Associate Professor Hari B. Vuthaluru, BTech,MTech, ME, PhD (Newcastle)
Room: 204-517A
Phone: 08 9266 4685
E-mail: H.Vuthaluru@curtin.edu.au
Professional Appointments
- 2004 to date Senior Lecturer at Curtin University of Technology
- 2000 to 2003 Research Fellow at Curtin University of Technology
- 1996 – 2000 Research Fellow at University of Adelaide (CRC for Low-Rank Coal)
- 1993 – 1996 Research Scientist at ECN, The Netherlands
- 1988 – 1993 Research Scholar at University of Newcastle, Australia
- 1984 – 1988 Engineer (at various levels) in Engineers India Ltd, India (Engineering
and technical service company for petroleum refineries)
Relevant Professional Activities
- Corporate member – IChemEAus (2001 - current)
- Lifetime member – AIChE
- Member of International Desalination Association (2004-current)
- Co-organiser of Curtin Engineering Research Forum (2005 - current)
- Member of Divisional Teaching and Learning Committee (2006-current)
- Member of Department’s T & L Committee (2002-current)
- Member of faculty working group for new course structures (2004 - current)
- Undergraduate Coordination and Enrolments (2001 - current)
- Member of the school team to face AQUA panel (2002)
- Reviewer for several International journal papers: Industrial Engineering and Chemistry Research, Developments in Chemical Engineering & Mineral Processing, Fuel, Fuel Processing Technology, Journal of Environmental Management, Chemical Engineering Science (1998 - current)
Research Interests
- Coal combustion and gasification
- Ash/slag characterisation and thermodynamic modelling
- Mineral matter reactions
- Fluidised bed processes
- CFD modelling of power station utility equipment and fluidised bed reactors
- Desalination of ground water and secondary effluents
- Artificial Neural Network based models for power utilities
Research Grants
- Vuthaluru, Li, Moses Tade, Louis Evans and David Scott: Modelling of FLRs; ACARP funding of $121,300 – 2006-2007
- Vuthaluru: Investigations into the clinker formation on boiler surfaces at Collie Power Station: Transfield Services – Collie Power Station – $12,500 (2006)
- Vuthaluru: Remediation of ash problems during combustion of high sodium coals; $240,350 (PT Berau Coal, Indonesia) – 2003 to 2005
- Vuthaluru: Development of co-firing advisory tool (cost-shared PhD program); $43,750 + Acc & Liv expenses (ECN, The Netherlands) – 2003 to 2007
- Vuthaluru: Mathematical modelling of power station boilers; $70,000 + $5,000 per annum license fee per year for three years (Pacific West, Collie, WA) – 2003 to 2006
- Vuthaluru: Investigations into the control of odour and viscosity of pyrolysis oil derived from sewage sludge; Environmental Solutions Inc., 2002 to 2003 - $6,200.
- Wall, Zhang, French, Elliott, Creelman, Gupta and Vuthaluru: Relating coal properties to ash deposition and slagging: Tools for investigation of deposit samples, 2001 to 2002: $96,000 (ACARP grant).
Selected Publications and Refereed Journal Papers
- R. Vuthaluru*, M.O. Tade, Vuthaluru, H.B., Y. Tsvetnenko, L. Evans, J. Milne, Application of CFD modelling to investigate fluidized limestone reactors for the remediation of acidic drainage waters Chemical Engineering Journal, In Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available online 25 October 2008.
- Vuthaluru, H.B., D. French, Ash chemistry and mineralogy of an Indonesian coal during combustion: Part 1 Drop-tube observations, Fuel Processing Technology, Volume 89, Issue 6, June 2008, Pages 595-607.
- Vuthaluru, H.B., D. French, Ash chemistry and mineralogy of an Indonesian coal during combustion: Part II — Pilot scale observations, Fuel Processing Technology, Volume 89, Issue 6, June 2008, Pages 608-621.
- A. Saptoro, H.M. Yao, M.O. Tadé and Vuthaluru, H.B., Prediction of coal hydrogen content for combustion control in power utility using neural network approach. Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems, Volume 94, Issue 2, 15 December 2008, Pages 149-159
- A. Bahadori and H. B. Vuthaluru. Simplified Method for Calculating Hydrocarbons Solubilities in Hydrate Inhibitors. Chemical Engineering and Technology, Volume 31, No 9, 1-8, 2008.
- A. Bahadori, Vuthaluru, H.B. and S. Mokhatab. Analyzing Solubility of Acid Gas and Light Alkanes in Triethylene Glycol. Journal of Natural Gas Chemistry, Vol. 17, No.1, pp. 51-58, March 2008.
- A. Bahadori, Vuthaluru, H.B.and S. Mokhatab. Rapid Prediction of CO2 Solubility in Aqueous Solutions of DEA and MDEA, Chemical Engineering & Technology, Vol. 31, No2, February 2008, pp. 245-248.
- A. Bahadori,Y. Hajizadeh, Vuthaluru, H.B., M.O. Tade and S. Mokhatab, Novel approaches for the prediction of density of glycol solutions, Journal of Natural Gas Chemistry, Volume 17, Issue 3, September 2008, Pages 298-302.
- R. Vuthaluru and Vuthaluru, H.B., Modelling of a wall fired furnace for different operating conditions using FLUENT, Fuel Processing Technology, 87 (7) 2006, Pages 633-639.
- R. Vuthaluru, O. Kruger, M. Abhishek, V.K. Pareek and Vuthaluru, H.B., Investigations into the wear pattern of a complex pulveriser using CFD modelling, Fuel Processing Technology, 87 (8) 2006, Pages 687-694.
- V.A. Doshi, Vuthaluru, H.B. and T. Bastow, Investigations into the control of odour and viscosity of biomass oil derived from pyrolysis of sewagesludge, Fuel Processing Technology, Volume 86, Issue 8, 15 May 2005, Pages 885-897.
- Vuthaluru, H.B., V.K. Pareek and R. Vuthaluru, Multiphase flow simulation of a simplified coal pulveriser, Fuel Processing Technology, Volume 86, Issue 11, 2005, Pages 1195-1205.
- H.M. Yao, Vuthaluru, H.B., M.O. Tadé and D. Djukanovic, Artificial neural network-based prediction of hydrogen content of coal in power station boilers, Fuel, Volume 84, Issues 12-13, 2005, Pages 1535-1542.
- Vuthaluru, H.B., Investigations into the pyrolytic behaviour of coal/biomass blends using thermogravimetric analysis, Bioresource Technology, Volume 92, Issue 2, April 2004, Pages 187-195.
- Vuthaluru, H.B. Thermal behaviour of coal/biomass blends during co-pyrolysis, Fuel Processing Technology, Volume 85 (2004), Pages 141-155.
- Vuthaluru, H.B., J. Brooke D.K. Zhang, H. Yan, Effects of moisture and coal blending on Hardgrove Grindability Index (HGI) of Western Australian coal, Fuel Processing Technology, 81 (2003) 67-76.
Refereed Publications in Conference Proceedings
- Vuthaluru, H.B., R. Vuthaluru, H.Yurismono and M.Parinussa, Application of CFD simulations to control ash deposition in a large scale tangentially fired boiler" Invited paper for presentation at American Chemical Society (ACS) Symposium on Ash and Slag Chemistry in Power Systems to be held on August 17–21, 2008, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- R. Vuthaluru, M.O. Tade, Vuthaluru, H.B., Y. Tsvetnenko, L.Evans and J. Milne. Application of CFD modelling to investigate Fluidized Limestone Reactors for the remediation of acidic drainage waters, Paper presented at the 6th International Conference on CFD in Oil & Gas, Metallurgical and Process Industries, SINTEF/NTNU, Trondheim Norway, 10-12 June 2008.
- Vuthaluru, H.B., R. Vuthaluru, H.Yurismono and M.Parinussa, CFD based approach to control ash related problems in a large scale tangentially fired boiler, Paper presented at the 6th International Conference on CFD in Oil & Gas, Metallurgical and Process Industries, SINTEF/NTNU, Trondheim Norway, 10-12 June 2008.
- Saptoro, A., Vuthaluru, H.B. and Tadé, M.O., 2008, “Optimising artificial neural networks topology using hierarchical two-population genetic algorithm”, Paper presented at the 12th Asia Pacific Confederation of Chemical Engineering Congress, Dalian, China (August 3-6, 2008).
- Saptoro, A., Vuthaluru, H.B. and Tadé, M.O., 2008, “Prediction of coal properties using neural networks: a novel approach based on small training dataset”, Paper presented at CHEMECA 2008, Newcastle, Australia.
- Saptoro, A., Vuthaluru, H.B. and MO Tadé, Partial Least Squares and Neural Networks based Models of Coal-Fired Power Plant Boiler, Paper presented at Chemeca 2006, New Zealand.
- Saptoro, A., Vuthaluru, H.B. and MO Tadé, Design of feed-forward neural networks architecture for coal elemental composition prediction, Proc of the Int Conf on Modeling and Simulation 2006, KL, Malaysia.
- Saptoro, A., Vuthaluru, H.B. and MO Tadé, Prediction and monitoring of unburnt carbon in fly ash in coal-fired power plant based on empirical models, Proc of the Int Conf on Modeling and Simulation 2006, KL, Malaysia.
- Saptoro, A., Vuthaluru, H.B. and MO Tadé, A comparative study of prediction of elemental composition of coal using empirical modelling, ADCHEM, Brazil, 2006.
- Vuthaluru, H.B. and S. Nasir. Feasibility studies of desalination technologies and possible options for Australia, Paper accepted for presentation at the IDA World Congress 2005 Singapore (11-14 September, 2005).
- Nasir, S. and Vuthaluru, H.B., Effect of sodium chloride concentration on membrane performance, Paper accepted for presentation at the forthcoming IDA World Congress 2005 Singapore (11-14 September, 2005).
- Nasir, S. and Vuthaluru, H.B., Effect of calcium on membrane performance during reverse osmosis, Presented Chemeca 2005, Brisbane, 26-28 September 2005.
- Doshi, V., Vuthaluru, H.B., R. Korbee and J.H.A. Kiel, Prediction of Ash Formation Behaviour of Biomass during Combustion through Characterisation of the Inorganic Matter, Presented Chemeca 2005, Brisbane, 26-28 September 2005.
- Doshi, V., Vuthaluru, H.B., R. Korbee, J. Lensselink and J.H.A. Kiel, Investigations into the Performance of Electrostatic Precipitators for Co-fired Boilers, Presented Chemeca 2005, Brisbane, 26-28 September 2005.
- Vuthaluru, H.B. and R. Vuthaluru, CFD modelling of a coal burner using FLUENT, Presented Chemeca 2005, Brisbane, 26-28 September 2005.
- Vuthaluru, H.B., R. Vuthaluru, Modelling of wall fired furnace for different operating conditions, Presented Chemeca 2005, Brisbane, 26-28 September 2005.
- Vuthaluru, H.B., M.O. Tadé, H. M. Yao, Using the ANN Prediction Of Coal H2 Content for Combustion Control In Pulverised Coal-fired Boilers, Presented Chemeca 2005, Brisbane, 26-28 September 2005.
- V. Doshi, Vuthaluru, H.B., R. Korbee, J. Lensselink and J.H.A. Kiel. Preliminary Studies on the Effects of Biomass Co-firing on Fly Ash Resistivity, Paper accepted for presentation at 5th Asia-Pacific Conference on Combustion, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia (18-20 July 2005).
- Ryan, D., V. Doshi, Vuthaluru, H.B., R. Korbee and J.H.A. Kiel, “Modelling of Electrostatic Precipitator Performance during Co-firing of Coal and Biomass”, Poster paper presented at 7th World Congress of Chemical Engineering held in Glasgow, 7-14 July, 2005, Scotland.
- Coleman, H., V. Doshi, Vuthaluru, H.B., R. Korbee, J. Lensselink and J.H.A. Kiel “Investigations into the Effects of Biomass Co-firing on Fly Ash Resistivity”, Paper presented at 7th World Congress of Chemical Engineering held in Glasgow, 7-14 July, 2005, Scotland.
- Vuthaluru, H.B., R. Vuthaluru and V.K. Pareek, Multiphase Flow Simulation of a Simplified Coal Pulveriser, Paper Presented at the International Conference Environmental Fluid Mechanics, March, 2005, India.
- Vuthaluru, H.B., R. Vuthaluru, C. Srikanth, G.V. Rao, B. Chada Air-Flow Simulation in 3D Elbow Duct Burner, Paper Presented at the International Conference Environmental Fluid Mechanics, March, 2005, India.