Web-based software for predicting crude compatibility and optimization for increasing heavy oil processing

Rajeev Kumar is the Chief Manager of Research and Development (R&D) at BPCL’s R&D Center in India. His research interests include developing new products/processes, modeling refinery processes and alternative fuels. He has published more than 25 research articles and has filed 20 patent applications in both India and internationally. He earned a BTech degree in chemical engineering from the Birsa Institute of Technology Sindri (BIT Sindri), along with an MTech degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, and a PhD in chemical engineering from IIT Delhi.

Pranab Kumar Rakshit is the Chief Manager (R&D) at BPCL’s R&D Center in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India. His research interests include developing new processes, reactor scale-ups and alternative fuels. Dr. Rakshit has published more than 15 research articles and papers in technical journals and magazines. He has filed 10 patent applications in India and internationally. He earned a BTech degree in chemical engineering from the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Surathkal; an M.E. degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore; and a PhD in chemical engineering from IIT Delhi.

Mathew John is the Senior Manager (R&D) at BPCL’s R&D Center in India. He has 15 yr of research experience specializing in advanced computational research, multi-scale modeling and catalyst/adsorbent development. Dr. John has an h-index of 14. He has published more than 19 papers in international peer-reviewed journals, and also has 15 national and international conference papers to his credit. He earned a Bch degree in chemical engineering from the University of Mumbai, an M.E. degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, and a PhD in chemical engineering from Ghent University, Belgium.

Ravi Kumar Voolapalli is the Chief General Manager at BPCL’s R&D Center in India. He has more than 30 yr of research experience. Dr. Voolapalli has published more than 50 papers in reputed international journals and conferences, and has contributed to several patents and applications. He authored a chapter on “Fluid Catalytic Cracking” in the Handbook of Petroleum and Natural Gas Refining and Processing, ASTM manual series (2013). His areas of research interest are refinery and petrochemical processes, coal/gas-to-liquid technologies, syngas-to-methanol/DME, modeling, simulation, scale-up and optimization. He earned a BTech degree in chemical engineering from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam; an MTech degree in chemical engineering from IIT Kanpur; and a PhD from the Imperial College of London.