P. Karthick Selvam

About

I am a researcher and engineer specializing in fluid dynamics, thermal systems, and high-pressure gas safety, with over a decade of experience across academia and industry. My work focuses on advancing the safety and efficiency of energy systems, particularly in the domains of nuclear thermal-hydraulics, hydrogen energy storage, and oxygen/hydrogen safety in high-pressure environments.

My academic journey spans a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering (Anna University, 2009), an M.Tech from IIT Guwahati (2011), and a Ph.D. from the University of Stuttgart (2017, summa cum laude). Throughout this journey, I developed expertise in experimental and computational fluid dynamics, including advanced Large Eddy Simulation (LES), real-gas modeling, and digital twin frameworks. My doctoral work on thermal mixing in T-junctions remains highly cited in nuclear safety research.

At the University of Luxembourg, I led the design and development of a state-of-the-art oxygen pressure surge test (OPST) facility capable of testing up to 700 bar, a first-of-its-kind in the academic domain. Currently, at Rotarex S.A., I lead R&D initiatives focused on high-pressure gas safety, including hydrogen systems critical to clean energy transition efforts.

I am passionate about knowledge dissemination, having authored over 9 peer-reviewed journal articles, contributed to OECD-NEA nuclear safety reports, and mentored several Ph.D. and Master’s students. I have also delivered hands-on gas safety workshops and engaged in public science communication.

My ongoing research interests lie in applying machine learning, reduced-order modeling, and digital twins to enhance the predictive capabilities of complex energy systems. I am committed to advancing safe, efficient, and sustainable technologies in support of global clean energy goals.

Employment

• Edmond de Rothschild Operational Risk Specialist
  2025 - Present
• Rotarex S.A Research and Development Engineer
  2023 - 2025
• University of Luxembourg Postdoctoral Researcher
  2017 - 2022
• Robert Bosch (India) Senior Engineer
  2011 - 2012

Education

• Anna University Chennai College of Engineering Guindy Bachelor of Engineering
  2005 - 2009

Projects & Funding

Projects & funding information is unavailable.

Publications (19)

• CFD assessment of shock flow evolution during oxygen pressure surge test
  16th ASTM Symposium on Flammability and Sensitivity of Materials in Oxygen-Enriched Atmospheres 2024
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• Advancing oxygen safety: A State-of-the-Art experimental facility dedicated to researching pressure surge in oxygen systems
  16th ASTM Symposium on Flammability and Sensitivity of Materials in Oxygen-Enriched Atmospheres 2024
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• Status Report on Reliability of Thermal-Hydraulic Passive Systems
  2022
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• Effect of condenser tube inclination on the flow dynamics and instabilities in a passive containment cooling system (PCCS) for nuclear safety
  Nuclear Engineering and Design 2020 DOI: 10.1016/j.nucengdes.2020.110780
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• Thermal mixing of flows in horizontal T-junctions with low branch velocities
  Nuclear Engineering and Design 2017 DOI: 10.1016/j.nucengdes.2017.06.041
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• T-junction cross-flow mixing with thermally driven density stratification
  Nuclear Engineering and Design 2016 DOI: 10.1016/j.nucengdes.2016.08.039
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• Experimental and numerical analyses on the effect of increasing inflow temperatures on the flow mixing behavior in a T-junction
  International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow 2016 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheatfluidflow.2016.05.005
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• Large eddy simulation studies on the influence of turbulent inlet conditions on the flow behavior in a mixing tee
  Nuclear Engineering and Design 2016 DOI: 10.1016/j.nucengdes.2015.12.001
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• Mesh Sensor for High Temperature High Pressure Applications
  International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal Hydraulics 2015
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• Numerical analysis of influence of branch flow on thermal mixing in a T-junction piping system
  International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal Hydraulics 2015, NURETH 2015 2015
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