Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering

Top 20 Doctoral Program—National Research Council

Faculty

Dr. Vemuri Balakotaiah

Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished University Chair

Office Location: S237, Engineering Building 1

Tel: (713) 743-4318 | Fax: (713) 743-4323

Email: bala [at] uh [dot] edu

Education

  • B.Tech Chemical Engineering, I.I.T., Madras (1978)
  • Chemical Engineering, University of Houston, (1982)

Courses

  • Mathematical Methods in Chemical Engineering I (CHEE 6331)
  • Mathematical Methods in Chemical Engineering II (CHEE 6332)
  • Applied Nonlinear Methods for Engineers (CHEE 7350)
  • Two Phase Flows (CHEE 6397/5397)
  • Analysis of Physiological Transport Phenomena (CHEE 6397)
  • Cellular and Biological Transport Phenomena (CHEE 6385)
  • Transport Phenomena in Physiologic Systems (CHEE 6397)
  • Applications of Bifurcation Theory (CHEE 7397)
  • Computational Methods for Chemical Engineers (CHEE 7397)
  • Biochemical Engineering Fundamentals (CHEE 6397)
  • Chemical Reaction Engineering (CHEE 4367)
  • Transport Phenomena (ENGI 3331)
  • Elementary Fluid Mechanics (ENGI 3363)
  • Chemical Processes (CHEE 2332)

Research Interests

Dr. Balakotaiah’s research involves the mathematical modeling and analysis of the interactions between the transport processes and chemical reactions in various systems of engineering interest. The objective of the research is to gain a fundamental understanding of the complex behavior of these nonlinear systems and use this understanding to solve some practical problems.

Chemical and Catalytic Reaction Engineering:

Modeling and Analysis of Catalytic Monoliths
Monolithic catalytic reactors are used for pollution reduction in automobiles, oxidation of VOCs, power generation and removal of NOx from exhaust gases. Our work in this area includes the development of mathematical models of these systems and analysis and simulation of the behavior under transient/periodic operation under various catalyst compositions and chemistries.

Numerical Computation and Bifurcation Analysis of Homogeneous and Catalytic Reactors
Reacting flows exhibit multiple solutions, oscillating flow, temperature and concentration fields, spatial and temporal patterns, traveling fronts and exponentially thin boundary or internal (reaction) layers. Our work in this area includes the development and application of various analytical and computational techniques (singularity, bifurcation, group theories and dynamical systems concepts) to explore and classify the different types of behaviors in the parameter space.

Spatio-temporal Pattern Formation in Reactors and Reacting Flows
Chemical reactions carried out in open systems (reactors, living cells, neurons and complex living organisms) do not, in general, proceed to equilibrium. Instead, asymptotic states are established, at which the net rate of production of any species due to chemical transformations is exactly balanced by its net rate of removal either by flow or by molecular diffusion. When autocatalysis is present the system may exhibit a variety of asymptotic states such as periodic states in time, periodic states in space (Turing patterns) and complex spatio-temporal behavior (chemical chaos or turbulence). Our work in this area is aimed at identifying the conditions leading to pattern formation and the impact of transport effects and kinetics on the observed patterns.

Multi-phase Flows:

Studies on Wavy Films in Gas-Liquid Two-Phase Flows
The surface of a freely falling liquid film can exhibit complex spatio-temporal behavior at arbitrarily small Reynolds number. Our work in this area includes experimental, analytical and computational studies of momentum, heat and mass transfer in wavy films under different conditions: free falling, co and counter-current flows, horizontal and vertical flows and annular flows in microgravity.

Studies on Gas-Liquid Two-Phase Flows through Packed-Beds under Normal and Microgravity Conditions
Gas-liquid two-phase flows through packed-beds occur in many normal gravity applications. In addition, this is identified as an enabling technology for long duration space travel. Our work in this area is aimed at understanding of the fundamental role of capillary and viscous forces in controlling phase distribution and transport of momentum, heat and mass in gas-liquid flows through micro-channels and packed-beds under normal and microgravity conditions.

Petroleum Engineering:

Modeling and analysis of wormholing in carbonate acidization
Stimulation of oil and gas wells in carbonate reservoirs using an acid (HCl, formic acid, acetic acid, EDTA, etc.) is a common practice to enhance oil/gas flow to the wellbore. As the acid penetrates into the porous rock, it dissolves the rock creating conducting channels known as wormholes. The wormholes bypass the damaged zone around the wellbore, leaving highly permeable channels for the oil/gas to flow back after the treatment. The formation of the wormholes depends on the injection rate of acid, volume injected, type of acid, mineralogy, heterogeneity (i.e. non-uniformity in porosity/permeability) of the formation, temperature and so forth. Two important engineering science issues that arise in the acidization of carbonate reservoirs are: (i) for a given set of field conditions (rock properties such as average permeability, porosity, heterogeneity scale, acid & temperature), how to identify the optimum treatment conditions that produce the maximum stimulation (or increase in permeability) for a given amount of acid injected and (ii) how to design the fluid properties so that the acid is diverted to achieve maximum stimulation of the low permeability regions. Our work in this area is aimed at understanding these issues.

Biomedical Engineering:

Dr. Balakotaiah’s research in the biomedical area (jointly with Professor Akhil Bidani) deals with two specific projects:

Multi-scale Mathematical Modeling of Physiological systems
The process of pulmonary gas uptake is a multi-scale one, characterized by multiple time and length scales which are coupled non-linearly through the processes of diffusion, convection and reaction. We apply a multi-scale modeling approach to clarify the mechanisms underlying oxygen defect in HPS, and quantify separately the contributions of vascular dilatations, intrapulmonary R→L shunts, and/or V-Q (ventilation-perfusion) heterogeneities. Other projects in this area include detailed modeling of transport and reaction of reactive gases (oxygen, CO and NO) in the red blood cell and quantifying CO and NO poisoning in the blood.

Kinetics of Phagosomal pH During Macrophase Phagocytosis of Microbial Pathogens
Organellar or Phagosomal pH in immune cells is determined by a balance between the rate of proton pumping (V-ATPase), counter-ion conductance, proton leak and specific voltage-gated and pH dependent proton channels. The goal of this project is to develop a first-principles based quantitative description of the mechanisms of endosomal acidification in macrophases.

Awards and Honors

  • 2007: Flour-Daniel Faculty Excellence Award, Cullen College of Engineering
  • 2003: Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship, University of Houston
  • 2001: Ya. B. Zeldovich Award, The Dow Chemical Company
  • 1998-2001: Member, Modeling Technical Advisory Board, The Dow Chemical Company

Journal Papers / Refereed Journal Publications

  1. R. R. Ratnakar and V. Balakotaiah,

    “On the Use of Transfer and Dispersion Coefficient Concepts in Low-dimensional Diffusion-Convection-Reaction Models”, Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 88, 342-361

    , 2010
  2. S. Y. Joshi, M. P. Harold and V. Balakotaiah,

    “Overall Mass Transfer Coefficients and Controlling Regimes in Catalytic Monoliths”, Chem. Engng. Sci., 65, pp. 1729-1747

    , 2010
  3. S. R. Gundlapally, R. Agrawal, D. H. West and V. Balakotaiah,

    “Influence of Non-uniform Activity and Conductivity on Stationary and Moving Patterns in Catalytic Reactors, Chem. Engng. Sci., 65, pp. 1522-1538

    , 2010
  4. Ashok Kumar, M. P. Harold and V. Balakotaiah,

    “Isotopic Studies of NOx Storage and Reduction Using Temporal Analysis of Products”, Journal of Catalysis., 270, pp. 214-223

    , 2010
  5. Divesh Bhatia, M. P. Harold and V. Balakotaiah,

    “Modeling the effect of Pt dispersion and temperature during anaerobic regeneration of a lean NOx trap catalyst”, Catalysis Today, 151, pp. 314-329

    , 2010
  6. R. Clayton, M. P. Harold and V. Balakotaiah,

    “Performance Features of Pt/BaO/Al2O3 Lean NOx Trap with Hydrogen as Reductant”, AIChE Journal, 55, 3, pp. 687-700

    , 2009
  7. N. Kalia and V. Balakotaiah,

    “Effect of Medium Heterogeneities on Reactive Dissolution of Carbonates”, Chem. Engng. Sci., 64, 376-390

    , 2009
  8. S. Y. Joshi, M. P. Harold and V. Balakotaiah,

    “Low-dimensional Models for Real Time Simulation of Catalytic Monoliths”, AIChE Journal, 55, 1771-1783

    , 2009
  9. D. Bhatia, M. P. Harold and V. Balakotaiah,

    “Kinetic and Bifurcation Analysis of the Co-oxidation of CO and H2 in Catalytic Monolith Reactors”, Chem. Eng. Sci., 64, 1544-1558

    , 2009
  10. A. Kumar, V. Medhekar, M. P. Harold and V. Balakotaiah,

    “NO Decomposition and Reduction on Pt/Al2O3 Powder and Monolith Catalysts using the TAP Reactor”, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 90, pp. 642-651

    , 2009
  11. R. D. Clayton, M. P. Harold and V. Balakotaiah, C. Z. Wan,

    “Pt Dispersion Effects during NOx Storage and Reduction on Pt/BaO/Al2O3 Catalyst”, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 90, pp. 662-676

    , 2009
  12. J. Xu, M. P. Harold and V. Balakotaiah,

    “Microkinetic Modeling of Steady-State NO/H2/O2 on Pt/BaO/Al2O3 Monolith Catalysts”, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 89, pp. 73-86

    , 2009
  13. D. Bhatia, Robert W. McCabe, M. P. Harold and V. Balakotaiah,

    “Experimental and kinetic study of NO oxidation on model Pt catalysts”, Journal of Catalysis., 266, pp.106-119

    , 2009
  14. D. Bhatia, R. D. Clayton, M. P. Harold and V. Balakotaiah,

    “A Global Kinetic Model for NOx Storage and Reduction on  Pt/BaO/Al2O3 Monolith Catalysts”, Catalysis Today, 147S, pp. S250-S256

    , 2009
  15. S. Y. Joshi, M. P. Harold and V. Balakotaiah,

    “On the Use of Internal Mass Transfer Coefficients in Modeling of Diffusion and Reaction in Catalytic Monoliths”, Chem. Engng. Sci., 64, 4976-4991

    , 2009
  16. R. Agrawal, D. H. West and V. Balakotaiah,

    “Transport-Limited Pattern Formation in Fluid Particle Catalytic Systems”, Chem. Engng. Sci., 63, 460-483

    , 2008
  17. J. Xu, R. Clayton, V. Balakotaiah and M. P. Harold,

    “Experimental and Microkinetic Modeling of Steady-State NO Reduction by H2 on Pt/BaO/Al2O3 Monolith Catalysts”, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 77, 395-408

    , 2008
  18. R. D. Clayton, M. P. Harold and V. Balakotaiah,

    “Selective Catalytic Reduction of NO by H2 in O2 on Pt/BaO/Al2O3 Monolith NOx Storage Catalysts”, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 81, pp.161-181

    , 2008
  19. V. Balakotaiah,

    “Taylor Dispersion with Absorbing Boundaries”, Physical Review Letters”, 100, 029402-1

    , 2008
  20. C. Meza and V. Balakotaiah,

    “Experimental and Modeling Studies of Large Amplitude Waves on Vertically Falling Films”, Chem. Engng. Sci., 63, pp.4704-4734

    , 2008
  21. N. Malamataris and V. Balakotaiah,

    “Flow Structure Underneath the Large Amplitude Waves of a Vertically Falling Film”, AIChE Journal, 54, pp.1725-1740

    , 2008
  22. R. Clayton, M. P. Harold and V. Balakotaiah,

    “NOx Storage and Reduction with  H2 on Pt/BaO/Al2O3 Monolith:Spatio-Temporal Resolution of Reaction Pathways”, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 84, pp. 616-630

    , 2008
  23. V. Balakotaiah,

    “On the Relationship between Sherwood numbers, Aris numbers, Friction and Effectiveness factors”, Chem. Engng. Sci., 63, 5802-5812

    , 2008
  24. S. Chakraborty, V. Balakotaiah and A. Bidani,

    “Multiscale Model for Pulmonary Oxygen Uptake and its Application to Hypoxemia in Hepatopulmonary Syndrome”, Journal of Theoretical Biology, 244, pp. 190-207

    , 2007
  25. N. Kalia and V. Balakotaiah,

    “Modeling and Analysis of Wormhole Formation in Reactive Dissolution of Carbonate Rocks”, Chem. Engng. Sci., 62, pp. 919-928

    , 2007
  26. V. Medhekar, V. Balakotaiah and M. P. Harold,

    “TAP Study of NOx Storage and Reduction on Pt/Al2O3 and Pt/BaO/Al2O3”, Catalysis Today, 121, pp. 226-236

    , 2007
  27. M. Sharma, R. Clayton, M. P. Harold and V. Balakotaiah,

    “Multiplicity in Lean NOx Traps”, Chem. Engng. Sci., 62, 5176-5181

    , 2007
  28. R. Agrawal, D. H. West and V. Balakotaiah,

    “Modeling and Analysis of Local Hot Spot Formation in Down-flow Adiabatic Packed-Bed Reactors”, Chem. Engng. Sci., 62, 4926-4943

    , 2007
  29. K. Ramanathan, D. H. West and V. Balakotaiah,

    “Ignition Criterion for General Kinetics in a Catalytic Monolith”,  AIChE Journal, 52, pp. 1623-1629

    , 2006
  30. R. Mudunuri and V. Balakotaiah,

    “Solitary Waves on Thin Falling Films in the Very Low Forcing Frequency Limit”, AIChE Journal, 52, 12, pp. 3995-4003

    , 2006
  31. M. Sharma, M. P. Harold and V. Balakotaiah,

    “Analysis of Periodic Storage and Reduction of NOx in Catalytic Monoliths”, Ind. Engng. Chem. Res., 44, pp. 6264-6277

    , 2005
  32. M.K.R. Panga, R. R. Mudunuri and V. Balakotaiah,

    “Long-wavelength Equation for Vertically Falling Films”, Physical Review E, 71,36310-1

    , 2005
  33. S. Chakraborty and V. Balakotaiah,

    “Spatially Averaged Multiscale Models for Chemical Reactors”, Advances in Chemical Engineering, Vol. 30

    , 2005
  34. M. Panga, R. Mudunuri and V. Balakotaiah,

    “Long Wavelength Equation for Vertically Falling Films”, Physical Review E, 71, pp. 36310-1 to 36310-18

    , 2005
  35. M. Panga, M. Ziauddin and V. Balakotaiah,

    “Two-scale Continuum Model for Simulation of Wormhole Formation in Carbonate Acidization”, AIChE Journal, 51, pp. 3231-3248

    , 2005