Areas of Research:
Reaction Engineering
and Catalysis, Process Intensification, Coal and Biomass
Gasification
Introduction to My
Research
My research revolves around
reaction engineering, catalysis and process intensification. The
findings are applicable to chemical and energy conversion processes.
Some of the important applications being studied are underground
coal gasification, biomass gasification for cook-stoves and
productions of fuels, fine and petro-chemicals. Various process
intensification strategies including computational fluid dynamics
for clever reactor design, combining reaction and separations (e.g.
reactive distillation, reactive chromatography) etc. are
investigated for the reactions of interest. This includes both
experimental and theoretical studies in catalyst screening, reaction
kinetics, separation aspects, conceptual design, process simulation
and optimization.
I also work on socially relevant problems wherein, technological
interventions are possible. The work involves systematic studies in
need identification and technology development meeting the
requirement of stakeholders. One such example is conversion of batch
jaggery making process to a continuous one to improve product
quality and reduce the labor requirement which is otherwise scarce
in recent days. The development of process know-how, basic
engineering package and pilot plant studies are few of the work
elements in this project.
