Nicolás Bueno

What is your dream job?

I project myself working in an environment where the uncertainty of the outcome provides constant excitement about what I do. Whether doing research in academia or R&D in the energy industry, EME provides me with fundamental knowledge and skills to address humanity's challenges for a future clean and reliable energy supply.

What is the best class you’ve taken at Penn State and why?

The PNG 520 course on the Thermodynamics of Hydrocarbon fluids has been the one I have enjoyed most by its complexity and beauty.

Why did you choose Penn State?

The well-aligned research in EME with my background, the constant support of my advisor during my application and afterward, and the high-ranking EME obtained in petroleum engineering. EME is highly enriched by its multidisciplinary faculty, where students can explore their potential by connecting with other researchers and departments. The EME department's expertise narrows specific objectives while focusing on the world's important energy-related challenges. Attending interesting conferences in other cities and a wonderful summer internship in the petroleum industry have been some of the most rewarding experiences after my first two years at Penn State.

Research

Using consistent pore-scale models, I research the physics of multicomponent Ostwald ripening and its impact on hydrogen storage. Our research will enable a better design of hydrogen storage operations, which can be extended massively to aquifers or depleted oil reservoirs. Such an achievement is one of the keys to reaching a net-zero emission future while providing minimum standard lives to humanity across the globe.

Methods

I employ pore network modeling and the lattice Boltzmann method to describe the evolution of multiphase systems in porous media while keeping consistency between the transport models and the thermodynamic description of multicomponent mixtures.