Dr. Vemuri Balakotaiah
John and Rebecca Moores Professor

Dept. of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
University of Houston
4800 Calhoun Ave.
Houston, TX 77204-4004
Office Location: S237
Telephone: (713) 743-4318
Fax: (713) 743-4323
E-mail: bala "at-sign" uh "dot" edu

EDUCATION

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

COURSES

-Chemical Reaction Engineering (CHEE 4367)
-Two-phase Flows (CHEE 6397/ 5397)
-Mathematical Methods in Chemical Engineering I (CHEE 6331)
-Mathematical Methods in Chemical Engineering II (CHEE 6332)
-Applied Nonlinear Methods (CHEE 7350)

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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. Current research projects include:

› Chemical 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 & Wall Catalyzed Reacting Flows
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 Patterns in Catalytic Reactions and Reactors
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 Flow:

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.

For further information please visit Dr Balakotaiah's Research Group.

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HONORS & ACTIVITIES

—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
—1991, 1994, 1995: Best Applied Research Paper Award, AIChE South Texas Section
—1991: E.W. Thiele Lectureship, University of Notre Dame

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SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Journal Papers

1. N. Malamataris and V. Balakotaiah, “ Flow Reversal and Pattern Formation in Vertically Falling Films”, AIChE J., submitted in 2007,   in press,  3/2008   [12 pages]
2. C. Meza and V. Balakotaiah, “Experimental and Modeling Studies of Large Amplitude Waves on Vertically Falling Films”, Chem. Engng. Sci., in press (2008).  [33 pages]
3. R. Agrawal, D. H. West and V. Balakotaiah, “Transport-Limited Pattern Formation in  Fluid Particle Catalytic Systems”, Chem. Engng. Sci., 63, 460-483 (2008).
4. 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).
5. 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, 161-181 (2008).
6. V. Balakotaiah, “Taylor Dispersion with Absorbing Boundaries”, Physical Review Letters”, 100, 029402-1 (2008).
7. 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).
8. 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).
9. 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).
10. 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., (2007), 62, 4926-4943 (2007).
11. M. Sharma, R. Clayton, M. P. Harold and V. Balakotaiah, “Multiplicity in Lean NOx Traps”, Chem. Engng. Sci., 62, 5176-5181 (2007).
12. 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).
13. 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).
14. 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).
15. 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., (2007), 62, 4926-4943 (2007).
16. M. Sharma, R. Clayton, M. P. Harold and V. Balakotaiah, “Multiplicity in Lean NOx Traps”, Chem. Engng. Sci., 62, 5176-5181 (2007).
17. K. Ramanathan, D. H. West and V. Balakotaiah, “Ignition Criterion for General Kinetics in a Catalytic Monolith”,  AIChE Journal, 52, pp. 1623-1629 (2006). [Impact Factor = 2.036]
18. 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). [Impact Factor=2.036]
19. 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).
20. M. K. R. Panga, R. R. Mudunuri and V. Balakotaiah, “Long-wavelength Equation for Vertically Falling Films”, Physical Review E, 71,36310-1 (2005).
21. S. Chakraborty and V. Balakotaiah, “Spatially Averaged Multiscale Models for Chemical Reactors”, Advances in Chemical Engineering, Vol. 30 (2005).
22. S. Chakraborty, V. Balakotaiah and A. Bidani, “Diffusing Capacity Reexamined: Relative Roles of diffusion and reaction in red cell uptake of O2, CO, CO2 and NO”, J. Appl. Physiology, 97, 2284-2302 (2004).
23. V. Balakotaiah, “Hyperbolic Averaged Models for Describing Dispersion Effects in Chromatographs and Reactors”, K. J. Chem. Eng.., 21, 318- 328 (2004).
24. K. Ramanathan, D.H.West and  V. Balakotaiah, “Light-Off and Cumulative Emissions in Catalytic Monoliths with Non-uniform Catalyst Loading”, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.,43,4668-4690 (2004)
25. Chakraborty S. and V. Balakotaiah, "A novel approach for describing mixing effects in homogeneous reactors", Chem. Eng. Sci., 58, 1053-1061 (2003).
26. K. Ramanathan, V. Balakotaiah, and D. H. West, "Light-of criterion and transient analysis of catalytic monoliths", Chem. Engng. Sci., 58, 1381-1405 (2003).
27. V. Balakotaiah and S. Chakraborty, “Averaging Theory and Low-dimensional Models for Chemical Reactors and Reacting Flows”, Chem. Engng. Sci.,58, 4769-4786 (2003).
28. D.H.West, Z. Jovonovic and V. Balakotaiah “Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of the Mass Transfer Controlled Regime in Catalytic Monoliths”, Catalysis Today, 88, 3-16 (2003).
29. B. J. Motil, V. Balakotaiah, and Y. Kamotani, "GasLiquid Two-Phase Flow Through Packed Beds in Microgravity", AIChE J., 49, 3, 557-565 (2003).
30. Panga, M. and V. Balakotaiah, “Low-dimensional Models for Vertically Falling Viscous Films”, Physical Review Letters, 90,15, 154501-4 (2003).
31. Balakotaiah V. and H-C. Chang, "Hyperbolic homogenized models for thermal and solutal dispersion", SIAM Journal of Applied Mathematics, 63, 4, 1231-1258 (2003).
32. Balakotaiah V., N. Gupta and D.H. West, "Transport Limited Pattern Formation in Catalytic Monoliths", Chem. Eng. Sci., 57, 435-448 (2002).
33. Balakotaiah V. and West D. H., "Shape normalization and analysis of the mass transfer controlled regime in catalytic monoliths", Chem. Engng. Sci., 57, 1269-1286 (2002).
34. Chakraborty S. and Balakotaiah V., "Low-dimensional models for describing mixing effects in laminar flow tubular reactors", Chem. Eng. Sci., 57, 2545-2564 (2002).
35. Balakotaiah V. and S. Chakraborty, "A Novel Approach for describing Micromixing Effects in Homogeneous Reactors", Chemical Engineering Education, 250-257, Fall 2002.
36. Chakraborty S. and V. Balakotaiah, "Two-Mode Models for describing Mixing Effects for Homogeneous Reactors", AIChE J., 48, 11, 2571-2586 (2002).
37. Gupta, N., D.H.West and V. Balakotaiah, "Bifurcation Analysis of a Two-dimensional Catalytic Monolith Reactor Model", Chem. Eng. Sci., 56, 1435-1442 (2001).
38. Gupta, N. and V. Balakotaiah, "Heat and Mass Transfer Coefficients in Catalytic Monoliths", Chem. Eng. Sci., 56, 4771- 4786 (2001).
39. V. Balakotaiah and N. Gupta, "Controlling Regimes for Surface Reaction in Catalyst Pores", Chem. Engng. Sci., 55(17), 3505-3514 (2000).
40. E.K. Dao and V. Balakotaiah, "Experimental study of wave occlusion on falling films in a vertical pipe", AIChE J, 46(7), 1300-1306(2000)
41. L.T. Nguyen and V. Balakotaiah, "Modeling and experimental studies of wave evolution on free falling viscous films", Physics of Fluids, 12(9), 2236-2256(2000)
42. Balakotaiah V, Gupta N and West DH, " A simplified model for analyzing catalytic reactions in short monoliths", Chem Engng Sci, 55(22), 5367-5383 (2000)
43. Dommeti SMS and Balakotaiah V, "On the limits of validity of effective dispersion models for bulk reactions", Chem Engng Sci, 55(24), 6169-6186 (2000)
44. V. Balakotaiah and S. M. S. Dommeti, "Effective models for packed-bed catalytic reactors", Chem. Engng. Sci., 54, 1621-1638 (1999).
45. V. Balakotaiah, E. L. Christoforatou and D. H. West, "Transverse concentration and temperature nonuniformities in adiabatic packed-bed catalytic reactors", Chem. Engng. Sci., 54, 1725-1734 (1999).
46. V. Balakotaiah, S. M. S. Dommeti and N. Gupta, "Bifurcation analysis of chemical reactors and reacting flows", Chaos, 9(1),13-35 (1999).
47. S. M. S. Dommeti, V. Balakotaiah and D. H. West, "Analytical criteria for validity of pseudo-homogeneous models of packed bed catalytic reactors", I&EC Research, 38, 767-777 (1999).
48. N. Gupta, V. Midha, V. Balakotaiah and D. J. Economou, "Bifurcation analysis of thermal runaway in microwave heating of ceramics", J. Electrochem. Soc., 146, 4659-4665 (1999).
49. E. L. Christoforatou, D. H. West and V. Balakotaiah, " Runaway Limits for Adiabatic Packed Bed Catalytic Reactors", AIChE J., 44, pp. 394-404, (1998).
50. V. Balakotaiah, "A new equation for correlation of a pipe flow reactor with a cascade of mixed reactors", Chem. Engng. Sci., 53, 1787 (1998).
51. S. Subramanian and V. Balakotaiah, "Analysis and Classification of Reaction Driven Stationary Convective Patterns in a Porous Medium", Physics of Fluids, 9 (6), 1674-1695 (1997).
52. S. S. Jayawardena, V. Balakotaiah and L. C. Witte, " Flow Pattern Transition Maps for Microgravity Two-Phase Flows", AIChE Journal, 43,1637-1640 (1997).
53. S. Subramanian and V. Balakotaiah, "Classification of the Steady-State and Dynamic Behavior of a Well Mixed Heterogeneous Reactor Model", Chem. Engng. Sci., 52, 961-978 (1997).
54. V. K. Patil, S. Subramanian and V. Balakotaiah, "Singularity Theory Approach for calculating the Runaway Boundaries of Heterogeneous Reactor Models", I&EC Research, 36(8), 3230-3241 (1997).
55. E. L. Christoforatou and V. Balakotaiah, " Determination of Critical Residence Time for the Stability of Uniform Down-Flow in a Packed-Bed Reactor", Chem. Engng. Sci., 52, 3463-3469(1997).
56. S. Subramanian and V. Balakotaiah, " Classification of Steady-State and Dynamic Behavior of Distributed Reactor Models", Chem. Engng. Sci., 51, 401 - 421 (1996).
57. V. Balakotaiah, " Structural Stability of Nonlinear Convection-Reaction Models", Chem. Engng. Education, 234-239, Fall 1996.
58. V. Balakotaiah, D. Kodra and D. Nguyen " Runaway Limits for Homogeneous and Catalytic Reactors", Chem. Engng. Sci., 50(7), 1149-1171 (1995).
59. V. Balakotaiah and H.C. Chang, "Dispersion of Chemical Solutes in Chromatographs and Reactors", Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. London, A 351, 39-75 (1995).
60. D. Nguyen and V. Balakotaiah, "Reaction Driven Instabilities in Down-Flow Packed Bed Reactors", Proc. Roy. Soc. London, 450, 1 (1995).
61. S. Subramanian and V. Balakotaiah , "Mode Interactions in Reaction Driven Convection in a PorousMedium", Chem. Engng. Sci., 50, 1851-1866, (1995)
62. L.-Q. Yu, F.K.Wasden, A.E.Dukler and V. Balakotaiah, "Nonlinear Evolution of Waves on Falling Films at High Reynold's Numbers", Physics of Fluids, 7(8), 1886-1902 (1995)

Conference Proceedings

Motil, B.J., V. Balakotaiah and Y. Kamotani, "Effects of Gravity on Cocurrent Two-Phase Gas-Liquid Flow through Packed Beds," AIAA Proceedings (2001).

Books and Book Chapters

1. Mohanty, K.K., V. Balakotaiah and R. Erskine, "Physics of Hydrocarbons in Porous Media," accepted for publication in Energy Integration (M.J. Economides, ed.), to appear (2003).

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