Fluid Power Student Profile: Ram Sudarsan Devendran

We’ve written before about the Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power (CCEFP)—the network of fluid power research laboratories, academic faculty, graduate and undergraduate students at seven universities—that is making a difference when it comes to preparing a better educated workforce for the fluid power industry. The CCEFP has created a 500% increase in the number of fluid power focused advanced degrees awarded in the United States, with almost half of its graduates going on to work in the fluid power industry.

Ram Sudarsan Devendran is one of the students currently engaged at one of the CCEFP schools—Purdue University. When asked to provide a summary of his background and experiences in the CCEFP, this is what he said.

I am currently a PhD candidate in the School of Mechanical Engineering of Purdue University.  I work under the supervision of Professor Andrea Vacca at the Maha Fluid Power Research Center. My PhD thesis is on the designing, modeling and prototype development for a novel idea for introducing a variable displacement concept in external gear machines. At this point, I am very confident and thrilled to say that I was capable of achieving at least 40% reduction in displacement which would reflect in a 40% reduction in energy consumption in systems using traditional external gear machines. In addition to this, I was involved with several industry sponsored projects which are based on innovative designs of the external gear machines to reduce their fluid borne noise emissions.

 

In addition to research within the Center, I played the role of the Treasurer of the Student Leadership Council for over two years. I was in charge of review/allocation and bookkeeping of the funds available for travel grants and outreach project grants.

 

I am really excited to join Ford Motor Company by the end of summer as a Hydraulic Pump Modeling Research Engineer to investigate energy efficient pump modeling concepts to be used in the transmissions of on-road vehicles.

 

A little bit about me, personally, I have always been interested in knowing about different parts/working of the automobiles. I also like to listen to talks given by prevalent CEOs of innovative companies such as Tesla Motors, Google, etc. During leisure time, I like to work out, jog outside, watch movies and cook.

To learn more, contact Ram at rdevendr@purdue.edu, or visit CCEFP.org.