Mengmeng Cui

Research Scientists (RS)

Research Scientist 2022-... Postdoctoral Fellow 2020-2021

Current

Location:

Building 3, Level 4, Area 3, Workspace: 4287-WS12

Social Profile:

Biography

I earned a BE and PhD in Oil and Gas Storage and Transportation Engineering from Southwest Petroleum University (China) in 2011 and 2016, respectively. Since July 2016, I have served as the Managing Editor of Petroleum, an international academic journal sponsored by Southwest Petroleum University. As a Research Scientist, my expertise includes pore-scale modeling of multiphase flow in porous media (CFD), micro-scale thermo-hydro-mechanical coupling simulations of rocks (CFD), process design and optimization with ASPEN HYSYS, and the enhancement of compact heat exchangers using offset strip fins and wavy fins through CFD and MATLAB. My work centers on utilizing advanced computational methods to drive reactor innovation.

Research Interests

My research interests lie in computational particle-fluid dynamic simulations integrated with particle image velocimetry experiments. This approach is applied to the design, modeling, optimization, and scaling (both up and down) of catalytic reactors for crude-to-chemical applications.

Selected Publications

  • Cui, M., Kulkarni, S., Wagner, S., Berger-Karin, C., Nagy, A., Castaño, P., Hydrodynamic Characteristics of an Internal Recycle Berty Catalytic Reactor in the Batch/Continuous or Packed/Fluidized Bed Modes, ACS Eng. Au, In Press, DOI: 10.1021/acsengineeringau.1c00026. Open Access.
  • Cui, M., & Song, R. (2021). Comprehensive performance investigation and optimization of a plate-fin heat exchanger with wavy fins. Thermal Science, In Press, DOI: 10.2298/TSCI210718322C.
  • Song, R., & Cui, M.* (2019). Single-and multi-objective optimization of a plate-fin heat exchanger with offset strip fins adopting the genetic algorithm. Applied Thermal Engineering, 113881. DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2019.113881.
  • Song, R., Cui, M.*, & Liu, J. (2017). A correlation for heat transfer and flow friction characteristics of the offset strip fin heat exchanger. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 115, 695-705. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2017.08.054.
  • Song, R., Cui, M.*, & Liu, J. (2017). Single and multiple objective optimization of a natural gas liquefaction process. Energy, 124, 19-28. DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2017.02.073. 

Education

  • PhD, Oil and Gas Storage and Transportation Engineering, Southwest Petroleum University, China, 2016
  • Bachelor of Engineering, Oil and Gas Storage and Transportation Engineering, Southwest Petroleum University, China, 2011
  • Bachelor of Arts, English (Double degree), Southwest Petroleum University, China, 2011

Professional Profile

  • 2022-Now, Research scientist, KAUST (Saudi Arabia)
  • 2020-2021, Postdoctoral research fellow, KAUST (Saudi Arabia)
  • 2016-2021, Assistant research fellow, Southwest Petroleum University (China)

Awards

  • Excellent editor for Science-technology Journal of Sichuan Province, 2019.
  • Presidential scholarship of Southwest Petroleum University, 2016.
  • Outstanding PhD graduate of Southwest Petroleum University, 2016. National scholarship for postgraduate students, 2014.

KAUST Affiliations

  • KAUST Catalysis Center (KCC)
  • Division of Physical Science and Engineering (PSE)

Research Interests Keywords

Computational fluid dynamics Gas-solid reactors Fluidized beds Operando reactors