TEI

Internship work

During my summer 2026 internship in TEI’s Combustor R&D department, I worked on experimental diagnostics and test setups:

• PIV system development: I helped assemble and calibrate a particle image velocimetry system for combustor swirler airflow testing. I refined optical alignment and helped troubleshoot hardware and LaVision DaVis.
• Calibration mechanism: I developed a slider mechanism for repeatable camera and laser positioning, estimated to reduce calibration time by 50%.
• Shadowgraphy setup: I helped rebuild and recommission a high-speed shadowgraphy system. I added adjustable mounts and positioning traverses, and integrated a lens extension tube to improve framing and image quality.
• Fuel-injector testing and analysis: I conducted macro-scale and microscopic spray tests using LaVision DaVis. I analyzed spray angle and droplet size, count, and shape using ParticleMaster Shadow.
• Imaging best practices: I captured and cataloged 60+ comparison images across camera, lens, lighting, and distance variations. I also co-authored a practical guide covering optics, hardware compatibility, and camera/software settings for PIV and shadowgraphy.
• PLIF development roadmap: I researched planar laser-induced fluorescence, evaluated equipment compatibility, and identified reusable PIV hardware. I presented a phased implementation plan covering equipment, costs, schedule, and technical risks to the department manager.
• Combustor cooling research: I investigated simplified CFD representations of effusion cooling holes and assessed the feasibility of compound-angle cooling optimization methods.

What I learned

Working alongside a large team of engineers showed me how individual contributions come together to develop an engine that had never been built in Türkiye before. I learned how progress depends on sharing knowledge, discussing ideas, and working through uncertainty together. Helping establish new testing capabilities also showed me how much engineering happens before useful data can even be collected, and how that groundwork supports the wider development effort.