Dr Sankar Bhattacharya - Researcher Profile

Biography

Cleaner use of fossil fuels and biofuels - backbone to our prosperity

With his strong background in industry and now academia, Sankar believes in tangible outcome from research.

Sankar started his career in India as a design and commissioning engineer for coal-fired power stations. He then worked in Thailand on utilization of agro-forestry residues for gaseous fuels production, as a Principal Research Engineer with Lignite CRC in Australia, as a Principal Process Engineer with Anglo Coal Australia, and as Senior Energy Analyst with the International Energy Agency in Paris managing their Cleaner Fossil Fuels programme.

Sankar currently works in the Faculty of Engineering at Monash University as an Associate Professor. His research area includes advanced coal and biomass utilization for power and fuels production through gasification and combustion, and biofuels including algae. Sankar commissioned the first CFBC pilot plant in Australia, and managed hands-on the first oxygen blown gasification trials using HTW and transport reactor gasifiers.

Most of the research projects that Sankar initiated are focussed on practical problems, and first-of-its-kind in Australian universities. His current project areas include Oxy-fuel Pf , Oxy-fuel CFB, Entrained flow gasification, Coal drying, DME synthesis fron brown coal, Chemical looping, Algae processing, and Direct Carbon Fuel Cell. He currently leads a group of 14 PhD students and two research fellows.

Sankar advises METI in Japan on low-rank coal utilisation and Clean Coal Victoria. He also advises and contributes to the International Energy Agency's flagship publications and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as an expert reviewer. He also acts as a reviewer for several refereed journals, Juelich- Germany and the South Africa Research Council.

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Research & Supervision Interests

Gasification of coal, biomass, and wastes for fuel and chemicals prodcution

Advanced combustion for easier CO2 capture - Chemical looping, Oxy-pf and Oxy-CFB combustion

Biofuels from biomass and algae

Novel CO2 capture methods other than solvent capture and geo-sequestration

Coal and biomass drying

Keywords

Gasification, combustion, biofuels, catalysis, coal, biomass

Qualifications

GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Institution: Monash University

Year awarded: 2012

DIPLOMA IN MANAGEMENT

Institution: Melbourne Business School

Year awarded: 2002

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Institution: The University of Newcastle

Year awarded: 1995

Publications

Book Chapters

Potumarthi, R., Baadhe, R.R., Bhattacharya, S., 2013, Fermentable sugars from lignocellulosic biomass: Technical challenges, in Biofuel Technologies - Recent Developments, eds Vijai Kumar Gupta, Maria G. Tuohy, Springer, Germany, pp. 3-27.

Journal Articles

Liu, Y., Aziz, M., Kansha, Y., Bhattacharya, S., Tsutsumi, A., 2013, Application of the self-heat recuperation technology for energy saving in biomass drying system, Fuel Processing Technology [P], vol Early View, Elsevier Science BV, Netherlands, pp. 1-9.

Saha, C., Zhang, S., Hein, K.R.G., Xiao, R., Bhattacharya, S., 2013, Chemical looping combustion (CLC) of two Victorian brown coals - Part 1: Assessment of interaction between CuO and minerals inherent in coals during single cycle experiment, Fuel [P], vol 104, Elsevier Science Ltd, UK, pp. 262-274.

Kirtania, K., Joshua, J.S., Kassim, M., Bhattacharya, S., 2013, Comparison of CO2 and steam gasification reactivity of algal and woody biomass chars, Fuel Processing Technology [P], vol Early View, Elsevier Science BV, Netherlands, pp. 1-9.

Woo, M.W., Stokie, D., Choo, W.L., Bhattacharya, S., 2013, Master curve behaviour in superheated steam drying of small porous particles, Applied Thermal Engineering [P], vol 52, issue 2, Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, UK, pp. 460-467.

Roy, B., Bhattacharya, S., 2013, Oxy-fuel fluidized bed combustion using Victorian brown coal: An experimental investigation, Fuel Processing Technology [P], vol Early View, Elsevier Science BV, Netherlands, pp. 1-7.

Roy, B., Choo, W.L., Bhattacharya, S., 2013, Prediction of distribution of trace elements under Oxy-fuel combustion condition using Victorian brown coals, Fuel [P], vol Early View, Elsevier Science Ltd, UK, pp. 1-8.

Kazi, B.K., Hein, K.R.G., Bhattacharya, S., 2013, Process modelling of dimethyl ether production from Victorian brown coala-Integrating coal drying, gasification and synthesis processes, Computers and Chemical Engineering [P], vol 48, issue 10, Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, UK, pp. 96-104.

Kirtania, K., Bhattacharya, S., 2013, Pyrolysis kinetics and reactivity of algae-coal blends, Biomass and Bioenergy [P], vol Early View, Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, UK, pp. 1-8.

Chen, L., Bhattacharya, S., 2013, Sulfur emission from Victorian brown coal under pyrolysis, oxy-fuel combustion and gasification conditions, Environmental Science & Technology [P], vol 47, issue 3, Amer Chemical Soc, USA, pp. 1729-1734.

Tahmasebi, A., Yu, J., Han, Y., Zhao, H., Bhattacharya, S., 2013, Thermogravimetric study and modeling for the drying of a Chinese lignite, Asia-Pacific Journal of Chemical Engineering [P], vol Early View, Wiley-Blackwell, USA, pp. 1-11.

Kirtania, K., Bhattacharya, S., 2012, Application of the distributed activation energy model to the kinetic study of pyrolysis of the fresh water algae Chlorococcum humicola, Bioresource Technology [P], vol 107, Elsevier Science Ltd, Oxford UK, pp. 476-481.

Saha, C., Zhang, S., Xiao, R., Bhattacharya, S., 2012, Chemical looping combustion (CLC) of two Victorian brown coals - part 2: Assessment of interaction between CuO and minerals inherent in coals during multi cycle experiments, Fuel [P], vol 96, issue 1, Elsevier Science Ltd, Oxford UK, pp. 335-347.

Saha, C., Bhattacharya, S., 2012, Chemical looping combustion of low-ash and high-ash low rank coals using different metal oxides - A thermogravimetric analyser study, Fuel [P], vol 97, Elsevier Science Ltd, Oxford UK, pp. 137-150.

Umeki, K., Kirtania, K., Chen, L., Bhattacharya, S., 2012, Fuel particle conversion of pulverized biomass during pyrolysis in an entrained flow reactor, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research [P], vol 51, issue 43, American Chemical Society, Washington DC USA, pp. 13973-13979.

Xiao, R., Chen, L., Saha, C., Zhang, S., Bhattacharya, S., 2012, Pressurized chemical-looping combustion of coal using an iron ore as oxygen carrier in a pilot-scale unit, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control [P], vol 10, Elsevier Science Ltd, Oxford UK, pp. 363-373.

Rady, A., Giddey, S., Badwal, S., Ladewig, B., Bhattacharya, S., 2012, Review of fuels for direct carbon fuel cells, Energy & Fuels [P], vol 26, issue 3, American Chemical Society, Washington DC USA, pp. 1471-1488.

Tahmasebi, A., Yu, J., Han, Y., Yin, F., Bhattacharya, S., Stokie, D., 2012, Study of chemical structure changes of Chinese lignite upon drying in superheated steam, microwave, and hot air, Energy and Fuels [E], vol 26, issue 6, American Chemical Society, Washington DC USA, pp. 3651-3660.

Jiao, F., Chen, J., Zhang, L., Wei, Y., Ninomiya, Y., Bhattacharya, S., Yao, H., 2011, Ash partitioning during the oxy-fuel combustion of lignite and its dependence on the recirculation of flue gas impurities (H2O, HCl and SO2), Fuel [P], vol 90, issue 6, Elsevier Science Ltd, Oxford UK, pp. 2207-2216.

Saha, C., Roy, B., Bhattacharya, S., 2011, Chemical looping combustion of Victorian brown coal using NiO oxygen carrier, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy [P], vol 36, issue 4, Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, Oxford UK, pp. 3253-3259.

Saha, C., Bhattacharya, S., 2011, Comparison of CuO and NiO as oxygen carrier in chemical looping combustion of a Victorian brown coal, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy [P], vol 36, issue 18, Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, Oxford UK, pp. 12048-12057.

Binner, E., Jiao, F., Chen, L., Ninomiya, Y., Li, C., Bhattacharya, S., 2011, Effect of coal drying on the behavior of inorganic species during Victorian brown coal pyrolysis and combustion, Energy & Fuels [P], vol 25, issue 7, American Chemical Society, Washington DC USA, pp. 2764-2771.

Zhang, L., Jiao, F., Binner, E., Chen, L., Bhattacharya, S., Ninomiya, Y., Li, C., 2011, Evolution of organically bound metals during coal combustion in air and O2/CO2 mixtures - A case study of Victorian brown coal, Proceedings of the Combustion Institute [P], vol 33, issue 2, Elsevier, USA, pp. 2795-2802.

Zhang, L., Jiao, F., Binner, E., Bhattacharya, S., Ninomiya, Y., Li, C., 2011, Experimental investigation of the combustion of bituminous coal in air and 02/C02 mixtures: 2. variation of the transformation behaviour of mineral matter with bulk gas composition, Fuel [P], vol 90, issue 4, Elsevier Ltd, UK, pp. 1361-1369.

Binner, E., Zhang, L., Li, C., Bhattacharya, S., 2011, In-situ observation of the combustion of air-dried and wet Victorian brown coal, Proceedings of the Combustion Institute [P], vol 33, issue 2, Elsevier, USA, pp. 1739-1746.

Zhang, S., Saha, C., Yang, Y., Bhattacharya, S., Xiao, R., 2011, Use of Fe2O3-containing industrial wastes as the oxygen carrier for chemical-looping combustion of coal: effects of pressure and cycles, Energy & Fuels [P], vol 25, issue 10, American Chemical Society, Washington DC USA, pp. 4357-4366.

Zhang, L., Binner, E., Chen, L., Qiao, Y., Li, C., Bhattacharya, S., Ninomiya, Y., 2010, Experimental investigation of the combustion of bituminous coal in air and O2/CO2 Mixtures: 1. Particle Imaging of the Combustion of Coal and Char, Energy & Fuels [P], vol 24, issue 9, Amer Chemical Soc, USA, pp. 4803-4811.

Pipatmanomai, S., Fungtammasan, B., Bhattacharya, S., 2009, Characteristics and composition of lignites and boiler ashes and their relation to slagging: The case of Mae Moh PCC boilers, Fuel [P], vol 88, Elsevier Sci Ltd, UK, pp. 116-123.

Bhattacharya, S., 2006, Gasification performance of Australian lignites in a pressurized fluidized bed gasifier process development unit under air and oxygen-enriched air blown conditions, Process Safety And Environmental Protection [P], vol 84, issue B6, Institute of Chemical Engineers, UK, pp. 453-460.

Kuchonthara, P., Bhattacharya, S., Tsutsumi, A., 2005, Combination of thermochemical recuperative coal gasification cycle and fuel cell for power generation, Fuel [P], vol 84, issue 7-8, Elsevier Sci Ltd, UK, pp. 1019-1021.

Mody-Quyn, D., Wu, H., Bhattacharya, S., Li, C., 2002, Volatilisation and catalytic effects of alkali and alkaline earth metallic species during the pyrolysis and gasification of Vic. brown coal. Part II. Effects of chemical form and valence, Fuel, vol 81, issue 2, Elsevier, Oxford UK, pp. 151-158.

Conference Proceedings

Saha, C., Rajendran, S., Hein, K.R.G., Bhattacharya, S., 2012, Experimental investigation of chemical looping combustion of Victorian brown coal using hematite, Proceedings of Chemeca 2012, 23 September 2012 to 26 September 2012, Engineers Australia, Australia, pp. 1-13.

Kassim, M., Kirtania, K., Potumarthi, R., Tanksale, A., Bhattacharya, S., 2012, Pyrolysis and gasification characteristics of algal biomass, Proceedings of Chemeca 2012, 23 September 2012 to 26 September 2012, Engineers Australia, Vic Australia, pp. 1-11.

Saha, C., Hein, K., Bhattacharya, S., 2011, Chemical looping combustion of Victorian brown coal using nickel and copper oxide as oxygen carriers, Proceedings of the 36th International Technical Conference on Clean Coal & Fuel Systems, 5 June 2011 to 9 June 2011, Coal Technologies Associates, USA, pp. 1-12.

Saha, C., Al Raisi, A., Bhattacharya, S., 2011, Coal direct chemical looping combustion: experimental investigation and assesment of operating conditions, CHEMECA 2011, 18 September 2011 to 21 September 2011, Engineers Australia, Sydney NSW, pp. 1-10.

Kazi, B., Hein, K., Bhattacharya, S., 2011, Dimethyl ether production from Victorian brown coal: A model integrating drying, gasification and DME synthesis processes, Proceedings of the 36th International Technical Conference on Clean Coal & Fuel Systems, 5 June 2011 to 9 June 2011, Coal Technologies Associates, USA, pp. 1-12.

Kazi, B., Bhattacharya, S., 2011, Dimethyl ether production from gasification of Victorian brown coal - process model and related preliminary experiments, CHEMECA 2011, 18 September 2011 to 21 September 2011, Engineers Australia, Sydney NSW, pp. 1-12.

Auxilio, A., Dayal, S., Chen, L., Kirtania, K., Bhattacharya, S., 2011, Disposal of biosolids: a study using thermogravimetric analysis, Proceedings of CHEMECA 2011 - Engineering a Better World, 18 September 2011 to 21 September 2011, Engineers Australia, Sydney NSW, pp. 1-13.

Roy, B., Choo, W., Bhattacharya, S., 2011, Prediction of ash composition and agglomerating compounds formed during oxy-CFB combustion of Victorian brown coals, Proceedings of CHEMECA 2011 - Engineering a Better World, 18 September 2011 to 21 September 2011, Engineers Australia, Sydney NSW, pp. 1-12.

Auxilio, A., Perera, A., Kirtania, K., Bhattacharya, S., 2011, Production of diesel from high density polyethylene using mixed catalyst, CHEMECA 2011, 18 September 2011 to 21 September 2011, Engineers Australia, Sydney NSW, pp. 1-12.

Chen, L., Bhattacharya, S., 2010, Activated carbon from brown coal by chemical activation, 27th Annual International Pittsburgh Coal Conference, 11 October 2010 to 14 October 2010, University of Pittsburgh, USA, pp. 1-15.

Saha, C., Akhavanabdolahian, A., Bhattacharya, S., 2010, Chemical looping combustion and gasificaiton - A novel technique to produce concentrated stream of hydrogen and carbon dioxide from Victorian lignites, Proceedings of 2010 International Pittsburgh Coal Conference, 11 October 2010 to 14 October 2010, University of Pittsburgh, USA, pp. 1-11.

Saha, C., Akhavanabdolahian, A., Bhattacharya, S., 2010, Chemical looping gasification of Victorian Lignites to produce concentrated stream of hydrogen and carbon-dioxide, Proceedings of the 35th International Technical Conference on Clean Coal & Fuel Systems, 6 June 2010 to 10 June 2010, Coal Technology Association, USA, pp. 390-402.

Saha, C., Bhattacharya, S., 2010, Chemical looping gasification to produce concentrated stream of hydrogen and carbon dioxide from Victorian lignites, Chemeca 2010, 26 September 2010 to 29 September 2010, Engineers Australia, Australia, pp. 1-10.

Chen, L., Bhattacharya, S., 2010, Reactivity of lignitic chars prepared in a drop tube furnace under oxyfuel conditions, Proceedings of Chemeca 2010, 26 September 2011 to 29 September 2011, Engineers Australia, Australia, pp. 1-10.

Binner, E., Chen, L., Zhang, L., Bhattacharya, S., 2010, The effect of coal drying on the behaviour of alkali and alkaline earth metallic species during Victorian Brown Coal combustion, Proceedings of Chemeca 2010, 26 September 2010 to 29 September 2010, Engineers Australia, Australia, pp. 1-11.

Choo, W., Tang, L., Rownaghi, A., Au Yong, H., Li, C., Bhattacharya, S., 2010, The formation of aromatic hydrocarbons during the pyrolysis of polyethylene, Proceedings of Chemeca 2010, 26 September 2010 to 29 September 2010, Engineers Australia, Australia, pp. 1-10.

Other

Zhang, L., Jiao, F., Ninomiya, Y., Bhattacharya, S., Li, C., 2011, Ash formation and speciation of trace metals during oxy-fuel combustion, 2nd Oxyfuel Combustion Conference, International Energy Agency (IEA), Brisbane Qld.

Stokie, D., Yu, J., Auxilio, A., Bhattacharya, S., 2011, Coal drying and dewatering for power generation - current status, research and development needs, Proceedings of the International Conference on Coal Science and Technology (ICCS&T) - Non HERDC, CSIC, Oviedo Spain.

Saha, C., Seng, T., Auxilio, A., Bhattacharya, S., 2011, Oxygen transfer from metal oxides during chemical looping combustion of Victorian brown coal - An experimental and modelling study, Proceedings of the International Conference on Coal Science and Technology (ICCS&T), CSIC, Spain.

Roy, B., Choo, W., Bhattacharya, S., 2011, Prediction of selective trace element emissions during Oxy-CFB combustion of Victorian brown coals, Proceedings of the International Conference on Coal Science and Technology (ICCS&T) - Non HERDC, CSIC, Oviedo Spain.

Teaching Commitment

CHE3164, ENE3048, CHE4170, CHE4180

Community Service

Bengali Association of Victoria

Consulting

Mitsubishi Heavy industries

Postgraduate Research Supervisions

Current Supervision

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Supervisors:

Bhattacharya, S (Main), Woo, M (Associate).

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

Biobutanol Production from Microalgae Hydrolysate in an Integrated Hydrolysis- Fermentation Process.

Supervisors:

Bhattacharya, S (Main), Potumarthi, R (Associate), Tanksale, A (Associate).

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

Brown coal derived syngas generation for utilisation in higher value product processes.

Supervisors:

Bhattacharya, S (Main), Hein, K (Associate).

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

Carbon adsorbents from Victorian brown coal for CO2 capture..

Supervisors:

Chaffee, A (Main), Bhattacharya, S (Associate), Webley, P (Associate).

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

Catalytic steam gasification and assessment of dimethyl ether production from Victorian brown coal.

Supervisors:

Bhattacharya, S (Main).

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

Chemical looping combustion of Victorian brown coal.

Supervisors:

Bhattacharya, S (Main), Hein, K (Associate).

Program of Study:

(MASTER'S BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

Development of Entrained flow gasification technology with brown coal.

Supervisors:

Bhattacharya, S (Main), Hein, K (Associate).

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

Entrained flow pyrolysis and gasification of selected biomass - an experimental and kinetic study.

Supervisors:

Bhattacharya, S (Main).

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

Evaluation of Victorian Brown Coal as Fuel for Direct Carbon Fuel Cells (DCFC).

Supervisors:

Bhattacharya, S (Joint), Ladewig, B (Joint-co).

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

Investigations on CO2 sequestration with algae under dry and hot ambient conditions.

Supervisors:

Beardall, J (Main), Bhattacharya, S (Associate).

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

Oxy-fuel circulating fluidized bed (oxy-CFB) combustion of Victorial Brown Coal.

Supervisors:

Bhattacharya, S (Main), Chen, L (Associate).

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

Pre-treatment of local biomass for higher engery recovery and process stability during gasification and combustion.

Supervisors:

Yong, E (Main), Bhattacharya, S (Associate).

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

Production of biogas from chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Supervisors:

Bhattacharya, S (Joint-co), Hein, K (Associate).

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

Removal of Toxic Organics (dyes) from Industrial Wastewater by Clay Adsorbents.

Supervisors:

Bhattacharya, S (Joint-co), Wang, H (Joint).

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

Synthesis of Metal-Organic Framework for Carbon Dioxide Capture.

Supervisors:

Bhattacharya, S (Main).

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

Techno-economic evaluations of solar (or other advanced technologies) for splitting water for hydrogen and oxygen feedstock to ammonia and nitric acid production.

Supervisors:

Hoadley, A (Main), Bhattacharya, S (Associate).

Completed Supervision

Student:

Saha, C.

Program of Study:

Chemical-looping combustion of Victorian brown coal. (PHD) 2012.

Supervisors:

Bhattacharya, S (Main).

Student:

Zhang, S.

Program of Study:

Effects of volatile-char interactions on char structure and reactivity during the gasification of low rank fuels. (PHD) 2010.

Supervisors:

Bhattacharya, S (Joint-Co), Li, C (Joint).