Hi, my name is

William Pangestu.

I build automation & optimization systems.

I'm a chemical engineering student passionate about process automation and optimization. I specialize in integrating process control, dynamic modeling and machine learning to design efficient industrial systems. By combining knowledge of materials and energy balances with data‑driven algorithms, I strive to drive continuous improvement while collaborating closely with cross‑functional teams and clients.

01.

About Me

Hello! I'm William, a graduating Chemical Engineering major from UC San Diego. I specialize in building automation and optimization systems that leverage process control, dynamics, and data science. My cross‑disciplinary foundation spans materials and energy balances, process dynamics, and machine learning—tools I use to design intelligent, efficient processes. I'm committed to continuous improvement and value clear communication with both teams and clients.

Through hands‑on projects such as ammonia synthesis and direct air capture plant designs, I've honed skills in simulation, equipment sizing and economic analysis. My work focuses on optimizing process integration through advanced heat exchange networks, control strategies and predictive modeling. These experiences have strengthened my ability to translate complex data into actionable engineering solutions.

My technical expertise spans:

  • Process Automation & Control Systems
  • Data Analysis & Machine Learning (Python, MATLAB, Excel)
  • Process Simulation & Optimization (Aspen Plus, HYSYS)
  • Material & Energy Balances
  • Process Dynamics & Control
  • Heat Exchanger Network Design
  • Cross‑Functional Communication & Collaboration
  • Continuous Improvement & Lean Principles
William Pangestu
02.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Chemical Engineering @ UC San Diego

Sep 2023 - Jun 2025

  • Comprehensive coursework in process design, unit operations, thermodynamics, and reaction engineering with emphasis on industrial-scale chemical processes
  • Completed year-long ammonia synthesis capstone project achieving 943.2 kmol/h NH₃ production with 48.9% efficiency improvement through advanced heat integration
  • Developed expertise in process simulation using Aspen Plus and HYSYS for complex chemical process design and optimization
  • Designed direct air capture system capable of removing 1 million metric tons CO₂ annually using advanced sorbent technology and multi-stage processing
  • Applied heat and mass transfer principles in equipment design including heat exchangers, distillation columns, and reactor systems
  • Gained proficiency in economic analysis, capital cost estimation, and process optimization for commercial viability assessment

General Education & STEM Preparation @ De Anza College

Apr 2021 - Aug 2023

  • Calculus I–III; Differential Equations; Physics for Engineers
  • Organic & General Chemistry; Biology; C++
  • Built a strong STEM foundation to prepare for Chemical Engineering
03.

Where I’ve Worked

Process Engineering Intern @ PT Chandra Asri Pacific

July – August 2024

  • Identified and streamlined manual diagnostic processes in reactor and extruder systems using Python-based data analysis.
  • Developed an ML pipeline in Google Colab for root‐cause analysis of reactor shutdowns due to agglomerate buildup.
  • Applied correlation analysis, Random Forest feature importance, PCA, and regression to highlight critical failure parameters.
  • Built a mixer–extruder energy‐efficiency tool and proposed optimized operating settings for lower energy consumption.
  • Presented findings to mentors; enabled faster, more scalable process troubleshooting with cross‐functional plant exposure.
Process Engineering Intern at Chandra Asri

With the Chandra Asri team on the UCC1 polyethylene line—summer 2024.

04.

Things I've Done

Direct Air Capture Plant Design

Senior capstone project designing a scalable DAC system capable of removing 1 million metric tons of CO₂ annually from the atmosphere. Complete process engineering with economic analysis achieving $39,770 capital savings through optimization.

  • Climate Technology
  • Process Design
  • Aspen Plus
  • Economic Analysis

Ammonia Synthesis Plant Design

Comprehensive four-quarter capstone project designing a complete ammonia synthesis plant using the Haber-Bosch process. Achieved 943.2 kmol/h NH₃ production with 48.9% efficiency improvement through advanced heat integration.

  • Haber-Bosch Process
  • Reactor Design
  • Process Integration
  • Economic Analysis

Plate Heat Exchanger Performance

Analyzed thermal performance of 7-plate stainless steel heat exchanger by determining empirical Nusselt correlation coefficients. Developed predictive models with R² > 0.98 correlation for design optimization.

  • Heat Transfer
  • Nusselt Correlations
  • Regression Analysis
  • Equipment Design

Reverse Osmosis Membrane Analysis

Investigated effects of operating pressure on water and salt transport in RO configurations. Achieved 68% water recovery with comprehensive selectivity analysis for desalination optimization.

  • Membrane Technology
  • Desalination
  • Transport Phenomena
  • Process Optimization

Liposome Nanoparticle Optimization

Optimized liposome nanoparticle fabrication using extrusion method. Achieved minimum particle size of 109.8 nm with 51% reduction and polydispersity index of 0.082 for pharmaceutical applications.

  • Nanoparticles
  • Drug Delivery
  • Process Optimization
  • Material Science

Photocatalytic Degradation Study

Investigated photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue using TiO₂ catalyst and UV light. Applied pseudo-first-order kinetics with maximum rate constant of 0.0797 s⁻¹ achieved through H₂O₂ optimization.

  • Photocatalysis
  • Water Treatment
  • Reaction Kinetics
  • Environmental Engineering

Cooling Tower Performance Analysis

Analyzed counterflow cooling tower performance using Merkel's equation. Validated exponential decay relationship between NTU and L/G ratio with maximum temperature drop of 13.4°C achieved at optimal conditions.

  • Heat Transfer
  • Mass Transfer
  • Cooling Systems
  • Process Analysis

PEM Fuel Cell Performance Analysis

Comprehensive experimental analysis of proton exchange membrane fuel cell systems. Achieved 35% performance improvement with double membrane configuration yielding 75.1 mW peak power and 95% conversion efficiency.

  • Fuel Cells
  • Clean Energy
  • Electrochemistry
  • System Optimization

Solar Thermal Collector Analysis

Characterized thermal performance of ThermoRay TRB-26 flat-plate solar collector through steady-state efficiency testing. Achieved thermal time constant of 2.13 minutes with comprehensive dynamic response analysis.

  • Solar Thermal
  • Heat Transfer
  • DLS Analysis
  • Performance Testing

05. What's Next?

Get In Touch

I'm currently seeking opportunities in process automation, optimization and control engineering. If you're looking for a problem solver who blends chemical engineering principles with modern data analytics and machine learning, I'd love to connect. Feel free to reach out to discuss how I can contribute to your projects or team.

Say Hello