SG

Srikumar Ghorui

Homi Bhabha National Institute, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, University of Mumbai

ORCID iD 0000-0002-8886-617X
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About

Dr. Srikumar Ghorui graduated from 40th batch of Training School, BARC, did PhD from the University of Mumbai, and post doctorate from ‘High Temperature Plasma Laboratory’, University of Minnesota, USA. He is a senior professor at the Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai and has more than 25 years of work experience in thermal plasma. His work in the area of experimental and theoretical understanding of arc and radiofrequency produced thermal plasma has drawn considerable interest internationally. He has made significant contributions in the area of arc instabilities, nonlinear dynamics, non-equilibrium CFD modeling, device development and plasma device fundamentals. Some of his well known contributions include the analytical model of arc instabilities in plasma torches, now referred in literature as 'Ghorui Jerk Chaotic Model', the non-equilibrium CFD model of plasma cutting torch, code for non-equilibrium thermo-physical properties of plasma and a new expression for charged-charged collision integral, now widely used in literature. He was able to directly image the dynamics of arc root and correlate that with steady, takeover and re-strike modes of arc instability for the first time. Fundamental studies by Dr. Ghorui have led to the invention of a novel air plasma torch technology. Based on this technology, two industrial scale air plasma gasifers of capacity 1-5 ton per day have been built inside BARC and being routinely used. He has developed the first indigenous radio frequency plasma unit in India for synthesis of nano-materials. Dr. Ghorui is now heading Thermal Plasma Technologies Section, BARC. Among others he has been awarded with prestigious DAE Young Scientist award, and DAE Scientific & Technical Excellence Award in recognition to his work. Recently he has been bestowed with highest recognition in DAE: Homi Bhabha Science & Technology Award.
He has developed a robust property code for computation of thermodynamic and transport properties of plasma under thermal equilibrium and non-equilibrium conditions, routinely used for design simulations of the plasma devices at L&PTD.
He has solved an important issue on charge-charge collision integral, existed unsolved over more than last 50 years, and derived a closed form expression for the integral. His works on instabilities revealed a spectrum of important information on diffused and constricted connections in arcs, extremely useful in technology development.
For the first time, Dr. Ghorui is able to directly image the dynamics of arc root in non-transferred arc and successfully correlate it with associated voltage instabilities. Contrary to earlier postulates of one arc root and current free external jet, his breakthrough studies revealed presence of multiple arc roots and current in the external plasma jet.
Air plasma torch technology developed by Dr. Ghorui is brought to industrially deployment stage and transferred to seven industries and a patent is filed. This has enabled Indian industries to ensure quick service, maintenance and offer at a rate much cheaper compared to that in the international market. Use of cheapest plasma gas (air), low flow rate, high arc voltage, low arc current, simple design, easy control of jet length through JxB plasma thrust and high jet temperature due to ohmic heating in the external jet are some of the technologically important and commercially attractive features of the invention.
Air Plasma Gasifier units developed by Dr. Ghorui have successfully demonstrated exceptionally high solid to gas conversion efficiency maintaining CPCB emission norms over wide variety of wastes including municipal, medical, nuclear, electronic, kitchen wastes, filter cartridges, desalination membranes, heavy water plant resins etc. establishing universal nature of the technology.
Robust plasma torch system for UF6-UF4 conversion, designed and developed by Dr. Ghorui and deployed at Chemical Technology Division, BARC offered conversion efficiency better than 99%. The development is of paramount importance as it not only helped in reducing existing multistep complex conventional process into a single step one having nearly 100 % conversion efficiency, it drastically reduced start up and shut down time, effluent generation, and lab space requirement.
Dr. Ghorui has recently contributed a new kind of excitation frequency controlled cold atmospheric pressure plasma device (named as EFCAP) which is low cost, highly portable, requires no vacuum and offers a wide range of tunability on plasma properties. It is found to be highly effective in cancer management through controlled generation of ROS and RNS.
Extremely high throughput atmospheric air plasma based portable nitrogen fixation unit, developed recently by Dr. Ghorui can generate required concentration of nitrate and nitrite fertilizer for agricultural application in minutes and has immense potential for direct deployment.

Employment

  • Homi Bhabha National Institute Professor
    2018 - Present
  • Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Head of Section

Education

  • University of Mumbai Ph.D.
    2004 - Present

Projects & Funding

Projects & funding information is unavailable.

Publications (12)