Software Packages Available

• Big Data Analytics and decision-making: Python, R, Matlab
• Downstream process simulation
• Steady-State Simulation: Aspen Plus, HYSYS, Promax
• Dynamic Simulation: Aspen Plus Dynamics, HYSYS Dynamics
• Midstream and upstream process simulation: Promax
• Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Simulation: Ansys
• Model Predictive Control: Aspen DMC plus

Current Projects

• Combustion Kinetics Study and Machine Learning for the Simulation and Control of Industry Flares
  • Gai, H. L., A. Wang, J. Fang, H. H. Lou, D. Chen, X. C. Li, and C. Martin, “Clean Combustion and Flare Minimization to Reduce Emissions from Process Industry,” Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry, 23, 38-45, 2020.
• Big Data Analytics and Machine Learning for Operation Improvement of Chemical Processes in Ethylene Value Chain
  • Lou, H. H., H. L. Gai, “How can AI Better Serve Chemical Process Industry,” Hydrocarbon Processing, 37-39, July 2020.

Position Available

The position is available for a Ph.D. Student with research and teaching assistantship. The candidate must have a solid background in programming skills and chemical engineering. (GPA ≥ 3.0, Verbal + Quantitative ≥ 308)is required.

To apply, Email Dr. Helen Lou directly at helen.lou@lamar.edu

Research Group

Doctoral Dissertations

• Anan Wang, “Combustion Kinetics Study and Machine Learning for the Simulation and Control of Industrial Flares,” Ph.D. Dissertation, December 2019, Beaumont, TX.
• Hailong Gai, “Hybrid Modeling and Machine Learning for Operation Improvement of Selected Chemical Processes,” Ph.D. Dissertation, December 2019, Beaumont, TX.
• Ravinder Singh, "Analysis of Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal in Synergy with Cryogenic Air Separation Process", Doctoral Dissertation, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, August 2017.
• Kailiang Zheng, “Sustainable Process Design: Flexible Heat Exchange Network Design under Severe Uncertainty, Reaction Pathway Selection, and Design of a Gas-To-Liquids Process”, Ph.D. Dissertation, May 2013, Beaumont, TX.
• Preeti Gangadharan, “Sustainability Based Decision Making Tools for Design and Assessment of Alternative Fuel Technologies,” Ph.D. Dissertation, May 2013, Beaumont, TX.
• Xiang Li, "Assessment, Simulation and Decision-making under Severe Uncertainty in Industrial Sustainability", D. dissertation, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, May 2011.
• Hitesh Vaid, "Reduction of Light Hydrocarbon Combustion Mechanisms and Speciation Study of Industrial Flares through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Methods", Ph.D. dissertation, December 2011.
• Aditi Singh, "Multi-Objective Decision-Making in Design for Sustainability", Ph.D. dissertation, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, May 2007.
• Amarnath Singh, "Dynamic Simulation of Chemical Process and the Use of the Simulation Models in Control Room for Source Reduction and Performance Improvement", Doctoral Dissertation, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, December 2004 (Co-Advisor, with K. Y. Li as the Advisor).

 M.S. Theses

• Ankit Maheshbhai Chachad, Diagnosis of Linear Alpha Olefins Process Upsets via Dynamic Simulation, Master Thesis, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, May 2019.
• Parag Saxena, Simulation of Selected Vapor Recovery Processes, Master Thesis, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, August 2015.
• Anand Zanwar, Simulation and Assessment of Natural Gas Processing Technologies and Polygeneration Processes, Master Thesis, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, May 2011.
• Abhishek Jayswal, Sustainability Root Cause Analysis and Simulation of a GTL Process, Master Thesis, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, May 2011.
• Krishna Reddy Kanchi, Simulation and Analysis of Natural Gas Reforming Processes, Master Thesis, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, May 2011.
• Anjan Tular Kumar, CFD Model for Validation of a Combustion Mechanism for Light Hydrocarbons, Master Thesis, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, August 2010.
• Bala Chaitanya Varma Gottimukkala, CFD Simulation of Industrial Flares with Reduced Mechanisms and NOx Dispersion from Vehicular Exhaust Pipe, Master Thesis, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, August 2008.
• Bhaskar Roy, Process Security Analysis of Ethylene Oxide Production Plant, Master Thesis, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, December 2006.
• Kishore Mehrotra, Application of Neural Networks for Control System Development, Master Thesis, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, May 2005.
• Becky Smith, Analysis of a Petrochemical and Chemical Industrial Zone for the Improvement of Sustainability, Master Thesis, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, August 2005.
• Aditi Singh, Hierarchical Pareto Optimization and Life Cycle Analysis for Sustainable Development of Large Scale Industrial Ecosystems,Master Thesis, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, August 2004.
• Jayachandran Chandrasekaran, Assessment and Analysis of a Large Scale Chemical Process for Secured Design and Operation using Dynamic Simulation, Master Thesis, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, December 2004.
• Sanjeev S. Dusija, Multiscale Modeling and Simulation for Analyzing Thermal Runaway Reaction Systems, Master Thesis, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, December 2004.
• Rameshkumar Muthusamy, Chemical Process Security Assessment and the Application of Parallel Computing Technology, Master Thesis, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, December 2003.
• Makarand A. Kulkarni, Analysis of the Sustainable Development of Industrial Ecological System, Master Thesis, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, August 2003 (Co-Advisor, with J. R. Hopper as the Advisor).
• Li Zhou, Regional Air Quality Management Strategy: Real-time Emission Inventory Development, Master Thesis, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, May 2003 (Co-Advisor, with K. Y. Li as the Advisor).  

Additional Information

• The following research projects are either in process or completed in the Sustainable Engineering Technology Lab:

  • Enhance the Resilience of Water Infrastructure in Mid-sized Cities Adjacent to Energy Industry
  • Clean combustion technologies
  • Profitable pollution prevention technologies for petrochemical and surface finishing industries
  • Process integration
  • Process safety and operability enhancement via dynamic simulation, control and optimization

  The lab is located at the Cherry Engineering Building, first floor room 3109.