ISRO | India
Author Profile
🧑🔬 Professional Summary
T. John Tharakan is a seasoned mechanical engineer and propulsion scientist with over 35 years of experience at ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), Trivandrum. He is known for his pioneering contributions to liquid propulsion, spray atomization, advanced injector development, and nuclear propulsion systems. He has played key roles in strategic missions like Chandrayaan, Gaganyaan, and OneWeb, and has a strong track record in experimental and computational fluid dynamics.
🎓 Education
He earned his Ph.D. in Applied Mechanics from IIT Madras (2001), focusing on liquid sheet breakup. He holds an M.Tech in Mechanical Engineering (1988) from IIT Madras, and a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering (1986) from Kerala University, TKM College of Engineering, Quilon.
👨💼 Professional Experience
Joining ISRO-LPSC in 1987, he steadily advanced through roles from Scientist/Engineer SB to Scientist/Engineer H, culminating in leadership as Group Director. He directed projects on cryogenic propulsion, electric propulsion (SPTs), and nuclear power systems. His roles involved injector design, spray testing, CFD modeling, and establishing state-of-the-art test facilities.
🧰 Technical Skills
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Spray & Atomization Mechanics
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Injector Design & Performance Optimization
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CFD & Fluid Flow Simulations
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Experimental Setup & Facility Development
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Nuclear and Electric Propulsion Systems
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Thermodynamic Modeling & Plume Dynamics
🎓 Teaching & Mentorship
He has mentored over 25 R&D projects, served as Principal Investigator in over nine RESPOND/STC projects, and guided numerous experimental campaigns and CFD modeling teams.
🔬 Research Interests
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Liquid & Cryogenic Propulsion Systems
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Spray Characterization & Injector Technologies
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Nuclear Propulsion for Space Applications
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Electric Propulsion (SPT Development)
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Advanced CFD and Flow Dynamics
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Mission-critical Propulsion Problem Solving
Publications
Thermoelectric power factor performance of silicon-germanium alloy doped with phosphorus prepared by spark plasma assisted transient liquid phase sintering
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Authors: R. Murugasami, P. Vivekanandhan, S. Kumaran, R.S. Kumar, T.J. Tharakan
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Journal: Scripta Materialia
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Year: 2018
The role of backpressure on discharge coefficient of sharp edged injection orifices
Numerical studies on air-core vortex formation during draining of liquids from tanks
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Authors: P. Basu, D. Agarwal, T.J. Tharakan, A. Salih
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Journal: International Journal of Fluid Mechanics Research, Vol. 40(1)
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Year: 2013
Prediction of gas-core vortices during draining of liquid propellants from tanks
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Authors: D. Agarwal, P. Basu, T.J. Tharakan, A. Salih
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Journal: Aerospace Science and Technology, Vol. 32(1), pp. 60–65
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Year: 2014
Trends in comprehensive modeling of spray formation
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Authors: T.J. Tharakan, A. Mukhopadhyay, A. Datta, M.A. Jog
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Journal: International Journal of Spray and Combustion Dynamics, Vol. 5(2), pp. 123–180
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Year: 2013