Joe Currano Email & Phone Number

Rockville, Maryland, United States

Newburg, Maryland, United States

Process controls and mechanical engineering for 1400-MW coal-fired power plant and auxiliary systems.

Newburg, Maryland, United States

• DCS Modernization: Played critical role in $700k distributed control system (DCS) upgrade for two generating units, improving cybersecurity, processing speed, and longevity of plant controls. Converted hundreds of control graphics to latest software and reorganized processors, I/O, and historians, resulting in standardized, user-friendly interface.• Combustion Turbine Remote Start: Set up DCS servers and designed graphics using high-performance HMI techniques for remote-start-capable… Show more • DCS Modernization: Played critical role in $700k distributed control system (DCS) upgrade for two generating units, improving cybersecurity, processing speed, and longevity of plant controls. Converted hundreds of control graphics to latest software and reorganized processors, I/O, and historians, resulting in standardized, user-friendly interface.• Combustion Turbine Remote Start: Set up DCS servers and designed graphics using high-performance HMI techniques for remote-start-capable digital controls of 4 combustion turbines to enable continued operation with reduced staffing.• Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) System Startup Team: Built control system graphics for FGDs at three plants. Improved operator awareness by adding graphical indication of equipment Automatic/Manual status and sequence permits. Maintained FGD control simulator and trained operators on use of simulator during first 2 years of operation.• Cybersecurity Implementation: Installed and configured firewalls to isolate control system network segments, improving cybersecurity and compliance with NERC Critical Infrastructure Protection (NERC-CIP) regulations. Maintained firewalls, domain controllers, and user credentials for proper access levels for all users and groups.• Remote View Computers: Set up and maintained DCS subnetwork computers to give managers, supervisors, and technicians remote access to live operational data.• Shell Scripting: Automated backups of DCS workstations and control processors, improving productivity and hard drive failure recovery time. Created scripts for converting and transferring graphics from Windows to Unix workstations.• DCS & PI Support: Supported operations by configuring new I/O and logic, troubleshooting control loops and I/O, creating and improving operator interface graphics, maintaining DCS hardware and software, and alarm management. Installed PI interface software, created and maintained PI tags for plant historian data. Show less

Newburg, Maryland, United States

• Managed successful installation of clean agent fire suppression systems for plant control system, library, and IT infrastructure; and new 6-ton liquid carbon dioxide tank for fire protection in critical cable spreading room. • Designed and managed installation of bottom ash building sump pump system, to divert ash-laden water from storm drains to environmentally controlled basin to further plant’s environmental goals. • Converted equipment database (18,000+ objects), functional… Show more • Managed successful installation of clean agent fire suppression systems for plant control system, library, and IT infrastructure; and new 6-ton liquid carbon dioxide tank for fire protection in critical cable spreading room. • Designed and managed installation of bottom ash building sump pump system, to divert ash-laden water from storm drains to environmentally controlled basin to further plant’s environmental goals. • Converted equipment database (18,000+ objects), functional locations, work orders, and preventative maintenance plans for new work management software. Wrote and revised preventive maintenance procedures for operators and technicians. Show less

Newburg, Maryland, United States

• Valve Actuator Heat Shield: Designed heat shield with forced ventilation to reduce operating temperature of turbine valve actuators, resulting in longer life and less outage time until high-temperature components could be substituted. • Flame Sculpting Team Member: Adjusted burner control curves to eliminate flame impingement, improving combustion and burner reliability for supercritical steam generators. • R-Stamp Program Coordinator: Gathered and maintained documentation for… Show more • Valve Actuator Heat Shield: Designed heat shield with forced ventilation to reduce operating temperature of turbine valve actuators, resulting in longer life and less outage time until high-temperature components could be substituted. • Flame Sculpting Team Member: Adjusted burner control curves to eliminate flame impingement, improving combustion and burner reliability for supercritical steam generators. • R-Stamp Program Coordinator: Gathered and maintained documentation for boiler weld repairs and participated in program reviews with state Authorized Inspector. • Performed beam design and stress analysis for safely hoisting and moving loads for plant maintenance. • Conducted mechanical inspections of walking/working surfaces, presented findings to plant management, and submitted work orders for repairs to ensure safety of all personnel. Show less

College Park, Maryland, United States

• Developed novel method of emissivity measurement for spacecraft thermal control coatings using heat flux sensors in a space environment. Tested in laboratory vacuum chamber, assembled and delivered flight-ready module to NASA which was deployed in Materials International Space Station Experiment MISSE-6. • Set up and tested 2-phase cooling loop for electronics, for research sponsored by Office of Naval Research. Designed evaporator in AutoCAD and worked with machinists to… Show more • Developed novel method of emissivity measurement for spacecraft thermal control coatings using heat flux sensors in a space environment. Tested in laboratory vacuum chamber, assembled and delivered flight-ready module to NASA which was deployed in Materials International Space Station Experiment MISSE-6. • Set up and tested 2-phase cooling loop for electronics, for research sponsored by Office of Naval Research. Designed evaporator in AutoCAD and worked with machinists to fabricate. • Ran CFD models to analyze heat dissipation from packaged infrared LED arrays and determine configurations that optimize thermal performance.Master’s Thesis: Heat Flux-Based Emissivity Measurement, University of Maryland, College Park, 2007. Show less

Columbia, Maryland, United States

• Performed experiments in tubular flow reactor to study auto-ignition of liquid fuels at gas turbine premixing conditions. • Set up apparatus for testing ignition of fuels at pressures of 5 to 10 atm. • Built and maintained experimental setups, participated in testing and data collection for combustion research and fire protection litigation.

Master Of Science - Ms, Mechanical Engineering

Concentration in Heat Transfer. Masters Thesis: Heat Flux-Based Emissivity Measurement.

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Mechanical Engineering

Activities and Societies: Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honors Society Graduated magna cum laude with Honors in Mechanical Engineering.