• Question: What new engineering specialty skills have you developed during the past year?

    Asked by QuinnyLiam to Sarah, Ryan, Priyanka, Paul, Chris on 7 Mar 2016. This question was also asked by SB1738.
    • Photo: Christine Coonick

      Christine Coonick answered on 7 Mar 2016:

      The latest string to my bow is completing thermography surveys. I use an infrared camera to see if there any internal breakdown of solar cells or electrical connections in solar panels. A solar panel can get damaged internally or the solar cells can start breakdown when they’re in stressful operating conditions. I complete thermography surveys to see if any panels are damaged and need replacing.

    • Photo: Priyanka Dhopade

      Priyanka Dhopade answered on 10 Mar 2016:

      During the past year, I’ve actually learned a lot. I normally tended to work on computer models but recently, I’ve learned how to work with my hands and actually build things!
      I built a real version of my computer model and got to experiment with it and confirm some of my computer predictions. This was pretty exciting.
      I learned how to:
      – design things out of Perspex (a type of plastic)
      – how thermochromic liquid crystals work (they’re the same things in those “mood rings” that change colour with temperature)
      – how to make heat transfer measurements using these liquid crystals

      Super fun!!

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