About This Presentation
Presented by:
Ray Cocco, Particulate Solid Research, Inc. (PSRI)
Summary. At PSRI, we use modeling to support and expand our experimental efforts and vice versa. CPFD’s Barracuda Virtual Reactor is an essential part of that research process. PSRI performs experiments on a large scale with circulating fluidized beds up to 3-ft diameter riser, 90-ft in height, and fluidized beds ranging from 12-inch to 7-ft in diameter. With experiments on such a large scale, it would not be cost-effective to proceed with a research program without first exploring our options using modeling. Similarly, modeling is an integral part of our analysis process. It helps us better understand what we are measuring and bridge that gap of what we can and cannot do in the lab. In short, modeling is used as our hypothesis, and as our analysis tool driving our scientific method. Barracuda Virtual Reactor is an integral part of this approach. From the redesign of the PSRI attrition jet cup to understanding gas bypassing to reducing the number of experiments with our stripper study, Barracuda Virtual Reactor has streamlined our efforts while enriching our understanding and enhancing our technology.
About the speaker. Ray Cocco has been with PSRI for 13 years where he currently has the role of President and CEO. PSRI is a consortium-based company with 30 member companies headquartered in Canada, France, Finland, Germany, India, South Africa, Saudi Arabia and the United States. Before PSRI, Ray spend 17 years with The Dow Chemical Company where he led research and development efforts in numerous particle technology platforms including the production of WoodStalkTM (a particleboard made of straw) for Dow BioProducts, the production of vinyl chloride monomer and RCl oxidation using fluidized beds, the production of hydrocarbon using circulating fluidized beds, the development of polyolefin catalyst for fluidized beds, and in the production of aluminum nitride and silicon carbide ceramic powders using moving bed reactors. In addition, Dr. Cocco was instrumental in bring in computational fluid dynamics, Six Sigma and Design for Six Sigma methodologies into Dow’s research environment. Today, he is a board member of the University of Florida Chemical Engineering Advisory Board, Auburn University Chemical Engineering Advisory Board, University College at London’s CNIE, and on the editorial boards for Powder and Bulk Engineering and Powder Technology. Ray was the past chair of the AIChE Particle Technology Forum (Group 3), past member of the AIChE Chemical Technology Operating Council (CTOC), and is currently an AIChE Fellow. Ray is also the past chairman of the World Congress in Particle Technology VIII in April 2018, He has 57 publications, three book chapters, several patents, numerous of invited presentations and consults for industry, national labs and universities on a regular basis.