Dr. Tsai graduated from the University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Campus, with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. After graduation, he worked at the U.S. Corps of Engineers in New England, were he inspected dam and conduit structures. He later earned a Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Tufts University, while working at General Electric Aircraft Engines, under the Fuel Systems Controls Division. Upon graduation, Dr. Tsai returned to Puerto Rico to work in the manufacturing industry, maintaining injection molding machinery and high voltage powder coating systems. In 2007 he obtained a doctorate degree from West Virginia University, researching multivariable control schemes for power generating hybrid systems. After working for an engineering consulting firm servicing the petrochemical industry, he later pursued a post doctorate fellowship at the Department of Energy – National Energy Technology Laboratory, where he conducted research on Fuel Cell Gas Turbine plants under the Energy Systems Dynamics Division. Dr. Tsai joined the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in August 2010, as an Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering.  

• Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, West Virginia University
• M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Tufts University
• B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

• Experimental Methods Laboratory
• Mechanical Engineering Design Laboratory

• Tsai, A., L. Banta, D. Tucker, L. Lawson. “Determination of an Empirical Transfer Function of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Gas Turbine Hybrid System Via Frequency Response Analysis” Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology, Vol.6 Issue 3, Aug. 2009.
• Tsai, A., L. Banta, D. Tucker, R. Gemmen. “RGA Analysis of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Gas Turbine Hybrid Plant” Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology, Vol.7 Issue 3, June 2010.
• Tsai, A., L. Banta, D. Tucker, R. Gemmen. “Multivariable Robust Control of a Simulated Hybrid Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Gas Turbine Plant” Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology, Vol.7 Issue 4, August 2010.
• Tsai, A., D. Tucker, C. Groves. “Improved Controller Performance of Selected Hybrid SOFC-GT Plant Signals Based on Practical Control Schemes” Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, Accepted for Publication – April 19, 2010. Paper No. GTP-10-1104.

• Tucker, D., A. Tsai, P. Jablonski, D. Hughes, C. Haynes, J. Sellers. “Initial Transient Response During Fuel Cell Turbine Hybrid System Startup” Proceedings of ICEPAG2010, February 10-12, 2010. Newport Beach, CA, USA. ICEPAG2010-3414.
• Hughes, D., C. Haynes, D. Tucker, A. Tsai, E. Liese. “Impact Transient Behavior of a Fuel Cell Gas Turbine Hybrid Using Hardware Based Simulation with a 1-D Distributed Fuel Cell Model” Proceedings of ASME ICEPAG2010, February 10-12, 2010. Newport Beach, CA, USA. ICEPAG2010-3408.
• Banta, L., B. Restrepo, A. Tsai, D. Tucker. “Cathode Air Management Strategies for Hybrid System Startup” Proceedings of ASME 2010 8th International Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology Conference, June 14-16, 2010. Brooklyn, NY, USA. FuelCell2010-33121.
• Restrepo, B., L. Banta, A. Tsai, D. Tucker. “Combination of a Nonlinear Static Model and Linear Dynamic Model of the NETL HyPer System” Proceedings of ASME 2010 8th International Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology Conference, June 14-16, 2010. Brooklyn, NY, USA. FuelCell2010-33111.
• Banta, L., J. Absten, A. Tsai, R. Gemmen. “Control Sensitivity Study for a Hybrid Fuel Cell Gas Turbine System” Proceedings of ASME 2008 6th International Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology Conference, June 16-18, 2008. Denver, Colorado, USA. FuelCell2008-65054.
• Tsai, A., D. Tucker, C. Groves “Improved Controller Performance of Selected Hybrid SOFC-GT Plant Signals Based on Practical Control Schemes” Proceedings of ASME IGTI Turbo Expo 2010, June 14-18. Glasgow, UK. GT2010-22470.
• Tsai, A., L. Banta, D. Tucker, R. Gemmen. “RGA Analysis of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Gas Turbine Hybrid Plant” Proceedings of FuelCell2008 Sixth International Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology Conference, June 16-18, 2008, Denver, Colorado, USA. FuelCell2008-65070.
• Tsai, A., L. Banta, D. Tucker, L. Lawson. “Determination of an Empirical Transfer Function of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Gas Turbine Hybrid System Via Frequency Response Analysis” Proceedings of ASME Fuel Cell Engineering and Technology, June 18-20, NY New York, USA. FuelCell2007-25099.
• Tsai, A., L. Banta, D. Tucker, R. Gemmen. “Multivariable Robust Control of a Simulated Hybrid Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Gas Turbine Plant” Proceedings of FuelCell2008 Sixth International Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology Conference, June 16-18, 2008, Denver, Colorado, USA. FuelCell2008-65071.

• American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)