Swenson College of Science & Engineering: Faculty Feature

Featured Faculty: Richard Davis

Professor and Head, Department of Chemical Engineering

Interests: Chemical process modeling and simulation, physico-chemical property measurement, correlation, and estimation

Courses Taught: Computational Methods in Chemical Engineering, Fluid Mechanics, Heat and Mass Transfer, Chemical Engineering Laboratory, Separations, Chemical Reaction Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Chemical Engineering Analysis

Website: http://www.d.umn.edu/~rdavis

Professor Davis’ teaching and research efforts have been concentrated in the areas of process modeling and simulation, with physicochemical property measurement and estimation.

Schematic of a grate-kiln furnace showing energy recuperation from the cooler to the front end.

He is currently collaborating with NRRI scientists and practicing engineers from regional mineral processors to refine mathematical models of taconite pelletizing machines. Taconite pellets, the feedstock of blast furnaces for iron production, are an important part of our regional economy. His team uses models to understand the process of energy integration, drying, reaction kinetics, residence time, and air pollution formation in the reactor in order to discover opportunities for cost reduction and quality improvement.

Dr. Davis inspecting a recessed burner in the preheat zone of a straight grate furnace

The models are designed to answer the questions: what is happening now in the pelletizing machines as they are currently operated, why, and what modifications will increase their efficiency to allow for increased production rates, improvements in product quality, lower fuel and operating costs, and minimize the generation of hazardous wastes? The models have been used to study problems ranging from NOx formation to material and energy accounting and exergy balancing. The modeling research has evolved into a detective story as model predictions have led to new problems and questions that were previously undiscovered or misunderstood. New insights into how to best operate the machines are being discovered and historical operating paradigms are shifting as plant personnel are finally able to look at their operations from the "inside-out."

Computational fluid dynamics simulation of a rotary cooler is used to study energy recuperation in the furnace.

Simulated pellet temperature profiles reveal information about the quality of the product. (click image to enlarge)

Several of his students have process and environmental engineering positions in regional mineral industries. Dr. Davis received the 2000 Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award and 2003 Jean G. Blehart Distinguished Teaching Award.

Simulated temperature and reaction profiles in the pellet bed reveal zones for process control.