GenAcc™ Consultants

Pranab K. Das
Ph. D. in Materials Science – Rugby College of Engineering Technology, England 1968
BSME – Jadavpur University, Calcutta, India 1963

Since 2003 Pranab has been acting as a consultant with several companies on wide ranging topics, including aftertreatment systems, diesel engines, and on-highway vehicles.

At International Truck and Engine Corporation Pranab was a Manager of Engine Technology from 1987 to 2003.  He led a department of approximately 50 professionals, mostly with advanced degrees. The challenge was to provide effective technology support to the engineering of diesel engines for the day-to-day solution of problems as well as developing future product concepts. The role of the group extended to developing engine performance, structural integrity, combustion, emissions, after-treatments, fuel system, air system, noise/vibration, fuels, lubricants and alternate fuel engines.

• Built an advanced technology group from scratch and accomplished its total integration to the product design and development processes.
  

• Led the group in defining and developing a technology path for meeting the stringent 2007 EPA emissions standard in a cost effective manner for competitive advantage.
  

• Initiated and drove the development of a new low cost and high performance electro-hydraulic fuel system.
  

• Initiated and drove the development of a neural network method for handling to-day’s complex engine calibration, subsystem control, virtual sensor and model based engine management needs with simplicity and efficiency.
  

• Consistently championed multidisciplinary team approach in operations and use of quality management tools, such as QFD, Taguchi, FMEA and project management. The results were seen in higher motivation in people and finding holistic solutions to problems.
  

• Both developed and participated in developing strategic and operational business plans.

From 1969 until 1987 Pranab was employed by John Deere in Waterloo, Iowa.  He was the manager of the Structural Analysis Group. He was responsible for planning and directing analytical support to the engineering of diesel engines. The scope included structural analysis, lubrication analysis, dynamic simulation, heat transfer and test data collection and archiving.

• Built an analytical group from scratch and supported the engineering of engines with modeling and simulation

• Personally developed numerous computer programs for finite element and lubrication analyses at their infancy of development.

• Developed several innovative designs for diesel engine components and hold patents.

• Pioneered development of analytical methods for studying the unexplored area of tolerance effects on engine performance and life.

• Completed preliminary work on developing an analysis model for studying the effects of different machining processes on component life.

From 1968 until 1969 Pranab was employed by Rolls Royce in England.  At Rolls Royce Pranab was a Senior Technologist.  He was a technical specialist in the Aero-engine division.  He developed a life prediction technique for cooled gas turbine blades including the simultaneous effects of high and low cycle fatigue, creep, stress relaxation and incremental collapse.

Pranab is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and Society of Automotive Engineers.  He has presented and participated in forums of many other societies.

He has published many technical papers on the topics of structural and lubrication analyses, various engine component design and alternate fuel engines.  Pranab has given many speeches on the topics of advanced engine technology and total quality management and has taught several courses both within and outside the company.  Pranab has received several awards for excellence in oral presentation.