Sandia Energy > Programs > Renewable Energy > Concentrating Solar Power > Staff > Kenneth M. Armijo, PhD Kenneth M. Armijo, PhD R&D S&E, Systems Engineering Biography Dr. Kenneth Armijo is a systems engineering staff member who leads molten salt and molten alkali metals research and development at Sandia National Laboratories National Solar Thermal Test Facility (NSTTF). He holds a PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, with minors in energy and resources, and business credentials in management of technology from Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. Dr. Armijo also received a master’s in mechanical engineering from U.C. Berkeley. Presently, Dr. Armijo’s research in CSP consists of system design for high-temperature (>720°C) test loops, employing ternary chloride molten salts and alkali metals (sodium) as the heat transfer fluid. His research has also consisted of falling particles for centralized concentrating solar receivers, and he leads research activities pertaining to solar Stirling engine applications, as well as solar reactor research and development and high-flux materials characterization. Dr. Armijo also serves as a lead test engineer for high-temperature materials research for power towers and solar furnace investigations. Education Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, University of New Mexico, May 2005 Master of Science, Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, May 2008 Doctor of Philosophy, Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, December 2011 Publications Ho, C. K., J. M. Christian, J. E. Yellowhair, K. M. Armijo, W. J. Kolb, S. Jeter, M. Golob, C. Nguyen, “On-Sun Performance Evaluation of Alternative High-Temperature Falling Particle Receiver Designs,” Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, 141, no. 1 (2019): 011009. Armijo, K. M., R. K. Harrison, B. H. King, and J. B. Martin, “Spectral Derates Phenomena of Atmospheric Components on Multi-Junction CPV Technologies,” AIP Proceedings, 1616, no. 1 (2014): 264-271. Armijo, K. M., J. Johnson, M. Hibbs, and A. Fresquez, “Quantifying Photovoltaic Fire Danger Reduction with Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters,” Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, 24, no. 4 (2014): 507-516.