Doctorate: IIT Bombay, Mumbai, M.H., INDIA, 2010, 8.67 (CGPA) (Chemical Engineering, Thesis Title: Underground Coal Gasification: Experimental Studies: Computational Flow Modeling)

Post Graduation: IIT Kharagpur, W.B. INDIA, 2002, 7.81 (CGPA) (Chemical Engineering)

Graduation: University College of Engg, Anantapur, A.P. INDIA, 1999, 65.6 (%) (Chemical Engineering)

ACADEMIC PROJECTS

Ph.D Thesis Aug' 2006 - Oct' 2010

Underground Coal Gasification: Experimental Studies and Computational Flow Modeling [Advisors: Prof. Sanjay M. Mahajani and Prof. Preeti Aghalayam, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Bombay, Sponsored by ONGC, INDIA]

Scope of Project: Underground coal gasification (UCG) is the re-emerged technique for utilization of un-mineable coal which is converted in-situ into a combustible gas that can be used either as a fuel or as a chemical feedstock. During the in-situ gasification, an underground cavity is formed due to the reaction between coal and the feed gases. The shape and rate of growth of this cavity will strongly impact the important phenomena’s, such as reactant gas flow patterns, kinetics, temperature profiles, and ultimately determines the quality of the product gas. The overall objective of this work is to acquire adequate insight into the UCG process by conducting laboratory scale UCG experiments, modeling and simulation studies. The following are the significant contributions from the thesis work.

• A systematic methodology is proposed for laboratory scale experiments to mimic the UCG process. Effect of various design and operating parameters on the evolution of the cavity are studied through a series of laboratory scale experiments. Empirical correlations are developed to relate cavity volume and three dimensional shapes to various design and operating parameters, are reported here for the first time. The optimum operating conditions are proposed, so as to obtain the desired conversion rate for a chosen lignite coal.

• CFD used as a tool to characterize the non-ideal flow patterns by performing residence time distribution (RTD) studies in actual size UCG cavities and validated the results with lab-scale experiments. The compartment model is developed based on the CFD simulation results and it is validated by comparing the homogeneous water gas shift reaction- enabled steady state CFD simulation results with that of obtained from the steady state flow simulator (i.e. Aspen Plus). This new approach of compartment modeling that minimizes the computational burden on UCG process simulation and it is found to be very attractive.

• In next step of validation, CFD simulations are performed under different conditions of UCG cavities. The effect of different boundary and physical conditions on the flow patterns is quantified by using validated compartment model.

• Wirth the help of CFD simulations and experimental support, roof wall to cavity heat transfer is characterized over a wide range of feed flow rates.

• Finally, a reaction-enabled CFD based computational tool is developed to simultaneous predict temperature distribution in the coal seam and profiles of velocity, temperature and species inside the cavity of a given size and shape.

Ultimately, thesis work is expected to contribute significantly to the comprehension, optimization and process modeling of the complex UCG process.

Research Tools:

 FLUENT, Aspen Plus, MATLAB



 Thermo Gravimetric Analyzer (TGA), Gas Chromatography, Mass Spectroscopy, Fixed Bed Reactor, Binary Gas analyzer, Micro-UCG reactor, Glass Cavity Reactor, Aluminum Cavity Reactor.

M.Tech Thesis July 00 – Jan 02

Simulation of Multi-particle behavior in Circulating Fluidized Bed system [Supervisors: Prof. D.D.Kar and Prof. D.Mukharjee, IIT Kharagpur]

Scope of Project: Circulating fluidized bed (CFB) is a promising technology, having myriad applications in chemical, mineral and metallurgical industries as well as in the power sector. The hydrodynamics of co-current gas-solid flow in the riser of a CFB has been investigated using a 0.05 m ID and 3.25 height riser of ‘N’ type circulating fluidized bed system employing coarse particles of Geldard group D such as mustard seed, green gram seed and masur gram seeds as bed materials. Comprehensive data on the riser and loop pressure profiles were obtained. The hydrodynamics of the bed was studied in depth. The information about the functional relationship between the dimensionless groups that control the system was also obtained. The experimental data was simulated to develop a static pressure correlation.

PRIZES / ACHEIVEMENTS

 Selected for Young Researcher Travel Grant Award, by the 21st International Symposia on Chemical Reaction Engineering held at Philadelphia, PA, US during June 13-16th 2010.


 Selected to receive the financial assistance under International Travel Support Scheme from the D.S.T., Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, for attending in 21st International Symposia on Chemical Reaction Engineering held at Philadelphia, PA, USA during June 13-16th 2010.

 Winner in Technical Quiz Competition at the International Seminar on Coal Gasification: Challenges and Opportunities for India, Conducted by IIChE, Mumbai, 2007.


 Runner up, in Poster Competition at the International seminar on Coal Gasification: Challenges and Opportunities for India, Conducted by IIChE, Mumbai, 2007.

PUBLICATIONS & CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

 Referred Journals : 03

• Sateesh Daggupati; Mandapati, R.N.; Mahjani S.M.; Ganesh, A.; Aghalayam, P. Laboratory studies on combustion cavity growth in lignite coal blocks in the context of Underground Coal Gasification. Energy 2010, 35 (6), 2374

• Sateesh Daggupati; Mandapati, R.N.; Mahjani S.M.; Ganesh, A.; Aghalayam, P. Compartment modeling for flow characterization of underground coal gasification (UCG) cavity. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 2011, (In Press).
• Sateesh Daggupati; Mandapati, R.N.; Mahjani S.M.; Ganesh, A.; Aghalayam, P. Laboratory studies on cavity growth and product gas composition in the context of underground coal gasification. Energy, 2011, (In Press).
• Sateesh Daggupati; Mandapati, R.N.; Mahjani S.M.; Ganesh, A.; Aghalayam, P. Compartment modeling for flow characterization of underground coal gasification (UCG) cavity- Part-II. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 2010, Under Review.

 International Conference Proceedings: 11

• Sateesh Daggupati; Mandapati, R.N.; Mahjani S.M.; Ganesh, A.; Aghalayam, P. "Computational Flow Modeling of Underground Coal Gasification Process". In Proceedings of the 27th Annual International Pittsburg Coal Conference. Istanbul, Turkey, 11th -14th October, 2010.

• Sateesh Daggupati; Mandapati, R.N.; Mahjani S.M.; Ganesh, A.; Aghalayam, P. "Quantification of the Effect of Various Thermal Boundary Conditions exists in the Underground Coal Gasification Cavities by using Compartment Model". In Proceedings of the 27th Annual International Pittsburg Coal Conference. Istanbul, Turkey, 11th -14th October, 2010.

• Sateesh Daggupati; Mandapati, R.N.; Mahjani S.M.; Ganesh, A.; Aghalayam, P. "A Study on the Temperature Profile and Heat Transfer Coefficients in Underground Coal Gasification Cavities". In Proceedings of the 27th Annual International Pittsburg Coal Conference. Istanbul, Turkey, 11th -14th October, 2010.

• Mandapati, R.N.; Sateesh Daggupati; Mahjani S.M.; Ganesh, A.; Aghalayam, P. "Studies on gasification of char in fixed bed reactor". In Proceedings of the 27th Annual International Pittsburg Coal Conference. Istanbul, Turkey, 11th -14th October, 2010.

• Sateesh Daggupati; Mandapati, R.N.; Mahjani S.M.; Ganesh, A.; Aghalayam, P. “Laboratory studies on effect of various operating and design parameters on product gas composition in the context of underground coal gasification". In Proceedings of the 21st International Symposium on Chemical Reaction Engineering, Philadelphia, PA, USA during 13th-16th June 2010.

• Harish A.V.; Ragahavendran J; Sateesh Daggupati; Aghalayam P; and Balaji S. Investigation of Coal Gasification through Distributed Temperature Sensing Using Fiber Bragg Gratings. In Proceedings of Optical Sensors, OSA Technical Digest (CD) (Optical Society of America, 2010), paper JThA13.

• Sateesh Daggupati; Mandapati, R.N.; Mahjani S.M.; Ganesh, A.; Aghalayam, P. Prediction of Underground Coal Gasification performance using compartment models. In Proceedings of the 26th Annual International Pittsburg Coal Conference. Pittsburg, USA, 20-23rd September, 2009.

• Sateesh Daggupati; Mandapati, R.N.; Mahjani S.M.; Ganesh, A.; Aghalayam, P. Studies on Flow Pattern in Underground Coal Gasification. In Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Chemical and Bio-Process Engineering, University of Malaysia, Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, 12-14th August, 2009.

• Sateesh Daggupati; Mandapati, R.N.; Mahjani S.M.; Ganesh, A.; Aghalayam, P. Compartment model for Underground coal gasification. In Proceedings of the 25th Annual International Pittsburg Coal Conference. Pittsburg, USA, 29th September - 2nd October, 2008.

• Sateesh Daggupati; Khadse A; Mahjani S.M.; Ganesh, A.; Aghalayam, P. Compartment model for laboratory scale Underground coal gasification cavity. In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Advanced Energy Research, IIT Bombay, 2007, 12-14th, December, 2007.

• Sateesh Daggupati; Mukheerjee D; and Kar D.D; “Prediction of Static Pressure in Circulating Fluidized Bed system” In Proceedings of the 3rd International conference on Chemical and Bio-Process Engineering, University of Malaysia, Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, 27-29th August, 2003.

WORK EXPERIENCE

J.N.T.University College of Engineering, Anantapur, A.P., INDIA
Feb 2002 - July 04
Lecturer, Chemical Engineering Department
Swamy Ramananda Tirtha Institute of Science and Technology, (Affiliated to JNTU-H), Nalgonda, A.P., INDIA
July 2004-July 06
Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering Department

EXTRACURRICULARS

 Represented JNT University Volleyball team in South zone Inter University Volleyball Championship, 1997 and 1998.


 Member of Runner up teams of Cricket and Volleyball, in PG-sports (IIT Bombay) 2006 and 2007 respectively.


 Stood the 3rd place in GC Sophie Badminton, IIT Bombay, 2007.