluid design courses, and was cemented by the inspiring community of CIBS researchers and ASHRAE industry members he found in his research work. Kyle's involvement in the center is not half-hearted and is part of what contributes to his drive to continue to pursue his work as an engineer.
Currently, he is working on an ASHRAE-sponsored project known by the title, "Foamability Properties of Low GWP Refrigerant and Oil Mixtures". He's immersed in a project that explores the foaming properties of oil-refrigerant mixtures in HVAC systems. Kyle's days are consumed by constructing his experimental apparatus and, as he puts it, observing bubble behaviors. His experimental set up allows for meticulous exploration of bubble growth, decay, and the interaction of oil and refrigerant media.
While his research has yet to grace the pages of journals, he hopes to publish his thesis. Kyle envisions his work easing the transition to eco-friendly refrigerants and oils within HVAC systems, making a lasting impact on the industry. Now, Kyle stands at the brink of graduation, ready to contribute to the future of a greener HVAC industry. His vision extends to a future of further exploration in skills in chemistry, thermodynamics, and resultant systematic characteristics of refrigerants/oils. His sights are fueled by a desire for a PhD and a career in research and educating future generations. With each step, he envisions his work as bubbles of change – small yet potent enough to reshape the world for the better beyond academia.
Let’s celebrate the accomplishments, aspirations, and work of Kyle Shepard!