Francisco Ramos

Thesis-Based Master Position (MSc) in Experimental and Theoretical Thermodynamics

About the Position: The Thermodynamics and Thermophysical Properties (TTP) research group is looking for 1 Master (MSc) student position in Chemical Engineering at Lakehead University (Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada). The student will receive partial funding and will be working in the TTP research group under the supervision of Prof. Francisco Ramos-Pallares. The student will conduct experimental research on electrolyte thermodynamics as well as data analysis and modelling. Therefore, experience in the following is highly desirable: thermodynamics, mathematical modelling and MATLAB programming/optimization. At Lakehead University, besides research, MSc students are required to take 4 courses. The candidate is expected to start in January 2023.

How to Apply: The candidate should have a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and the application should include the following items: 1) cover letter; 2) Curriculum Vitae; 3) Name of 2 references, and 4) Unofficial academic transcripts. Applications should be sent by email to Prof. Francisco Ramos-Pallares at framosp@lakeheadu.ca. Please send it as a single PDF file. If your first language is not English, you must meet the minimum English language proficiency score posted at the following link:

https://csdc.lakeheadu.ca/Catalog/ViewCatalog.aspx?pageid=viewcatalog&catalogid=28&chapterid=8462&loaduseredits=False

Indicate your score in the cover letter. The closing date for applications is September 10, 2022.

Only those applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

The Thermodynamics and Thermophysical Properties (TTP) research group is constantly looking for passionate, creative, and diverse candidates for graduate studies. Lakehead University is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons/persons of color, women, Indigenous / Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQIA persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. 

By Francisco Ramos, ago

Francisco Ramos-Pallares

Assistant Professor, Principal Investigator

framosp@lakeheadu.ca

Tel:  (+1) 807-343-8010, EXT. 7103

Francisco is an assistant professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay. Before joining Lakehead University, Francisco held an RD&T industrial postdoctoral position at CNOOC Petroleum (formerly NEXEN). Francisco’s research interests are focused on thermodynamics, phase behavior, transport phenomena, mathematical modeling, and simulation. He received a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Calgary.

Graduate Students

Twaha Mohamed, MSc

tmohamed@lakeheadu.ca

 PhD. Student

Thesis Subject: Twaha’s thesis focuses on the experimental and computational study of electrolyte mixtures containing water alcohols and salt

Education and Experience: B. Eng. and MSc. in Chemical Engineering from Lakehead University (2021). Twaha’s MSc research and thesis were focused on the development of a consistent cubic equation of state for non-polar components as well as computational algorithms for phase equilibria calculations. Before joining our group, Twaha held an internship position at Resolute Forest Products (Thunder Bay) working as an energy efficiency technician in the field of pulp and paper processing.

Rayyan Thenmalai Ihimamudeen

mthenmal@lakeheadu.ca

MSc. Student

  • Thesis Subject: Experimental mapping and modeling of the phase behavior of mixtures containing ethanol/water/salt
  • Education: B. Eng. Chemical Engineering from the St. Joseph College of Engineering (Chennai, India) 2020
  • Experience: Rayyan worked for 2 years as a Project Associate at IIT Madras (India) studying aluminum and zinc-air flow batteries; and modeling, designing, developing, and optimizing electrolyzers. Rayyan is also a performance artist, theatre enthusiast, playwright, stage play director, avid reader, and tech enthusiast.

Alumni

Saeed Ataee Ataabadi, MSc

  • Thesis: The Phase Behaviour of Isopropanol/Water/NaCl Mixtures at Atmospheric Pressure (April 2023)
  • Education and Experience: MSc Chemical Engineering, Lakehead University (2023); B.Sc. Petroleum Engineering, Azad University of Gachsaran, Iran (2012); MSc Executive Management, Azad University of Shiraz (2019). Supervisor of the production line in Asia Green Island Production Company (2014-2016). Operation manager of Greenland Contracting Company (2016-2020)
  • Publications and Awards:
    • Ataee, S. et al. The Phase Behavior of Isopropanol/Water/NaCl Mixtures at Atmospheric Pressure and Temperatures from 294.15 K Up to the Boiling Point. J. Chem. Thermodynamics, 2024, 189, 107205
    • Lakehead University Dean’s Award for Engineering. 2023

Homayoun Moghaddaupour

Homayoun worked in our research group from Sept. 2023 to January 2024. The focus of his research was the experimental measurement and modeling of the density of mixtures containing alcohol, water, and salt.

By Francisco Ramos, ago

Articles

2023

  1. Ataee, S; Rathje, G; Ramos-Pallares F. The Phase Behavior of Isopropanol/Water/NaCl Mixtures at Atmospheric Pressure and Temperatures from 294.15 K Up to the Boiling Point, J. Chem. Thermodyn., 2024, 189, 107205 

2022

  1. Ramos-Pallares, F. A Generalized Linear Secant Bulk Modulus Based Correlation for the Prediction of Compressed Liquid Density, Can. J. Chem. Eng., 2022, 100, 3768-3776

2021

  1. Rivero-Sanchez, J; Ramos-Pallares, F; Schoeggl, F; Yarranton, H W. Asphaltene Precipitation from Heavy Oil Diluted with Petroleum Solvents, Energy and Fuels, 2021 35, 9396-9407
  2. Yarranton, H W; Ramos-Pallares, F. Regular Solution Theory Applied to Asphaltene Related Phase Behavior. Can. J. Chem. Eng., 2021 99, 1050-1067.
  3. Rivero-Sanchez, J; Ramos-Pallares, F; Schoeggl, F; Yarranton, H W. Asphaltene Precipitation from heavy Oil Mixed with Binary and Ternary Solvent Blends. Chemical Product and Process Modeling, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1515/cppm-2020-0090

2016-2020

  1. Ramos-Pallares, F.; Santos, D.; Yarranton, H.W. Application of the Modified Regular Solution Model to Crude Oils Characterized from a Distillation Assay, Energy and Fuels, 2020, 34, 15270-15284
  2. Ramos-Pallares, F.; Yarranton, H.W. Extending the Modified Regular Solution Model to Predict Component Partitioning to the Asphaltene-Rich Phase, Energy and Fuels, 2020, 34, 5213-5230
  3. Ramos-Pallares, F.; Schoeggl, F.F.; Taylor, S.D.; Yarranton, H.W. Prediction of Thermal Conductivity for Characterized Oils and Their Fractions Using an Expanded Fluid Based Model, Fuel, 2018, 234, 66-80
  4. Ramos-Pallares, F.; Schoeggl, F.F.; Taylor, S.D.; Yarranton, H.W. Expanded Fluid-Based Thermal Conductivity Model for Hydrocarbons and Crude Oils, Fuel, 2018, 224, 68-64
  5. Ramos-Pallares, F.; Lin, H.; Yarranton, H. W.; Taylor, S.D. Prediction of the Liquid Viscosity of Characterized Crude Oils Using the Generalized Walther Model, SPE Journal, 2017, 22, 1487-1505
  6. Ramos-Pallares, F.; Taylor, S.D.; Satyro, M.A.; Marriott, R.A.; Yarranton, H.W. Prediction of Viscosity of Characterized Oils and Their Fractions Using the Expanded Fluid Model, Energy and Fuels, 2016, 30, 7134-7157
  7. Ramos-Pallares, F.; Schoeggl, F.F.; Taylor, S.D.; Satyro, M.A.; Yarranton, H.W. Predicting the Viscosity of Hydrocarbon Mixtures and Diluted Heavy Oils Using the Expanded Fluid Model,  Energy and Fuels, 2016, 30, 3575-3595

Conference Presentations

2023

  1. Ramos-Pallares, F. The Phase Behaviour of Isopropanol/Water/NaCl Mixtures at Atmospheric Pressure. Invited Keynote Speech at the 2023 at the Canadian Chemical Engineering Conference, Calgary, Canada, November 2023

2022

  1. Mohamed, T., Kozinski, J., Ramos-Pallares, F. Can the Redlich-Kwong Equation of State Model Thermodynamic Properties of Polar Components? Oral Presentation at the 2022 Canadian Chemical Engineering Conference, Vancouver, October 2022
  2. Ramos-Pallares, F., Ataeeataabadi, S. Investigating the Effect of Temperature on the Liquid-Liquid and Liquid-Liquid-Solid Phase Behaviour of Isopropanol/Water/NaCl Mixtures. Oral Presentation at the 2022 Canadian Chemical Engineering Conference, Vancouver, October 2022

2021

  1. Ramos-Pallares, F. A Generalized Linear Secant-Modulus Based Correlation for the Prediction of Compressed Liquid Density, Oral Presentation at the 2021 Canadian Chemical Engineering Conference, October 2021

2016-2020

  1. Ramos-Pallares, F., Yarranton, H. W. Extending the Modified Regular Solution Model to Predict Component Partitioning to the Asphaltene-Rich Phase, Oral Presentation at the 20th International Conference on Petroleum Phase Behavior and Fouling, Kanazawa, Japan, June 2019
  2. Ramos-Pallares, F., Yarranton, H. W. Extension of the Modified Regular Solution Model to Crude Oils Characterized from a Distillation Assay, Poster Presentation at the 20th International Conference on Petroleum Phase Behavior and Fouling, Kanazawa, Japan, June 2019
  3. Ramos-Pallares, F., Yarranton, H. W. A Regular Solution Based Approach for Modelling Component Precipitation from n-Paraffin Diluted Heavy Oils, Poster Presentation at the International Conference on Properties and Phase Equilibria for Product and Process Design, PPEPPD, Vancouver, Canada, May 2019
  4. Yarranton, H.W, Ramos-Pallares, F.; Taylor, S.D. The Expanded Fluid Concept for Transport Property Correlations, Oral Presentation at the 17th American Institute of Chemical Engineers Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, USA, June 2017
  5. Ramos-Pallares, F.; Schoeggl, F.F.; Taylor, S.D.; Yarranton, H.W. Expanded Fluid Based Thermal Conductivity Model for Hydrocarbons and Crude Oils, Poster Presentation at the 18th International Conference on Petroleum Phase Behavior and Fouling, Le Havre, France, June 2017
  6. Ramos-Pallares, F.; Lin, H.; Taylor, S.D.; Satyro, M.A.; Yarranton, H.W. Predicting the Viscosity of Characterized Crude Oils, Oral Presentation at the. 16th American Institute of Chemical Engineers Annual Meeting, San Francisco, USA, November 2016
  7. Ramos-Pallares, F.; Schoeggl, F.F.; Taylor, S.D.; Yarranton, H.W. The Generalized Walther Model for The Prediction of Viscosity of Characterized Oils, Poster Presentation at the 17th International Conference on Petroleum Phase Behavior and Fouling, Elsinore, Denmark, June 2016
  8. Ramos-Pallares, F.; Schoeggl, F.F.; Taylor, S.D.; Satyro, M.A.; Yarranton, H.W. “Predicting the Viscosity of Characterized Oils and Cuts Using the Expanded Fluid Correlation”, Oral Presentation at the 65th Canadian Chemical Engineering Conference, Calgary, Canada, October 2015Ramos-Pallares, F.; Schoeggl, F.F.; Taylor, S.D.; Yarranton, H.W. Expanded Fluid Viscosity Prediction for Heavy Oil and Bitumen Characterized from Distillation Assays, Poster Presentation at the 16th International Conference on Petroleum Phase Behavior and Fouling, Cancun, Mexico, June 2015
  9. Ramos-Pallares, F.; Schoeggl, F.F.; Taylor, S.D.; Yarranton, H.W. Viscosity Prediction of Diluted Crude Oils Using the Expanded Fluid Model, Poster Presentation at the 16th International Conference on Petroleum Phase Behavior and Fouling, Cancun, Mexico, June 2015
  10. Ramos-Pallares, F.; Marriott, R. A.; Yarranton, H. W. Viscosity of Heavy Oil/Solvent Mixtures and Distillation cuts, Invited Talk at the Alberta Sulphur Research Ltd. Annual Meeting 2014, Calgary, Canada, January 2014
By Francisco Ramos, ago

Thermodynamics & Thermophysical Properties Research Group

The Thermodynamics and Thermophysical Properties (TTP) Research Group is a young research group in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The group leader is Prof. Francisco Ramos-Pallares.

The group mainly focuses on the study of the phase behaviour and properties of complex systems including mixtures of polar components, electrolytes and polymers. We combine experimental data collection, modelling and simulation to address research and industrial challenges. The goal is to advance in the understanding of these complex systems to develop accurate models for engineering applications in process and product design

We are always looking for new challenges/collaborations. Feel free to contact us.

By Francisco Ramos, ago

Teaching

Lakehead University

Undergraduate Courses

  • Carbon Capture and Storage (ECHE 0334)
  • Unit Operations Lab (ECHE 2555)
  • Laboratory Mass Transfer Separations (ECHE 3438)
  • Reactor Eng. & Process Control Lab (ECHE 4231)
  • Thermophysical Properties of Materials (ECHE 0334)

Graduate Courses

  • Advanced Thermodynamics (ECHE 5655)
  • Advanced Reaction Engineering (ECHE 5654)

University of Calgary

  • Phase Behaviour of Reservoir Fluids (ENCH 619.47)

By Francisco Ramos, ago