Balaji Mohan

I am a combustion researcher with 15 years of experience in engine experiments, fundamental spray experiments, and computational fluid dynamics related to internal combustion engines and future transportation fuels. Recently, I shifted gears towards data science and the application of AI/ML to advance science.

Experience

Lead Lab Scientist

Research and Development Center
Saudi Aramco
Jul 2023 - Present

Lab Scientist I

Research and Development Center
Saudi Aramco
Jan 2020 - Jun 2023

Post-doctoral fellow

Clean Combustion Research Center (CCRC),
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
May 2017 - Dec 2019

Research Fellow

Department of mechanical engineering,
National University of Singapore (NUS)
Apr 2015 - Apr 2017

Product Engineer

Engineering and Development, Technical Center
Delphi-TVS Diesel Systems Ltd
Jun 2008 - Dec 2010

Education

PhD

National University of Singapore
Mechanical Engineering - Combustion

CAP: 4.33/5.0

Jan 2011 - May 2015

Bachelor in Engineering

Anna University
Mechanical Engineering

Aggregate: 89.48%

Sep 2004 - May 2008

Certifications

  • Applied Data Science Specialization by IBM (Coursera), Credential ID: 7L3LJ3SK5G6V, 2020.
  • Data Analysis with Python by IBM (Coursera), Credential ID: 638ZPJ47ST6T, 2020.
  • Python for Data Science and AI by IBM (Coursera), Credential ID: 4LALXRKHKJEF, 2020.
  • Machine Learning with Python by IBM (Coursera), Credential ID: MTEYDZQLVDMB, 2020.
  • Data Visualization with Python by IBM (Coursera), Credential ID: 5ZNEJ7N5ECSR, 2020.
  • Introduction to Deep Learning & Neural Networks with Keras by IBM (Coursera), Credential ID: JTC9U3N4CTWK, 2020.
  • Introduction to Applied Machine Learning by amii (Coursera), Credential ID: 7X4EUXUMT223, 2020.
  • Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) by IBM (Coursera), Credential ID: 6JHFYMB6X3TC, 2020.
  • Introduction to ANSYS CFD by ANSYS and Fluid Codes, 2019.
  • Combustion Institute Summer School (CISS) by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia, 2018.
  • Principles, Operation and Maintenance of Automated GC-MS by Shimadzu Asia-Pacific Pte. Ltd., Singapore, 2016.

Skills

CFD packages

Converge, KIVA-4, Ansys Fluent, ChemKin, OpenFOAM

Meshing Software

ICEM CFD, Gambit, KIVA--4 pre-processor (k3prep), Gmsh

Post-Processing Software

ParaView, VisIt, EnSight, General Mesh Viewer (GMV), Tecplot

Computer programming

Python, R, Fortran, C, C++

Numerical computational Packages

Numpy, Scipy, Pandas, Scikit-Learn, MATLAB, Scilab

CAD and Modelling Software

AutoCAD, Solidworks, Pro/ENGINEER

Desktop Publishing Software

TeX (LaTeX, BibTeX, LyX, Beamer), Microsoft office, Libreoffice

Productivity Software

Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, Visio, Matplotlib, OriginPro, Gnuplot, EndNote, Mendeley, Jabref

Operating Systems

Microsoft Windows, Linux (Debian based), Mac OS

Experimental Skills

Multi-cylinder and single-cylinder powertrain calibration and development activities, Use of ultra-high speed camera (Photron SA5, SA4), GC–MS (Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometer) to analyze composition of different bio-fuels, AVL engine control systems (AVL Indicom, AVL Concerto).

Selected Publications

  • B Mohan, J Chang. Chemical SuperLearner (ChemSL) - An automated machine learning framework for building physical and chemical properties model. Chemical Engineering Science, 294: 120111, 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2024.120111.
  • B Mohan, J Badra. A novel automated SuperLearner using a genetic algorithm-based hyperparameter optimization. Advances in Engineering Software, 175: 103358, 2023. DOI: 10.1016/j.advengsoft.2022.103358.
  • B Mohan, J Du, J Sim, WL Roberts. Hydraulic characterization of high-pressure gasoline multi-hole injector. Flow Measurement and Instrumentation, 64: 133-141, 2018. DOI: 10.1016/j.flowmeasinst.2018.10.017.
  • B Mohan, WM Yang, KL Tay, W Yu, SK Chou. Numerical investigation on the effects of injection rate shaping on combustion and emission characteristics of biodiesel fueled CI engine. Applied Energy 160: 737-745, 2015. DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.08.034.
  • B Mohan, KL Tay, WM Yang, KJ, Chua. Development of a skeletal multi-component fuel reaction mechanism based on decoupling methodology. Energy conversion and management, 105: 1223--1238, 2015. DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2015.08.060.
  • B Mohan, WM Yang, KL Tay, W Yu. Experimental study of spray characteristics of biodiesel derived from Waste cooking oil. Energy Conversion and Management 88:622--632, 2014. DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2014.09.013.
  • B Mohan, WM Yang, V Raman, V Sivasankaralingam, SK Chou. Optimization of biodiesel fueled engine to meet emission standards through varying nozzle opening pressure and static injection timing. Applied energy, 130: 450--457, 2014. DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.02.033
  • B Mohan, WM Yang, W Yu Effect of internal nozzle flow and thermo-physical properties on spray characteristics of methyl esters. Applied Energy, 129:123--134, 2014. DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.04.109.
  • B Mohan, WM Yang, SK Chou. Development of an accurate cavitation coupled spray model for diesel engine simulation. Energy Conversion and Management, 77:269--277, 2014. DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2013.09.035.
  • B Mohan, WM Yang, SK Chou. Fuel injection strategies for performance improvement and emissions reduction in compression ignition engines-A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 28:664–676, 2013. DOI: 10.1016/ j.rser.2013.08.051.
For a complete list of publications, please refer

Awards

Best Presenter

SAS-CI, 2022
Awarded the best presenter at 12th Saudi Arabian Section of Combustion Institute (SAS-CI) in Application of ML/AI tools session
Oct 2022

Outstanding Reviewer

Chemical Engineering and Processing: Process Intensification
Awarded for being within the top 10th percentile of reviewers for the Journal, in terms of the number of manuscript reviews completed in the last two years
Oct 2018

Outstanding Reviewer

Applied Energy
Awarded for being within the top 10th percentile of reviewers for the Journal, in terms of the number of manuscript reviews completed in the last two years
May 2015

NUS Research Scholarship

NUS
Awarded National University of Singapore (NUS) Graduate Research Scholarship
2011 - 2015

State Eleventh Rank

Anna University
Awarded Eleventh rank among 5308 Mechanical engineers graduated in 2008 from Anna University, India
Jun 2008

Merit Scholarship

Velammal Engineering College
Awarded for being Top ranked student in Mechanical Engineering during 2nd, 6th and 7th semesters
2004 - 2008

Downloads

Unofficial NUS Latex thesis template

I have created an unofficial NUS thesis template for Doctor of Philosophy degree to facilitate those who want to write their thesis in the LaTex environment. I used this template while writing my Ph.D. thesis in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore (NUS). The template format was created based on NUS Guidelines on Format of Research Thesis submitted for Examination. However, it is quite easy to change it for different guidelines at the user's will. The template is available for download in plain LaTex format. The best way to start using it is to download the template, unzip, and modify it to your requirements. The Final.pdf file is an example of how the thesis looks like by using this template. To download the thesis template, please click here.

Reaction mechanisms

Bio-diesel mechanism

A new coupled bio-diesel surrogate and primary reference fuel (PRF) oxidation skeletal mechanism has been developed. The bio-diesel surrogate sub-mechanism consists of oxidation sub-mechanisms of Methyl Decanoate (MD), Methyl 9-Decenoate (MD9D), and n-Heptane fuel components. The MD and MD9D are chosen to represent the saturated and unsaturated methyl esters respectively in bio-diesel fuels. Then, a reduced iso-octane oxidation sub-mechanism is added to the bio-diesel surrogate sub mechanism. Then, all the sub-mechanisms are integrated into a reduced C2–C3 mechanism, detailed H2/CO/C1 mechanism, and reduced NOx mechanism based on decoupling methodology. The final mechanism consisted of 68 species and 183 reactions. The mechanism was well-validated with shock-tube ignition delay times, laminar flame speed, and 3D engine simulations. To download the mechanism, thermodynamics, and transport files in ChemKin format, please click here.

Gasoline mechanism

The prospect of blending gasoline fuel with ethanol is being investigated as a potential way to improve the knock residence of the base gasoline. However, one of the drawbacks is a lack of proper understanding of the reason for the non-linear response of blending ethanol and gasoline. This non-linearity could be better understood by an improved knowledge of the interactions of these fuel components at a molecular level. This study proposed a highly reduced four-component (toluene/n-heptane/iso-octane/ethanol) gasoline surrogate model containing 59 species and 270 reactions. The model was reduced using the direct relation graph with expert knowledge (DRG-X) (Lu and Law, 20015; Lu et al., 2011) and isomer lumping method. The computational singular perturbation (CSP) analysis were performed to reduce the potential stiffness issues by accordingly adjusting the Arrhenius coefficients of the proper reactions. The model has been comprehensively validated against wide range of ignition delay times (IDT) and flame speed (FS) measurement data as well as compared against two representative literature models from Liu et al. (2013) and Wang et al. (2015). Overall, good agreements were observed between model predictions and experimental data across the entire research octane number (RON), equivalence ratio, pressure and temperature range. In addition, the model has also been coupled with the computational fluid dynamic (CFD) models to simulate the experimental data of constant volume reacting spray of a low-octane gasoline (Haltermann straight-run naphtha), and in-cylinder pressures and temperatures of a high-octane gasoline (Haltermann Gasoline) combustion in a heavy duty compression ignition engine. The coupled model can qualitatively predict the experimentally obtained data with an improved performance for PRF, TPRF, and TPRF-ethanol surrogates. To download the mechanism, thermodynamics, and transport files in ChemKin format, please click here.

Curriculum vitae

To download my complete CV, please click here.