DESCRIPTION :

"Interdisciplinary approaches are the strongest tool to solve any engineering or scientific problem."

Rahul Kumar Soni is a Scientist in Department of Process Modeling and Instrumentation at CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, Bhubaneswar. He has been engaged in the research field of Discrete Element Method (DEM), Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and their coupling. Rahul is a 2012 batch Mineral Engineering pass-out from Department of Fuel and Mineral Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (ISM), Dhanbad. During his engineering studies he was also a Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY) [English: Junior Scientist Promotion Scheme] fellow awarded by Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore and funded by Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India.

His research interests lies in the area of analysis and optimization of unit operations of mineral processing with the help of advance simulators, understanding particulate dynamics by Discrete Element Method (DEM) and fluid dynamics with the help of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Both these provide extended capability to serve the industry by adding better economic value to resources, reducing retention time and man power. The industries often demand complicated simulation environment of simultaneous flow of particles and fluid, even coupled with chemical reaction kinetics. Therefore, he is working on developing coupled modules for running CFD-DEM simulations that can also estimate the reaction kinetics. Rahul has actively communicated modelling and simulation based research outputs to number of industries such as TATA Steel R&D and National Aluminium Company (NALCO) to address their industrial concerns.  He is working on a number of government and CSIR funded projects to design and develop new products and processes. The development of novels designs of stirrers for the fine grinding of Indian ores  in the Verti mills is one such example.

• March 2013 to December 2015: Worked as Scientist (Fellow) at  CSIR-Institute of Minerals & Materials Technology for the period of 01-03-2013 to 19-12-2015 in the research area of modeling and simulation.
• June 2015 to June 2019: Scientist in Process Modeling & Instrumentation Department, CSIR-Institute of Minerals & Materials Technology in the area of modeling and simulation.
• June 2019 onwards: Senior Scientist in Process Engineering & Instrumentation Department, CSIR-Institute of Minerals & Materials Technology in the area of modeling and simulation.

• Computational modelling in Mineral, Chemical & Metallurgical Engineering
• Particle Breakage and Bulk Flow Studies with CFD-DEM Coupling
• Iron ore reduction modelling, utilization of low-grade iron ores, fine/ultra-fine grinding
• AI/ML, PINN, Data Reconciliation
• Interpretation, analysis, optimization, design, and development of unit operations

SCI Journal Publications:
1. Rahul K. Soni, S. Jaiswal, S. Dash, C. Eswaraiah, CFD and DEM numerical modelling of industrial vibrating desliming screen for performance optimization and minimal misplacement, Powder Technology, 426, 118630, Aug 2023, doi 10.1016/j.powtec.2023.118630. IF: 5.64.
2. Rahul K. Soni, S. Dash, C. Eswaraiah. Non-linear steady-state data reconciliation: Theoretical perspective and practical scenarios, The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, 101(6), 3094-3107, June 2023, doi 10.1002/cjce.24794. IF: 2.5.
3. T. Santosh, C. Eswaraiah, S.I. Angadi, S.K. Tripathy, Rahul K. Soni, D.S. Rao, An Energy Efficient Advanced Comminution Process to Treat Low-Grade Ferrochrome Slag Using High-Pressure Grinding Rolls, Energies, 16(7), 3139-3153, March 2023, doi 10.3390/en16073139. IF: 3.252.
4. Rahul K. Soni, C. Eswaraiah, S. Tripathy, M. Bose, P.S. Goswami. Review on the chemical reduction modelling of hematite iron ore to magnetite in fluidized bed reactor, Reviews in Chemical Engineering, 1-44, Dec 2022, doi 10.1515/revce-2022-0021. IF: 8.74.
5. T. Santosh, C. Eswaraiah, Rahul K. Soni, S. Kumar. Size reduction performance evaluation of HPGR/ball mill and HPGR/stirred mill for PGE bearing chromite ore, Advanced Powder Technology, 34(1),  103907-103918, Jan 2023, doi 10.1016/j.apt.2022.103907. IF: 4.84.
6. T. Santosh, Rahul K. Soni, C. Eswaraiah, S. Kumar, D.S. Rao, R. Venugopal. Modelling and application of stirred mill in coarse grinding for PGE bearing chromite ores, Separation Science & Technology, 58(1), 149-163, Jan 2023, 10.1080/01496395.2022.2075754. IF: 2.799.
7. T. Santosh, Rahul K. Soni, C. Eswaraiah, S. Kumar. Application of artificial neural network method to predict the breakage properties of PGE bearing chromite ore, Advanced Powder Technology, 33(3), 103450, March 2022, doi 10.1016/j.apt.2022.103450. IF: 4.84.
8. Rahul K. Soni, R.K. Dwari. DEM numerical studies on the design and efficiency of the continuous operating triboelectric separator, Advanced Powder Technology, 31(4), 1624-1632, April 2020, doi 10.1016/j.apt.2020.02.005. IF: 4.84.
9. T. Santosh, Rahul K. Soni, C. Eswaraiah, D.S. Rao, R. Venugopal, Optimization of stirred mill parameters for fine grinding of PGE earing chromite ore, Particulate Science & Technology, 39(6), 663-675, July 2020, doi 10.1080/02726351.2020.1795016. IF: 2.628.
10. C. Eswaraiah, Rahul K. Soni, S.K. Tripathy, L.O. Filippov, Particle classification optimization of a circulating air classifier, Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy Review, 40(5), 314-322, Aug 2019, doi 10.1080/08827508.2019.1643340. IF: 4.287.
11. Rahul K. Soni, R. Mohanty, S. Mohanty, B.K. Mishra, Numerical analysis of particles mixing in drum mixers using DEM, Advanced Powder Technology 27(2), 531-540, March 2016, doi 10.1016/j.apt.2016.01.016. IF: 4.84.
12. Rahul K. Soni, C. Eswaraiah, B.K. Mishra, A novel and direct approach for modeling and simulation of impact grinding, Advanced Powder Technology 26(3), 1031-1039, May 2015, doi 10.1016/j.apt.2015.04.009. IF: 4.84.
13. C. Eswaraiah, Rahul K. Soni, Milling and classification of printed circuit boards for material recycling, Particulate Science & Technology 33(6), 659-665, April 2015, doi 10.1080/02726351.2015.1020179. IF: 2.628.
14. R. K. Dwari, S.K. Mohanta, B. Rout, Rahul K. Soni, Studies on the effect of electrode plate position and feed temperature on the tribo-electrostatic separation of high ash Indian coking coal, Advanced Powder Technology, 26 (1) 31-41, Jan 2015, doi 10.1016/j.apt.2014.08.001. IF: 4.84.

International Conferences and seminars:
1. S. Rout, Rahul K. Soni, S.D. Barma, C. Eswaraiah, Beneficiation aspects to improve the quality of Bauxite waste PLK rock, 74th Annual Session of Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers-CHEMCON, 27-30 December, 2021, CSIR-IMMT, Bhubaneswar, India.
2. S. Dash, Rahul K. Soni, S. Mohanty, Data reconciliation for vanadium balance in an Alumina refinery, Proceedings of European Metallurgical Conference (EMC) (ISBN: 978-3-940276-87-2), 1, 5-16, Düsseldor, Germany, 23-26 June 2019, doi 10.6084/m9.figshare.19368848
3. Rahul K. Soni, B.K. Mishra, Understanding size segregation in tumbling mills, Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Discrete Element Methods (DEM’7) (ISBN: 978-9811019258), Dalian, China, Dec 2016, 1153-1168, doi 10.1007/978-981-10-1926-5_120
4. S. Dash, Rahul K. Soni, S. Mohanty, B. K. Mishra, Preliminary CFD studies of a continuous industrial scale fluidized bed roaster, Eleventh International Conference on CFD in the Minerals and Process Industries (ISBN: 9781486306206), CSIRO, Melbourne, Australia, 7-9 Dec, 2015, 1-6, doi 10.6084/m9.figshare.19368806
5. C. Eswaraiah, Rahul K. Soni, S.K. Behera, B.K. Mishra, Analysis of model parameters dependency on breakage characteristics of single particle comminution, International Mineral Processing Congress (IMPC) (ISBN: 81-901714-3-7), New Delhi, Sep 2012, doi 10.6084/m9.figshare.19368719
6. Rahul K. Soni, A. Mishra, J. Mangla, Development of a low cost peanut decorticator machine for use in developing countries, Synergy and Technical Development International Conferences, Gödöllö, Hungary, Aug 2009, doi 10.6084/m9.figshare.19368950

Book Chapters:
1.  S. Rout, S.D. Barma, Rahul K. Soni, P.K. Baskey, C. Eswaraiah, D.S. Rao, Beneficiation aspects to improve the quality of bauxite mining waste PLK rock, Sustainable Chemical, Mineral and Material Processing, pp. 189-201, 2023, ISBN 978-981-19-7263-8, DOI 10.1007/978-981-19-7264-5

1.  Agitators of stirred mills for fine and ultrafine grinding applications, R. Soni, S. Rout, S. Das, C. Eswaraiah, IP India, App. No.202111053719 on 18/11/2021.
2.  Development of A Low Cost Peanut Decorticator for use in Developing Countries, A. Mishra, R. Soni, J. Mangla. IP India office, App. No. 1422/Kol/2009, the published (U/S 11A) on 02/09/2016.
3.  A Self-Automated Mechanical Solar Tracker Device, A. Soni, R. Soni, IP India office, App. No. 1158/MUM/2012, the published (U/S 11A) on 06/12/2013.
4.  Development of An Improved Bottles/Cans Filling Machine, R. Soni, K. D. Pany. Indian Patent No. 283831.

1. Leading the project titled “Development of CFD-DEM coupling module by inclusion of gaseous combustion modelling for optimization of iron ore reduction-roasting process”, role: Principal investigator, duration: April 2024-2026, funding agency: CSIR, India
2. Leading the project titled “Continuous extraction of magnetite reduced from the low-grade iron ores in the fluidized bed reactors for the higher productivity”, role: Principal investigator, duration: 2022-2025, funding agency: SERB, DST India.
3. Led the project titled “Development of process flowsheet for the recovery of Individual heavy minerals from the mineral sand plant tailings”, role: Principal investigator, duration: 2022, funding agency: Hindustan Zinc Ltd. (HZL) and Ministry of Mines, Govt. of India.
4. Worked on project titled “Characterization and Beneficiation of Low-grade Bauxite Ores from Gujarat”, role: Mathematica modelling and optimization of process, duration: December 2021 to July 2022, funding agency: Geological Survey of India (GSI), India.
5. Led the project titled “Modelling and optimization of desliming screen performance at coal washeries for higher productivity at minimal displacement”, role: Principal investigator, duration: 2018-2020, funding agency: TATA Steel R&D, Jamshedpur.
6. Lead the project titled “In-house development and fabrication of stirred mills for energy-efficient processing of low grade ores”, role: Principal investigator”, duration: 2018-2020, funding agency: CSIR, Govt. of India.
7. Co-Lead the project titled “Feasibility study on combustion of Petcoke-coal fuel mix in a Fluidized bed reactor (FBR) and reduction of emission through appropriate dosages of chemical reagents during combustions”, role: Co-Principal investigator”, duration: 2020-2022, funding agency: CSIR, Govt. of India.
8. Led the software development in project titled “Data Reconciliation for Vanadium and Zinc Balance at the Alumina Refinery”, role: Lead the mathematical modelling and software development work, duration: 2017-2018, funding agency: National Aluminium company (NALCO).
9. Worked on project titled “Modeling and optimization of high concentration iron ore fines/concentrate slurry pipelines for Indian iron ore processing industries”, role: Mathematical modelling of concentrated slurry flow, duration: 2017-2020, funding agency, Govt. of India.
10. Worked on the project titled “Energy efficient advanced comminution process to treat low grade Indian ores for energy conservation”, role: Performed grinding studies of material, duration: 2017-2019, funding agency, Govt. of India.

1. JeevNaasI: An electrostatic antiviral spray machine for COVID-19, transferred technology to M/S SupplyZone, Noida and M/S DigiSharp, Nagpur for commercialization.
2. Novel design of agitators for stirred mill for energy efficient grinding of natural mineral and ores being used at CSIR-IMMT for fine and ultrafine grinding.

Disclaimer: The Hindi translation of text is performed using the tools available over internet. The accuracy of the translation is not guaranteed and may not reflect the real sense of the matter. The reader is suggested to take special care with the help of original text in English.