Carlos A. Barrera, Ph.D., P.E.

Dr. Barrera’s background in chemical and nuclear engineering provides an excellent foundation for his consulting work in the analysis and investigation of fires, explosions, product failures, and chemical process upsets. His areas of expertise and interest include chemical plant operations, the paper industry, HAZOP, and “what-if” studies for chemical processes, as well as unitary operations characterization and design, project management, and industrial safety and risk analysis programs. He has extensive knowledge in ionizing radiation detection, radioactive source handling, computational radiation transport, and digital image processing and reconstruction.

Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Barrera was a Graduate Research Fellow at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, CA, where he conducted research on radiation detection at the National Ignition Facility; in particular he worked on the development of neutron imaging for inertial confinement fusion experiments. Before joining Berkeley, he was a project engineer for The Dow Chemical Co. in Colombia, where he was in charge of design, planning, and execution of capital and improvement projects for three production units, as well as coordinator of the local safety program. Also in Colombia, he conducted his undergraduate research in pollution control methods for the paper industry.

Barrera C, Hosseini K, Kemal A. Transient reservoir conditions and leak flow rate for a choked orifice: Basic Principles, Estimation and Applications. Proceedings, 7th Global Congress on Process Safety, Chicago, IL March 13–16, 2011. American Institute of Chemical Engineers ISBN 978-0-8169-1067-10.

Barrera C, Kemal A. Condensation induced water hammer: Principles and consequences. Proceedings, 6th Global Congress on Process Safety, San Antonio, TX March 21–25, 2010. American Institute of Chemical Engineers ISBN 978-0-8169-1064-9.

Barrera C. Experimental component characterization and Monte Carlos-based image formation and reconstruction for the neutron imaging system of the national ignition facility. Ph.D. Thesis, University of California at Berkeley, 2007.

Barrera C, Moran M, Morse E. Image reconstruction algorithms for inertial confinement fusion neutron imaging. Review of Scientific Instruments 2006 Oct; 77.

Moran M, Koch J, Landen O, Haan S, Barrera C, Morse E. Imploded capsule fuel temperature and density measurement by energy-dependent neutron imaging. Journal de Physique IV 2006; 133:925.

Moran M, Koch J, Haan S, Hatchett S, Barrera C, Morse E. Downscattered neutron imaging. Review of Scientific Instruments 2004; 75:3592.

Moran M, Koch J, Barrera C, Morse E. Neutron scintillators for downscattered neutron imaging. Inertial Fusion Sciences and Applications 2003, American Nuclear Society, pp. 888–891, La Grange Park, IL, 2004.

Barrera C. Characterization of scintillator materials for downscattered neutron imaging. M.S. Thesis, University Of California at Berkeley, 2004.

Barrera C, Zapata J. Reduction of COD in black liquors by acid treatment. B.S. Thesis, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellin, 1998.

Presentations and Published Abstracts

Barrera C, Moran M, Morse E. Performance modeling of the NIF neutron imaging system. 34th IEEE International Conference on Plasma Science, Albuquerque, NM, June 2007.

Barrera C, Moran M, Morse E. Image characterization study for ICF neutron imaging. 48th Annual Meeting of the APS DPP, Philadelphia, PA, October 2006.

Barrera C, Moran M, Morse E. Image reconstruction algorithms for ICF neutron imaging. 16th Topical Conference on High-Temperature Plasma Diagnostics, Williamsburg, VA, May 2006.

Moran M, Barrera C, Morse E. Model-based analysis of an ICF neutron imaging system. 47th Annual Meeting of the APS DPP, Denver, CO, October 2005.

Moran M, Koch J, Landen O, Haan S, Barrera C, Morse E. Imploded capsule fuel temperature and density measurement by energy-dependent neutron imaging. 4th International Conference on Inertial Fusion Sciences and Applications, Biarritz, France, September 2005.

Barrera C, Moran M, Morse E. Study of organic scintillators for neutron imaging. 32nd IEEE International Conference on Plasma Science, Monterrey, CA, June 2005.

Barrera C, Moran M, Morse E. Simulation and analysis of pinholes for neutron imaging. 46th Annual Meeting of the APS DPP, Savannah, GA, November 2004.

Barrera C, Moran M, Koch J, Haan S, Hatchett S, Morse E. Downscattered neutron imaging. 15th Topical Conference on High-Temperature Plasma Diagnostics, April 2004.

Barrera C, Moran M, Morse E. Characterization of neutron scintillators for downscattered neutron imaging. 45th Annual Meeting of the APS DPP, Albuquerque, NM, October 2003.

• Student Employee Graduate Research Fellow, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 2004–2007
• Graduate Student Researcher, University of California, Berkeley, 2001–2004
• Project Engineer, The Dow Chemical Co., 1998–2000
  

• American Nuclear Society (member)
• American Institute of Chemical Engineers (member)
• ASTM International (voting member)
  – Member of the ASTM E10 “Nuclear Technology and Applications” committee
  – Member of the ASTM E58 “Forensic Engineering” committee