K. S. Gandhi

Year: (1986 - 2005)

Phone: +91-80-2293 2320
Email: gandhi at iisc.ac.in

Education

B.Tech., Chemical Engineering, Andhra University (1962)

M.S., Chemical Engineering, Ohio State University (1965)

PhD, Chemical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley (1971)

Courses

CH 245 Computational Transport Phenomena

Research

Modelling of electrochemical power sources, specially lead-acid batteries, lithium ion batteries and fuel cells, is the focus my research. Performance of fuel cells and batteries depends upon a balance of electrocatalytic properties of electrodes, ionic and electronic resistance of electrodes and electrolyte, and diffusion of active ingredients participating in the electrochemical conversion reactions that generate power. Apart from this, management of thermal effects and electrolyte distribution are some other important factors that determine performance. Batteries have a finite life since electrodes, which are porous, degrade. Degradation could be due to several causes. Some of them are: mechanical failure caused by fatigue, alteration of the porous structure which prevents access to reactive materials and regeneration of reactive materials during charging cycles outside electrodes. I use mathematical modelling to address these issues as it can be a powerful tool for design, and diagnostics of performance as well as degradation.

Publications

  • D Niyogi, R Kumar and KS Gandhi A strategy for obtaining bi-modal bubble size distribution in water blown polyurethane foams. Ind. Engg Chem. & Res., 54(42), 10520-10529, (2015).
  • KS Gandhi Modeling of effect of nucleation rate and electrodes' resistance on discharge characteristics of lead-acid batteries. J. Electrochem. Soc., 162(8), A1506-A1515 (2015).
  • KS Gandhi Role of electrical resistance of electrodes in modeling of discharging and charging of flooded lead-acid batteries. J. Power Sources, 277, 124-130 (2015).
  • KS Gandhi Use of Fick's Law and Maxwell-Stefan Equations in Computation of Multicomponent Diffusion. A.I.Ch.E. Journal 58(11), 3601-05, (2012).
  • Sanjeev Kumar, KS Gandhi, and R Kumar Modelling of formation of gold nanoparticles by Citrate Method. Ind. Engg Chem. & Res 46, 3128-3136 (2007).