Dr Daniel Arturo Leal Chavez

Beginning his career with a focus on manufacturing processes, Dr Daniel Arturo Leal Chavez soon decided to pursue a postgraduate degree specialising in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Later combining his interest into a research focus covering the two, he has subsequently gained extensive expertise in heat transfer studies and the mechanical design of such equipment and systems. Contributing to several projects, he has supported the implementation of new technologies in production processes, and is currently leading the Energy Laboratory at the Advanced Materials Research Centre in : driving technological innovation to promote the country’s sustainable development.

Dr Chavez's innovation introduces frost-free refrigeration through the use of electrical heating components, eliminating the need for manual defrosting on both a small and industrial scale, reducing a refrigeration plant’s total energy consumption by up to 20%. This novel process allows the energy generated by the compressors to serve both defrosting and cooling functions, effectively recovering waste heat, and eliminating the need for the expenditure of additional energy.