Dhruv (Drew) Sachani
Richmond,VA
Summary
Experienced Mechanical Systems Design Engineer with expertise in fluid and thermal system design, power balance analysis, and complex system architecture. Currently working on designing a nascent, mobile, high-temperature gas-cooled reactor, including primary loop and passive decay heat removal systems. Proficient in conducting plant power balance analysis, equipment sizing/specifications, developing P&IDs and PFDs, and developing a slew of technical documents/reports.
Additionally, have extensive experience conducting parametric evaluations of various secondary side systems, including those for a commercial maritime nuclear reactor, to assess trade-offs in efficiency, volume, and mass. Also analyzed Stirling and Brayton cycles for lunar surface fission power, optimizing system performance and scalability. Proficient in leveraging engineering tools such as Flownex, Fathom, and Arrow to enhance system design and innovation in advanced energy applications.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Mechanical Systems Design Engineer
BWXT - Advanced Technologies Division
Lynchburg, VA
04.2022 - Current
- Lead the creation of appropriate output documentation, such as process flow diagrams, P&IDs, component data sheets, system requirements documents, control logic diagrams, and FMEA evaluations.
- Identified relevant system requirements and interface requirements, then prepared appropriate system design documentation, such as system design descriptions and control narratives.
- Performed system-level power balance analysis, which included steady-state and transient analysis for a terrestrial high-temperature Small Modular Reactor (SMR).
- Performed parametric evaluations of secondary side systems for a commercial maritime nuclear reactor, analyzing trade-offs to optimize efficiency, volume, and mass across architectural configurations.
- Selected components (e.g., valves, heat exchangers), performed sizing calculations, and prepared specifications for their detailed design.
- Analyzed Stirling and Brayton cycles for lunar surface fission power using Flownex, evaluating their performance, efficiency, scalability, and system design considerations for space-based power generation.
- Designed piping systems, including line sizing and pressure drop calculations.
- Utilized appropriate regulations, design codes, and standards (e.g., ASME) for fluid systems.
- Coordinated with other interfacing disciplines, such as electrical engineers, I&C engineers, mechanical equipment designers, and test engineers.
- Prepared and presented in design reviews, and created an action plan for any findings.
Nuclear Engineer 2
Huntington Ingalls Industries
Newport News, VA
03.2019 - 03.2022
- Cradle-to-grave design process of fluids and ventilation systems; gather requirements from stakeholders, research alternatives, choose a design that best meets stakeholder requirements, create a drawing with list of materials, develop a test plan, design and build mock-up system, perform testing, evaluate data, define operation requirements, validate the live system, develop maintenance criteria, troubleshoot as needed, and finally a disposal plan for the system.
- Design water piping system to pump contaminated radioactive water while mechanically filtering particles and chemically filtering (ion exchange) soluble contamination.
- Design hydraulic system and schematics as per given requirements.
- Design and analyze thermal systems associated with nuclear refueling operations.
- Lead design engineer of vacuum drying system to remove any moisture from a nuclear fuel transport container prior to shipping.
- Analyze static and dynamic loading on structural equipment and pipe supports .
- Extensive knowledge in developing test plans, taking meaningful data, and perform statistical analyses followed by a detailed report with recommendations to stakeholders.
Nuclear Engineer 1
Huntington Ingalls Industries
Newport News, VA
07.2017 - 02.2019
- Designed, developed and tested equipment associated with removing contaminated components, control mechanisms, and associated instrumentation.
- Developed shielding/containments to control radiation and radioactive contaminants.
- Led development of modeling and simulation tools to service the FORD class naval reactors.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Mechanical And Nuclear Engineering
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA05.2017
Skills
- SECRET security clearance
- Plant Power Balance Analysis
- Systems Level Modeling (AFT Arrow, Fathom, Flownex)
- Military specifications
- ASME code for pressure piping, boiler and pressure vessel design
- Department of Energy (DOE) standards
- Hydraulic system design
- Project management
- Pressure piping and vessel design
- Thermal system design
- Fortran
- FEA analysis (ANSYS)
- CFD analysis (FloMaster, FloEFD)
- CAD (Autocad, Solidworks)
- Fortan
- Matlab
Timeline
Mechanical Systems Design Engineer
BWXT - Advanced Technologies Division
04.2022 - Current
Nuclear Engineer 2
Huntington Ingalls Industries
03.2019 - 03.2022
Nuclear Engineer 1
Huntington Ingalls Industries
07.2017 - 02.2019
Bachelor of Science - Mechanical And Nuclear Engineering
Virginia Commonwealth University
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