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Dr. Tapas Kumar Patra

Dr. Tapas Kumar Patra

Biography

Tapas Patra is a scientist in the Thermochemical Conversion Division at SSS NIBE, Kapurthala. He received his M.Tech from National Institute of Technology, Trichy and Ph.D from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Pilani Campus. During his PhD at the Department of Chemical Engineering at the BITS Pilani, he investigated the potential of Jatropha residue cake as a potential feedstock for hydrogen-rich syngas production via gasification. During his doctoral work, he has successfully demonstrated gasification of Jatropha residue cake in a 15 KWth downdraft gasifier followed by producer gas cleaning and high temperature water gas shift catalytic reforming of syngas for hydrogen-rich fuel gas production. A process model was developed using Aspen Plus for the complete hydrogen production process. As a postdoctoral research associate at Combustion Gasification and Propulsion Laboratory (CGPL) at Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore Dr. Tapas worked on operation and optimization of Oxy-steam biomass gasification process for hydrogen-rich syngas production followed by separation of pure hydrogen (99.99%) from syngas using multi bed pressure swing adsorption (PSA) process. In addition, he has also worked on a novel reactor configuration for high ash coal gasification.

Area of Research

Biomass/Waste thermochemical conversion for production of energy, fuels, chemicals and other value-added products,

Education

August 2019: Ph.D Chemical Engineering, BITS Pilani
July 2012: M.Tech Energy Engineering, NIT Trichy

Work Experience

June 2022-Present: Scientist C, SSS NIBE, Kapurthala
January 2020-April 2022:  Research Associate, IISc Bangalore

Other Information

SERB-DST-International Travel grant for attending AIChE Annual Meeting 2017 at Minneapolis, USA
Life associate member of Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers (LAM 53233)

Research

  • Gasification potential of various agricultural residue pellets
  • Design and development of continuous torrefaction reactor
  • MSW gasification for green hydrogen production
  • Process modelling, optimization and Techno-economic analysis of biomass to hydrogen production process

Group Member

Deepanshu Awasthi

Junior Research Fellow

Deepanshu Awasthi obtained his B.Tech degree from the department of chemical engineering , Beant College of Engineering and Technology, Gurdaspur in 2020.. During his bachelor’s program he obtained NCC ‘C’ certificate in army wing, was silver medalist in IKGPTU Inter College Kabaddi tournament representing as team captain. He completed his master’s in nanoscience and nanotechnology from CNSNT, Panjab University, Chandigarh in 2022. His thesis work was studies on impact of nanocatalyst on production and physicochemical characteristics of some vegetable oil-based biofuels under the guidance of Dr. Anil K. Sarma , SSS NIBE and Dr. Bharat Bajaj, CNSNT. During his master’s he also worked on a project with CIBiod, PGI, Chandigarh and worked in lab for extraction of cellulose from Agro waste and its further functionalization.

He joined SSS NIBE, thermochemical conversion division in 2022 and currently working under the guidance of Dr. Nikhil Gakkhar and Dr. Tapas Patra. His research interest are focused on biomass gasification and additives. His hobbies include playing and watching outdoor sports and writing slam poetry.

Lab

  • 20 kWth Downdraft Gasifier with engine genset
  • Biomass Briquette Machine
  • Muffle Furnace
  • Multi component Portable Gas Analyzer
  • Elemental Analyzer (CHNS)
  • Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA)
  • Bomb Calorimeter
  • Moisture Analyzer
  • Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC)

Publications

  • Patra, T. K. and P. N. Sheth (2019). “Biomass gasification coupled with producer gas cleaning, bottling and HTS catalyst treatment for H2-rich gas production." International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 44 (23): 11602-11616.
  • Patra, T. K., K. Sudeep Mukherjee, and P. N. Sheth (2019). "Process simulation of hydrogen rich gas production from producer gas using HTS catalysis." Energy 173: 1130-1140.
  • Patra, T. K., K. R. Nimisha, and P. N. Sheth (2016). "A comprehensive dynamic model for downdraft gasifier using heat and mass transport coupled with reaction kinetics." Energy 116, Part 1: 1230-1242.
  • Patra, T. K. and P. N. Sheth (2015). "Biomass gasification models for downdraft gasifier: A state-of-the-art review." Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 50: 583-593.
  • Patra, T. K., K. N. Sheeba, P. Augusta and S. Jaisankar(2014). "Experimental study on the adsorption of malachite green in simulated and real effluent by bio-based adsorbents." International Journal of Green Energy 12(11): 1189-1195.
  • Patra, T. K., andP.N.Sheth, “Parametric optimization Study of downdraft biomass gasification using a comprehensive transport and kinetic model”, in proceedings of 2017AIChE Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, USA, Oct 29- Nov 3, 2017.
  •  Joshi, P., T. K. Patra andP.N.Sheth, "Design Modifications to Improve Tar cracking and Catalytic Tar reforming in Biomass Gasification Systems: A review", Proceedings of International Symposium & 70th Annual Session of IIChE in association with International Partners (CHEMCON-2017), Department of Chemical Engineering, Haldia Institute of Technology, Haldia, West Bengal, India, December 27-30, 2017.
  • Patra, T. K. and P.N.Sheth,“Techno-economic assessment of thermochemical biomass conversion conversion technologies". In Recent Advancements in Biofuels and Bioenergy Utilization Editors: Sarangi, Prakash Kumar, Nanda, Sonil, Mohanty, Pravakar (Eds.) Springer Singapore (2018).
  • Patra, T. K., K. N. Sheeba, P. Prakash (2013). “Performance study on an indirect natural convection solar dryer for drying banana.”eNREE 10 (1):3-11.

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