MAHENDRAN CHOKKANATHAN

Process/Mechanical Engineer

Permanent Address:
Email Address:

28 Poppy Crescent, Springfield Lakes, QLD 4300

xs2mahendran@gmail.com

Mobile: +61420904638
Phone:+61 7 3463 9709

Career Objective

I would like to work in an organization that allows me to utilize my unique background, skills and talent so
as to realize my full creative potential in an environment that encourages continuous learning teamwork
and quality.
Presently Employed
Employer

Hatch Pty Ltd

Designation

Process Engineer

Total Working Experience

11 Years 5 Months

Work Experience
PERIOD: SEPTEMBER 08 TILL DATE
SUMMARY OF EXPERIENCE

Mahendran has more than 11 years experience in Alumina and Aluminum projects. He has specialist
technical expertise in areas that include Evaporation & Digestion facilities in Alumina industry and Carbon
Paste Plant in Aluminium Smelters.

Design and engineering for Alumina Refineries at concept, basic and detailed stages.
Mathematical modelling of process flow streams.
Preparation of PFDs, P&Ids, control philosophy and design criteria.
Performing hydraulic calculations for liquor, condensate & slurry system /pipe design.
Performing two phase flashing flow calculations and designing relief systems.
Experienced in construction, commissioning and operation of a green field Aluminium smelter.

Maaden Alumina Refinery, Saudi Arabia

Part of commissioning team, involved in cold & hot water commissioning for Digestion and
Evaporation Facility.
Performed system hydraulic checks based on the plant data.
Performed the flash tank level profile calculation based on the plant data.
Shaheen Alumina Refinery, UAE

Preliminary relief valve sizing calculation.

Hazard classification assessment for digestion facility.
Reviewing Process design criteria for digestion, acid and condensate storage facility.
Reviewing mass & energy balance for digestion facility.
Preparing process functional description for digestion.

MAHENDRAN CHOKKANATHAN

Process/Mechanical Engineer
Performed Relief Area calculations in digestion facility
Identifying and performing Hazard assessment for digestion facility
Hydraulic Analysis and preliminary pump selection for liquor, condensate and slurry systems.
Queensland Alumina Ltd, Digestion Relief Study, Australia

Assessments of digestion relief capacity requirements for flash vessel bypass conditions while
performing maintenance.
Estimating the relief capacities in vessel blockage event.
Determining orifice size for the reduced flow under choked condition.
Rusal, Aughinish Digestion Study, Ireland

Assessment of digestion relief capacity requirements for the upgrade of plant capacity
Estimating the relief capacities due to flash vessel blockage and power failure cases.
Maaden Alumina Refinery, Saudi Arabia

Responsible for reviewing mass & energy balance across digestion and evaporation facility.
Hydraulic Analysis and pump selection for liquor, condensate and slurry systems
Control valves sizing and selection.
HAZOP Analysis and closing out the HAZOP actions
Pressure transient analysis for lime injection and condensate PD pumps.
Vendor co-ordination
Vendor data review

Hatch Perth Australia

Internal Projects

Generating dynamic models in excel for clarification / washing circuits, grinding circuits to asses
sysCAD models.
Exploring the options for improving the precipitation in the Bayer alumina process.

ALCOA, Bio-Oxalate Destruction Project, Pinjarra & Wagerup, Perth, Australia.

Evaluating PFD/P&Ids
Evaluating control philosophy
HAZOP Analysis and closing out the HAZOP actions
Hydraulic Analysis and pump selection.
Cost estimate
Preliminary mechanical equipment sizing.

AURUKUN ALUMINA PROJECT (CHALCO, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA)

Modeling of evaporation, hydrate filtration and oxalate destruction kiln units for alumina refinery
in SYSCAD simulation and in Excel.

MAHENDRAN CHOKKANATHAN

Process/Mechanical Engineer

Sizing and selection of liquor condensate pumps, slurry pumps, Positive displacement pumps,
spent liquor heaters, Heat Exchangers, Bins, Agitators, Conveyors, Tanks and Flash Vessels.
Sizing of pressure relief valves, control valves.
Basics of Hysys simulation.

Previously Employed
Employer

BECHTEL INDIA PVT LTD.,

Designation

ENGINEER

Duration of work

2 Years 11 Months

Work Experience
PERIOD: OCTOBER 05 JUNE 07
SOHAR ALUMINIUM PROJECT (ALCAN,MUSCAT,OMAN)

Preparation of offer for the bid / quote stage.

Preparation of Mechanical Data Sheets for Process Equipments.
Preparation of Technical Specification for Process Equipments.
Vendor document review & approval.
Inter department co ordination with other major disciplines for vendor document.
Coordination with the vendor for timely completion of documents & project.
Single point contact to the customer for any technical clarifications etc.
Prepare and review mechanical equipment calculations, material requisitions.
Demonstrates in-depth knowledge through the ability to resolve complex issues.
Demonstrates knowledge of disciplines beyond own area of specialty, and keeps up-to-date with
leading edge developments.
Executes work independently and provides guidance to others.
Monitors project controls within discipline.
Assists in the on-the-job training of people assigned.
Supervises and provides technical direction to engineers, designers and drafters.

PERIOD: JULY 07 AUGUST 08

WORSLEY E&G PROJECT (BHP, BUNBURY, AUSTRALIA)

Developing PFDs and P&Ids in FEED stage.

Preparing and sending preliminary MRs for all the equipments in the plant for Bid and Reviewing
of Bids to support the estimate in FEED stage.
Facility scope descriptions and control philosophy.
Participated in HAZOP & HAZAN.
Responsible for Hydraulic calculation and selection of pumps.
Preliminary Designing of Heat Exchangers & Tanks.

MAHENDRAN CHOKKANATHAN

Process/Mechanical Engineer
Previously Employed
Employer

BHARAT ALUMINIUM COMPANY LTD. (STERLITE GROUP)

Designation

PROCESS ENGINEER

Duration of work

27 Months

Competencies
Technical:
Developing new recipes for optimization of pitch content and also the quality of the anodes
Monitoring and analysis of production and quality parameters of carbon plant on daily basis.
Analysis of raw material quality and its impact on anode quality.
Analysis of granulometry test of raw material and preparation of dry aggregate to a distinctive
recipe.
Preparation and analysis of daily, weekly and monthly production performance and quality control
reports of carbon plant.
To provide training to foremen regarding operation of new carbon plant.
Development of effective information system and data base to obtain useful information for
process decision making.
Job Profile:

Member of Project team in Green Anode Plant played major role in the erection of COPERION
BUSS KNEADER, VIBROCOMPACTOR, PREHEATING SCREW, BALL MILL.
Worked with COPERION BUSS, for optimizing the process set points of the Kneader for various
feed rate, we jointly determined the rpm and integrated power for different feed rates and the
temperature set points for the paste production.
Worked along with COPERION BUSS people and gave suggestion in framing the stopping
sequence of KNEADER in the ladder programme. Especially in the timer of flap cleaning period.
Worked with EIRICH for the quality of mixing and cooling in the cooler and the parameter
settings.
Worked with KHD in stabilizing the ball mill circuit for its efficiency with its laboratory details.
Jointly worked with process engineers of KHD In calculating the Recipes for the Anode.
Involved in the documentation, preparing the lubrication for the equipments, maintenance
schedule for all the equipments, spare parts listing for all the equipments in GAP.
Calculating the requirement of raw material for GAP, BAKEOVEN, and RODDING.
Maintenance for the entire Reversing flap, Elevator, Conveyors, Splitter gates, Rotary airlocks.
To Prepare and adhere to the preventive maintenance schedule for the section responsible for in
consultation with the concerned department.
To ensure the presence and functioning of systems for continuous logging and monitoring of
critical equipment.
To analyze the logs for identifying any trends and ensure corrective action if necessary in Mean
Time Between Failures.
To organize and mobilize resources to attend to the breakdowns & maintenance of all the
equipments in the Green Anode Plant.

MAHENDRAN CHOKKANATHAN

Process/Mechanical Engineer
Work Experience :

Implementation of standard operating parameters and rigorous follow-up with Operations for
minimum variance.
Stringent analysis of process parameters Anode Paste Plant and recommend corrective actions,
improvements, when ever any.
Out line the critical process parameters responsible for efficient operation of process/equipment
and sustained performance including their control range to achieve the desired production of
quality anodes
Monitoring and analysis of green anode rejections and putting efforts for zero rejection.
Detect the process anomalies and non conformances, determine the root causes for the same and
provide support to operation personnel in rectifying / correcting the process.
Recommend monitoring strategy for effective control and regulation of the process.
Analyze and interpret raw material characteristics and process-monitored data to anticipate process
deviation and implement remedial actions for sustaining the performances.
Identification and elimination of Non Value Adding activities.
Carry out developmental projects and experiments for process development, operational economy
and reliability.
Providing support to operation for optimizing the use of SCADA, RS VIEW to achieve better
efficiency.
Develop and maintain an effective information system and Data Base for data processing to obtain
useful information using statistical analysis and ensure the data is effectively used in process
decision-making.
Timely preparation of daily monthly reports
Preparing SOPs of new Plants.
Keep abreast of technical development in area of operation to initiate process development.
Using the Carbon Lab testing facilities to evaluate the properties of green anode quality to optimize
process parameters in Paste Plant.

Professional Qualification:
Year

Degree/Certificate

Percentage

Institute

2003

B.Tech. (Chemical engineering)

70

University of Madras

Reference details:
Mr. Brady Haneman
Global Design Lead
1
Light Metals - Director
Hatch Pty Ltd
Mr. Yurish Desai
Engineering Manager
2
Hatch Pty Ltd

Email: bhaneman@hatch.com.au
Tel: +61 (0)7 3166 7777
Mob: +61 411 400 440
Email: ydesai@hatch.com.au
Tel: +61 (0)7 3166 7987
Mob: +61 420 221 795