Chandreshekar Sonwane
Chandrashekar Sonwane is an Indian American scientist at Aerojet Rocketdyne, Canoga Park, California. He is also an elected member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts. Shekar is member of Space Launch System, Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, Associate Fellow of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Fellow of Institute of Engineering and Technology, Fellow of Institution of Chemical Engineers, Fellow of Engineers Australia, and Fellow of Royal Australian Chemical Institute.
Shekar is known significant contributions to the space launch, air breathing propulsion and chemical and power industries and is supporting Aerojet Rocketdyne efforts in several space/defense including: Space Launch System – Manned mission to Mars, The DARPA XS-P Phantom Express Reusable Launcher, The development of affordable solid rocket motors for tactical and space applications and the maturation of rotating detonation engine technology for power, space propulsion and defense applications. Shekar is specifically known for his patents and Applications around the globe. He has led patent applications in China, Japan, Europe, United States and other parts of the world.
Early life and education
Chandrashekhar was born on May 2, 1972, in Nanded, Maharashtra, India. He studied in Zilla Parishad Multipurpose Boys School, Pratibha Niketan High School and Science College Nanded. In 1994 he graduated with a BSc in chemical engineering from the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai. In 1996, he received MSc in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, India. He then moved to Australia and was completed a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Queensland in 2000. He is currently living in the United States and holds US citizenship.Certifications
Shekar has been awarded several international certificates throughout his career including:- PE, Board Certified Registered Professional Engineer through NCEES, Connecticut, USA
- PMP, Project management Professional
- Six Sigma Green Belt Certification, General Electric, Greenville, SC, USA
- Master Black Belt Six Sigma for Quality Improvement
- ACE Associate, Achieving Competitive Excellence certificate from United Technology Corporation, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- BCEE, Board Certified Environmental Engineer, USA
- QEP, Quality Environmental Professional, USA
Professional career
Achievements
Dr Shekar received many awards and elected with Fellow grade memberships.- 2019 – Chairman of Board, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Los Angeles-Las Vegas
- 2019 - Elected Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society
- 2019 - Chemists Celebrate Earth Week Coordinator, American Chemical Society
- 2018 - Board member, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, membership chair
- 2018 - Board member, American Chemical Society
- 2018 - Elected Fellow of Institution of Chemical Engineers
- 2018 - Elected Member of European Academy of Sciences and Arts
- 2018 - Elected Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society
- 2018 - Elected Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology
- 2018 - Elected Fellow of Engineers Australia
- 2018 - Elected Fellow of Royal Australian Chemical Institute
- 2013 - Engineer of the Year finalist and Winner of Engineer of the Year Trophy, United Technology Corporation, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne
- 2012 - Engineer of the Year finalist, UTC Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne
- 2008 - Managers Awards from General Electric
- 2018 - AR Energetic award for several Government Programs
- 2016 - AR Launch award for Confidential US Government Programs
- 2014 - AR Eagle Award Confidential US Government Program
- 2014 - AR Energetic Award for Confidential US Government Program
- 2013 - Special Award, UTC Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne
- 2013 - Eagle Award, UTC Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne
- 2012 - Green Leaf Award finalist, UTC Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne
- 2012 - Jack Well Award finalist UTC Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne
- 2013 - Special Award from UTC Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne for 3 ARPA-E Programs
- 2012 - Special Award from UTC Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne for Gasification
- 2012 - UTC Leadership award Finalist for Gasification project
- 2012 - Eagle Award from UTC Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne for Government Programs
- 2012 - Eagle Award from UTC Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne for Green Technology
- 2012 - Eagle Award from UTC Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne for Gasifier Technology
- 2011 - Engineers Council Award for Gasification Pilot Plant
- 2008 - Special Awards from General Electric
- 2008 - Appreciation Awards from General Electric
- 1998 - UQPRS award for living allowance for PhD
- 1990-1994 Undergraduate Fellowships for Tuition, living allowance
- 1994 -1996 Unilever Fellowship for full Tuition fees and living allowance for MS
Patents and applications
- US Patent # 9,917,319, Gas generator and process therefor
- US Patent # 8,833,076, Thermal Storage System
- US Patent # 8,851,406, Pump apparatus including de-consolidator
- US Patent # 8,007,570 Systems, methods, and apparatus for capturing CO2 using a solvent
- US Patent # 8,968,430 Dewatering system and process for increasing the combined cycle efficiency of a coal powerplant
- US Patent # 9,080,115 Flow splitter for a compact gasification reactor system
- US Patent Application # 20160322660 GAS GENERATOR AND PROCESS THEREFOR
- US Patent Application # 20150175919 DEWATERING SYSTEM FOR INCREASING THE COMBINED CYCLE EFFICIENCY OF A COAL POWERPLANT
- US Patent Application # 20140294695 INJECTOR MIXER FOR A COMPACT GASIFICATION REACTOR SYSTEM
- US Patent Application # 20140102001 FLOW SPLITTER FOR A COMPACT GASIFICATION REACTOR SYSTEM
- US Patent Application # 20140060002 REGENERATIVE TURBINE FOR POWER GENERATION SYSTEM
- US Patent Application # 20140020675 SOLAR RECEIVER
- US Patent Application # 20130333572 SEPARATOR APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING A GAS STREAM
- US Patent Application # 20130269345 RETROFIT FOR POWER GENERATION SYSTEM
- US Patent Application # 20130269334 POWER PLANT WITH CLOSED BRAYTON CYCLE
- US Patent Application # 20130145759 LOW COST AND HIGHER EFFICIENCY POWER PLANT
- US Patent Application # 20120321444 PUMP APPARATUS INCLUDING DECONSOLIDATOR
- US Patent Application # 20110314812 THERMAL STORAGE SYSTEM
- US Patent Application # 20110078948 ASH REMOVAL FROM COAL: PROCESS TO AVOID LARGE QUANTITIES OF HYDROGEN FLUORIDE ON-SITE
- US Patent Application # 20110030593 Method for desulfurizing a fluid and methods for operating a coal combustion system
- US Patent Application # 20110030271 Method for removing impurities from coal in a reaction chamber
- US Patent Application # 20110030270 Methods for removing impurities from coal including neutralization of a leaching solution
- US Patent Application # 20100287827 PROCESS FOR OBTAINING TREATED COAL AND SILICA FROM COAL CONTAINING FLY ASH
Publications
- C. G. Sonwane, J. Wilcox and Y. H. Ma, “Achieving optimum hydrogen permeability in PdAg and PdAu alloys” Journal of Chemical Physics, 2006, 125, 184714.
- C. G. Sonwane, J. Wilcox and Y. H. Ma, “Solubility of hydrogen in PdAg and PdAu binary alloys using density functional theory” Journal of Physical Chemistry, 2006, 110, 24549.
- C. G. Sonwane and P. J. Ludovice, “A note on micro-and mesopores in the walls of SBA-15 and hysteresis of adsorption isotherms” Journal of Molecular Catalysis. A: Chemical, 2005, 238, 135-137.
- C. G. Sonwane and Q. Li, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2005, 7, 3501 – 3506.
- C. G. Sonwane and Q. Li, “Structure and transport properties of nanostructured materials” Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 109, 2005, 5691-5699.
- C. G. Sonwane and Q. Li, “Molecular simulation of RMM: ordered mesoporous SBA-15 type material having microporous ZSM-5 walls,” Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2005, 109, 17993-17997.
- C. G. Sonwane, C. W. Jones and P. J. Ludovice, “A model for the structure of MCM-41 incorporating surface roughness”, Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 109, 23395-23404, 2005.
- D. Mukherjee, C. G. Sonwane, M. R. Zachariah, Journal of Chemical Physics, 2004, 119, 3391-3404.
- C. G. Sonwane and S. K. Bhatia, Journal of Physical Chemistry, 2000, 104, 9099-9110.
- P. Selvam, S. K. Bhatia and C. G. Sonwane, “Recent advances in processing and characterization of periodic mesoporous MCM-41 silicate molecular sieves” Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, 2001, 40, 3237-3261.
- C. G. Sonwane and S. K. Bhatia, Separations and Purification Technology, 2000, 21, 25-39.
- S. K. Bhatia and C. G. Sonwane, Studies in Surface Science and Catalysis, 2000, 128, 187-196.
- C. G. Sonwane, A. D. McLennan, S. K. Bhatia, Studies in Surface Science and Catalysis, 2000, 128, 197-205.
- C. G. Sonwane and S. K. Bhatia, Ed., Do, D. D., Adsorption Science and Technology, World Scientific, Singapore, 2000, 86-90.
- C. G. Sonwane and S. K. Bhatia, in Ed. Do, D. D., Adsorption Science and Technology, World Scientific, Singapore, 2000, 91-95.
- C. G. Sonwane and Bhatia, Studies in Surface Science and Catalysis, 2000, 129, 607-615.
- C. G. Sonwane and S. K. Bhatia, Langmuir, 1999, 15, 2809-2816.
- C. G. Sonwane, S. K. Bhatia and N. Calos, Langmuir, 1999, 15, 4603-4612.
- C. G. Sonwane and S. K. Bhatia, Langmuir, 1999, 15, 5347-5354.
- C. G. Sonwane, L. G. Bhatgadde, J. R. Bellare and Q. Li, Journal of Materials Science Letters, 1999, 18, 1205-1208, 19.
- C. G. Sonwane and S. K. Bhatia, Chem. Eng. Sci., 1998, 53, 3143-3156.
- C. G. Sonwane, S. K. Bhatia, and N. Calos, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 1998, 37, 2271-2283.
- S. K. Bhatia and C. G. Sonwane, Langmuir, 1998, 37, 2271-2224.
- C. Nguyen, C. G. Sonwane, S. K. Bhatia and D. D. Do, Langmuir, 1998, 14, 4950-4952.
- S. K. Bhatia and C. G. Sonwane, Studies in Surface Science and Catalysis, 2000, 128, 187-196.
Personal life