Joonhwan James Hyun

• Conducted experimental evaluation of direct-contact phase-change material (PCM) based thermal energy storage systems under a National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF)-funded research project.
• Designed and experimentally evaluated a sand-based thermal battery system, investigating system configuration and steam generation feasibility.
• Applied MARS-K nuclear system code (KAERI) for system-level thermal–hydraulic modeling and transient behavior analysis.
• Participated in an industry–academia collaboration with Hyundai Engineering & Construction, contributing to conceptual studies on TES integration with Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor (SFR) systems and performing preliminary analyses using the Gamma+ simulation code.

Citizenship: South Korea, United States

My research experience centers on thermal energy storage (TES) systems, spanning experimental evaluation, conceptual design, and system-level modeling. Through hands-on work with phase-change materials and high-temperature storage media, I became increasingly interested in the thermal–hydraulic behavior of complex energy systems.

These experiences have led me to develop primary research interests in nuclear thermal–hydraulics, followed by thermal energy storage (TES) systems. I also maintain broader academic interests in the roles of materials and manufacturing processes in influencing the performance and reliability of complex engineering systems.