Portfolio

President of PIM, LLC

Ray Cocco, PhD

Bio

Ray Cocco was with PSRI for 16 years, where he had the role of President and CEO. PSRI is a consortium-based company with 30 member companies headquartered in Canada, France, Finland, Germany, India, Japan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, UK, and the United States. Before PSRI, Ray spent 17 years with The Dow Chemical Company, where he led research and development efforts in numerous particle technology platforms, including the production of WoodStalk (TM, a particleboard made of straw) for Dow BioProducts, the production of vinyl chloride monomer, and RCl oxidation using fluidized beds, the production of hydrocarbon using circulating fluidized beds, the development of polyolefin catalyst for fluidized beds, and in the production of aluminum nitride and silicon carbide ceramic powders using moving bed reactors. Today, Ray teaches at the University of Chicago,  he is a member of the University of Florida Chemical Engineering Advisory Board, Auburn University Chemical Engineering Alumni Committee, University College at London’s CNIE, as well as on the editorial boards for Powder and Bulk Engineering and Powder Technology. Ray is the 2023 recipient of the AIChE PTF Lifetime Achievement Award. He was the past chair of the AIChE Particle Technology Forum (Group 3), a past member of the AIChE Chemical Technology Operating Council (CTOC), and is currently an AIChE Fellow. Ray was also the chairman of the World Congress in Particle Technology VIII in April 2018. He has over 80 publications, three book chapters, several patents, numerous invited presentations, and consults for industry, national labs, and universities regularly. 


Dr. Ray Cocco

President

Particles in Motion, LLC


AIChE Fellow

B.S. in Ch.E. at University of Florida

Ph.D. in Ch.E. at Auburn University


Resume

Skills

  • Corporate leadership
  • Executive and board team leadership
  • Market analysis
  • Budgeting and financing
  • Team focus and building
  • Six Sigma and Design for Six Sigma Black Belt
  • Expertise with Mathematica, Fortran, R, C, C++, Fluent, Barracuda, Star CCM+, ML
  • Strong verbal communications


Experience

  • Particles in Motion, LLC
  • President, current
  • University of Chicago
  • Lecturer - Responsible and Ethical Project Management
  • Particulate Solid Research Inc. | Chicago, IL
  • President and CEO, 2010 to 2023
  • Vice President, 2006 to 2010
  • The Dow Chemical Company | Midland, MI
  • Technical Research Leader (Final), 1989 to 2006


Education

  • Auburn University | Auburn, AL
  • PhD in Chemical Engineering, Spring 1989
  • University of Florida | Gainesville, FL
  • BS in Chemical Engineering, 1982


Awards

  • AIChE PTF Lifetime Achievement Award, 2023
  • AIChE Fellow, 2019
  • Particle Technology Forum Service Award, 2016
  • University of Florida Alumni Excellence in Service Award, 2015
  • Special Recognition Awards at Dow, 1995, 1997, 1999
  • AVS Award for Outstanding Graduate Student in Southeast, 1986
  • Phi Lambda Upsilon Award, 1984
  • Alumni Scholarship, 1982
  • J.C. Biery Scholarship, 1981


Committees

  • Chair of the World Congress in Particle Technology in Orlando, Florida, 2018.
  • CTOC Member for AIChE, 2014 to 2017
  • Advisory Committee, Chair and  cochair for the AIChE Frontiers in Particle Science and Technology Conferences, 
  • Member of the International Fluidization Conference 
  • Editorial Advisory Board for Powder and Bulk Engineering, Powder Technology 
  • Chair and cochair of the AIChE Particle Technology Forum, 2008 to 2011
  • Chair and cochair of the AIChE Particle Technology Forum Group 3B, 2004 to 2007
  • Board of Advisors for University College London’s Centre for Nature Inspired Engineering, 2014 to present
  • Board of Advisors for Auburn University’s Departments of Chemical Engineering, 2014 to present
  • Board of Advisors for University of Florida Department of Chemical Engineering, 2010 to present


Peer Reviewed Publications

  1. Chew, J.W., Cocco, R.A., Fluidized Bed Scale-Up for Sustainability Challenges. 2. New Pathway, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, (2024) https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.4c00421.
  2. Cocco, R., Chew, J-W. Fluidized Bed Scale-Up for Sustainability Challenges. 1. Tomorrow’s Tools, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 63 (2024) 2516-2533.
  3. LaMarche, C.Q., Freireich, B., Cocco, R., Chew, J-W, Understanding drag Part 2: Sub-grid drag laws and model validation, Powder Technology, 2023, in prep. 
  4. LaMarche, C.Q., Freireich, B., Cocco, R., Chew, J-W, Understanding drag Part 1: Well-established drag limits and homogeneous drag laws, Chemical Engineering Journal, 471 (2023) 144541.
  5. Cocco, R., Chew, J-W, 50 Yyears of Geldart classification, Powder Technology, 428 (2023) 118861.
  6. Issangya, A.S., R. Cocco, J.W. Chew, State-of-the-art review of fluidized bed stripper internals, Chemical Engineering Journal, 452 (2023) 139290.
  7. Issangya, A.S. Karri, S.B.R., Cocco, R.A., Knowlton, T., Chew, J.W., Solid flux profiles of Geldart Group A particles in high-velocity circulating fluidized bed riser, Can. J. Chem. Eng., 2022, 1-13.
  8. Cocco, R., S. Dhodapkar, Basic concepts in pneumatic conveying, Processing Magazine, March (2022) 22-26.
  9. Chew, J-W., W.C.Q. LaMarche, R.A. Cocco, 100 years of scaling up fluidized bed and circulating fluidized bed reactors, Powder Technology, 409 (2022). 
  10. LaMarche, C. Q., Cocco, R., Karri, S.B., Dahl, S.R., Hrenya, C.M. "Experimental measurements of gas-particle flows in large-scale strippers." Chemical Engineering Science 264 (2022) 118087.
  11. Bailey, K, A. Puraite, R. Kales, S.B.R. Karri, R. Cocco, B. Freireich, C. LaMarche, R. Aglave, G. Agegnehu, J.W. Chew, Hydrodynamics of Geldart Groups A, B, and D Materials during Jet Cup Attrition, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 61 (2022) 9879-9888.
  12. Cocco, R. Dhodapkar, S.. "Basic concepts in pneumatic conveying." Processing Magazine March 2022: 22-26.
  13. Cocco, R.A., J.W. Chew, Effect of polydispersity on bubble characteristics of Geldart Group B particles, Chemical Engineering Journal, 420 (2021) 129880..
  14. Patel, A.M., R.A. Cocco, J.W. Chew, Key influence of clusters of Geldart Group B particles in a circulating fluidized bed riser, Chemical Engineering Journal. 413 (2021) 127386. 
  15. Chew, J.W., Cocco, R.A., Fast versus turbulent fluidization of Geldart Group B particles, AIChE J. (2021), in press.
  16. Morin, M., L. Raynal, S.B.R. Karri, R. Cocco, Effect of solid loading and inlet aspect ratio on cyclone efficiency and pressure drop: Experimental study and CFD simulations, Powder Technology. 377 (2021) 174–185.
  17. Dhodapkar, S., Theuerkauf, J., Cocco, R.. "Understanding Attrition in Solids Processing." Chemical Engineering: October 2021: 22-29.
  18. Jurtz, N,., Kruggel-Emden, H., Baran, O., Aglave, R., Cocco, R.A., Kraume, M., Impact of Contact Scaling and Drag Calculations on the Accuracy of Coarse-Grained Discrete Element Method, Chemical Engineering & Technology, 42 (2020), 1-13..
  19. Chew, J.W., Cocco, R.A., Do particle-related parameters influence circulating fluidized bed (CFB) riser flux and elutriation?, Chemical Engineering Science, 227 (2020) 115935
  20. Chew, J.W., R.A. Cocco, Application of machine learning methods to understand and predict circulating fluidized bed riser flow characteristics, Chemical Engineering Science. 217 (2020) 115503.
  21. Fullmer, W.D., Higham, J.E., LaMarche, C.Q., Issangya, A., Cocco, R.A., Hrenya, C.M., “Comparison of Velocimetry Methods for Horizontal Air Jets in a Semicircular Fluidized Bed of Geldart Group D Particles,” Powder Technology, 359 (2020) 323-330.
  22. Fullmer, W.D., LaMarche, C.Q., Issangya, A., Liu P., Cocco, R., C.M. Hrenya, Experimental data for code validation: Horizontal air jets in a semicircular fluidized bed of Geldart Group D particles, AIChE Journal. 64 (2018) 2351–2363.
  23. Anantharaman, A., Cocco, R.A., Chew, J.W., Evaluation of correlations for minimum fluidization velocity (U) in gas-solid fluidization, Powder Technology. 323 (2018) 454–485.
  24. Cocco, R.A., S.R. Karri, T.M. Knowlton, J. Findlay, T. Gauthier, J.W. Chew, et al., Intrusive Probes in Riser Applications, AIChE Journal, 63 (12) December 2017, pp 5361-5374.
  25. Cocco, R., Particle segregation in bulk solids, Powder and Bulk Engineering, pp. 1-3, Oct 2017.
  26. Cocco, R., W. D. Fullmer, P. Liu, and C. M. Hrenya, “CFD-DEM: Modeling the small to understand the large,” Chemical Engineering Progress, August (2017). 
  27. Cocco, R., Understanding dilute-phase pneumatic conveying, Powder and Bulk Engineering, pp 1-6, Jan 2017.
  28. Cocco, R., Issangya, A., Karri, S.B.R., Freeman, T., Jaeger, H., Knowlton, T., Small-scale Particle Interactions are Having Significant Effects on Global Bed Behavior, Kona Powder and Particle Journal. 34 (2017) 1–13.
  29. Cahyadi, A., Anantharaman, A., Yang S, Karri, S.B.R, Findlay, J., Cocco, R.A., Review of Cluster Characteristics in Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) Risers, Chemical Engineering Sciences, 158 (2017) 70-95.
  30. Cocco, R., Six degrees of fluidization, Powder and Bulk Engineering, pp 1-5, Oct 2016
  31. Cocco, R., Particle flow in hoppers, Powder and Bulk Engineering. pp. 1–4, Jan 2016.
  32. Tebianian, S., Dubrawski, K., Ellis, N., Cocco, R.A., Hays, R., Karri, S.B.R., Leadbeater, T.W., Parker, D.J., Chaouki, J., Jafari, R., Garcia-Trinanes, P., Seville, J.P.K., Grace, J.R., “Investigation of particle velocity in FCC gas-fluidized beds based on different measurement techniques,” Chemical Engineering Science, 127 pp. 310-322, February 2015.
  33. Tebianian S, Ahmadi Motlagh AH, Vashisth S, Cocco RA, Ellis N, Hays R, Karri SBR and Grace JR, Extending the comparison of voidage measurement and modeling techniques in fluidized beds, in Circulating Fluidized Bed Technology 11, ed. J Li, F Wei and XJ Bao, Chemistry Industry Press, Beijing, pp. 137-142 (2014).
  34. Issangya, A.S., Karri, S.B.R., Knowlton, T., Cocco, R., Use of pressure to mitigate gas bypassing in fluidized beds of FCC catalyst particles, Powder Technology. (2015) 1–9.
  35. Cahyadi, A., Neumayer, A., Hrenya, C.M., Cocco, R.A., Jia, W-C., “Comparative study of transport disengaging height (TDH) correlations in gas-solid fluidization, “ Powder Technology, 275, pp. 220-238, February 2015.
  36. Cocco, R., Interparticle forces in powder technology, Powder and Bulk Engineering. pp. 1–3, 2015
  37. Chew, J-W, Cahyadi, A., Hrenya, C.M., Karri, S.B.R., Cocco, R.A, “Review of entrainment correlations in gas–solid fluidization,” Chemical Engineering Journal, vol. 260, no. C, pp. 152–171, January 2015.
  38. Cocco, R., Diplegs: More on getting down with particles in fluidized beds, Powder and Bulk Engineering. (2015) 1–2.
  39. Cocco, R., “Getting down with particles in fluidized beds,” Powder and Bulk Engineering, vol. 31, pp. 1-3, October 2014. 
  40. Cocco, R., Karri, S.B.R., Knowlton, T., Avoid Fluidization Pitfalls, Chemical Engineering Progress Dec 2014, 1–6.
  41. Cocco, R., Karri, S.B.R., Knowlton, T., Introduction to Fluidization, Chemical Engineering Progress. Nov 2014, 1–9.
  42. Panda, R., Shadle, L.J., Shahnam, M., Cocco, R., Issangya, A., Spenik, J., Ludlow, J.C, Gopalan, B., Shaffer, F., Syamlal, M., Guenter, C., Karri, S.B.R., Knowlton, T., “Challenge Problem I: Model validation of circulating fluidized beds,” Powder Technology, vol 258, pp 1-22, 2014.
  43. Cocco, R., “The dangers of particle size assumptions,” Powder and Bulk Engineering, pp. 1-3, May 2014.
  44. Cocco, R., “Pressure’s role in fluidized bed performance,” Powder and Bulk Engineering, vol. 28, pp. 22-25, February 2014.
  45. Cocco, R., “The simplicity of reverse-flow cyclones” Powder and Bulk Engineering, vol. 29, pp. 1-4, October 2013.
  46. Issangya, A.S., Karri, S.B.R., Knowlton, T., Cocco, R., Effects of bed diameter, baffles, fines content and operation conditions on pressure fluctuations in fluidized bed of FCC catalyst, Fluidization XIV (2013) 1–9.
  47. Cocco, R., “Particle Technology - CFD modeling made easy,” Powder and Bulk Engineering, 27 (4), pp.45-55, April 2013.
  48. F. Shaffer, Goplan, B., Breault R.W., Cocco, R., Karri, S.B.R., Hays, R., Knowlton, T., “High speed imaging of particle flow fields in CFB risers, Powder Technology, vol 75, pp. 1-14, 2013.
  49. Jennifer McMillan, Frank Shaffer, Balaji Gopalan, Jia Wei Chew, Christine Hrenya, Roy Hays, S.B. Reddy Karri, Ray Cocco,, “Particle cluster dynamics during fluidization,” Chemical Engineering Science, 2013, vol. 100, pp. 39-52.
  50. C. B. Solnordal, K. J. Reid, L. P. Hackman, R. Cocco, and J. Findlay, “Modeling coke distribution above the freeboard of a FLUID COKING reactor,” Ind. Eng. Chem. Res, 2012, vol. 51, no. 47, pp. 15337–15350.
  51. R. Cocco, S. B. R. Karri, T. Knowlton, B. Gopalan, F. Shaffer, J. W. Chew, and C. M. Hrenya, “Particle and particle cluster hydrodynamics in a circulating fluidized bed riser,” presented at the Fluidized Bed Combustion XXI, Napoli, Italy, 2012, vol. 21, pp. 1–8.
  52. R. Cocco, “Understanding equipment erosion,” Powder and Bulk Engineering, vol. 26, pp. 18–21, Oct. 2012.
  53. J. W. Chew, R. Hays, J. G. Findlay, T. M. Knowlton, S. B. R. Karri, R. A. Cocco, and C. M. Hrenya, “Reverse core-annular flow of Geldart Group B particles in risers,” Powder Technology, vol. 221, pp. 1–12, May 2012.
  54. R. Cocco, “What's behind particle clustering?,” Powder Bulk Engineering, vol. 26, pp. 18–22, Feb. 2012.
  55. [J. W. Chew, R. Hays, J. G. Findlay, T. M. Knowlton, S. B. R. Karri, R. A. Cocco, and C. M. Hrenya, “Cluster characteristics of Geldart Group B particles in a pilot-scale CFB riser. I. Monodisperse systems,” Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 68, no. 1, pp. 72–81, Jan. 2012.
  56. J. W. Chew, R. Hays, J. G. Findlay, T. M. Knowlton, S. B. R. Karri, R. A. Cocco, and C. M. Hrenya, “Cluster characteristics of Geldart group B particles in a pilot-scale CFB riser. II. Polydisperse systems,” Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 68, no. 1, pp. 82–93, Jan. 2012.
  57. J. W. Chew, D. M. Parker, R. A. Cocco, and C. M. Hrenya, “Cluster characteristics of continuous size distributions and binary mixtures of Group B particles in dilute riser flow,” Chemical Engineering Journal, vol. 178, pp. 348–358, Dec. 2011.
  58. J. W. Chew, R. Hays, J. G. Findlay, T. M. Knowlton, S. B. R. Karri, R. A. Cocco, and C. M. Hrenya, “Impact of material property and operating conditions on mass flux profiles of monodisperse and polydisperse Group B particles in a CFB riser,” Powder Technology, vol. 214, no. 1, pp. 89–98, Nov. 2011.
  59. J. W. Chew, R. Hays, J. G. Findlay, S. B. R. Karri, T. M. Knowlton, R. A. Cocco, and C. M. Hrenya, “Species segregation of binary mixtures and a continuous size distribution of Group B particles in riser flow,” Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 66, no. 20, pp. 4595–4604, Oct. 2011.
  60. Cocco, “Shape up,” Powder and Bulk Engineering, vol. 25, no. 2, pp. 14–17, Feb. 2011.
  61. A.S. Issangya, Karri, S.B.R.., Knowlton, T.M., Cocco, R., “Effect of gas bypassing in deep beds on cyclone dipleg operation” in n Circulating Fluidized Bed 10 (Ed. Knowlton, T.M.), Sunriver, Oregon (2011), Paper 5-6.
  62. Karri, S.B.R., Cocco, R., Knowlton, T.M., “Erosion in second stage cyclones: effects of cyclone length and outlet gas velocity” in Circulating Fluidized Bed 10 (Ed. Knowlton, T.M.), Sunriver, Oregon (2011), Paper 5-2.
  63. R. Cocco, R. Hays, S. Karri, and T. Knowlton, “The effects of cohesive forces on catalyst entrainment in fluidized bed reactors,” Advances in Fluid Catalytic Cracking: Testing, Characterization and Environmental Regulations, vol. 129, pp. 155–171, Dec. 2010.
  64. R. Cocco, “What is density in particle technology,” Powder and Bulk Engineering, vol. 24, no. 10, pp. 16–21, Oct. 2010.
  65. R. Cocco, “The danger of particle size assumptions,” Powder and Bulk Engineering, pp. 14–18, Jun. 2010.
  66. R. Cocco, Y. Arrington, R. Hays, J. Findlay, S.B.R. Karri, and T. Knowlton, “Jet cup attrition testing,” Powder Technology, vol. 200, pp. 224–233, 2010.
  67. R. Cocco, F. Shaffer, R. Hays, S. Karri, and T. Knowlton, “Particle clusters in and above fluidized beds,” Powder Technology, vol. 203, pp. 3–11, 2010.
  68. R. A. Cocco, P. Cai, E. B. Foger, S. A. Smith, and P. P. Listak, “Fluidized Bed Sparger,” U.S. Patent US2008/19334014-Aug.-2009.
  69. R. Hays, S. Karri, R. Cocco, and T. Knowlton, “Small Particles Cluster Formation in Fluidized Beds and its Effect on Entrainment,” Circulating Fluidized Bed 9, vol. 9, pp. 1–5, Jan. 2008.
  70. N. Vásquez, K. Jacob, R. Cocco, S. Dhodapkar, and G. Klinzing, “Visual analysis of particle bouncing and its effect on pressure drop in dilute phase pneumatic conveying,” Powder Technology, vol. 179, no. 3, pp. 170–175, 2008.
  71. R. Cocco and P. Cai, “Jet Hydrodynamics Around Fluidized Bed Spargers,” World Congress in Particle Technology 5, vol. 5, pp. 1–7, Mar. 2006.
  72. R. Cocco and K. Jacob, “Understanding Gas Residence Times in Reverse Flow Cyclones,” World Congress in Particle Technology 5, vol. 5, pp. 1–7, Mar. 2006.
  73. Rice, R.B., Jovanovic, Z., Harner, R., Cocco, R., “In-situ analysis of bubble hydrodynamics in a fluidized bed reactor at operating conditions,” AIChE Preprint, AIChE Annual Meeting, San Francisco, November 16-21, 2003
  74. Cocco, R.A., “Circulating fluidized bed reactors: Basic concepts and hydrodynamics,” in Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing and Design, Anthony, R.G., McKetta, J.J., eds. Marcel Dekker, New York, 2002, p. 1.
  75. Molnar, M., Mallo, T., Sinclair, J., Hook, B., Cocco, R., AIChE Symposium Series, 313 (1996) 6.
  76. Cocco, R.A., Cleveland, J., Harner, R., Chrisman, R., “Simultaneous in-situ determination of particle loadings and velocities in a gaseous medium,” AIChE Symposium Series, 308 (1995) 147.
  77. Cocco, R.A., Tatarchuk, B.J., “Desorption-induced recombination-cationization adduct formation for metal-adsorbate systems,” Surface Science Letters, 227 (1990) L91.
  78. Cocco, R.A., “Electronic and structural modifications of ruthenium catalysts by sulfur,” Dissertation (1989).
  79. Cocco, R.A., Tatarchuk, B.J., “Effects of presulfidization on the selectivity and surface structure of ruthenium catalysts,” Lagmuir 5 (1989) 1309.
  80. Cocco, R.A., Papageorgeoupolos, C., Tatarchuk, B.J., “Static SIMS measurements during explosive desorption: desorption-induced recombination and cataionization,” Surface Science, 218 (1989) 167.
  81. Cocco, R.A., Tatarchuk, B.J., “Secondary ion formation mechanisms for thiophene on clean and sulfur precovered Ru(0001),” Surface Science, 218 (1989) 147.
  82. Cocco, R.A., Tatarchuk, B.J., “Thiophene adsorption and decomposition on clean and sulfur precovered Ru(0001),” Surface Science, 218 (1989) 127.
  83. Kuo, Y.J., Cocco, R.A., Tatarchuk, B.J., “Hydrogenation and hydrodesulfurizaton over sulfided ruthenium II. Impact of surface phase behavior on activity and selectivity,” Journal of Catalysis, 112 (1989) 250.
  84. Cocco, R.A., Tatarchuk, B.J., “Adsorption and reaction mechanisms of thiophene over sulfided ruthenium catalyst,” Microstructure and Property of Catalyst, MRS Symposium Proceedings (Eds. Treacy, M.M.J., Thomas, J.M., and White, J.M.) 3 (1987) 335.
  85. Kuo, Y.J., Cocco, R.A., Tatarchuk, B.J. “Mechanism for the promotion and poisoning of ruthenium catalyst by sulfur,” Petroleum Chemistry Preprint, ACS, 31 (1986) 258.


Patents and Patent Applications

  1. “Procédé et réacteur de combustion en boucle chimique comportant une fluidisation étagée,” R.A. Cocco, S.B. Reddy Karri, T.M. Knowlton, French Priority Patent Application No. FR2013648. 
  2. “Tapered Fluidized Bed Reactor and Process for its use,” J.V. Bucci, R.A. Cocco, M.E. Dehtiar, P.J. Harder, S.B.R. Karri, T.M. Knowlton, M.J. Molnar, US Patent 10265671, April 23, 2019.
  3. “Circulating fluidized bed with moving bed downcomers and gas sealing between reactors,” Fan, L.S., Fanxing, L., Wang, F., Tong, A.S., Karri, S.B.R., Findlay, J.G., Knowlton, T.M., Cocco, R.A., US Patent 10,010,847, February 6, 2014.
  4. “Fluidized bed sparger,” Cocco, R.A., Ping, C., Foger, E.B., Smith, S.A., Listak, P.P., 20100080743, April 1, 2010.
  5. “Dehydrogenation of an alkyl aromatic compound and catalyst regeneration in a fluidized bed reactor,” Cocco, Raymond A., Castor, William M., EP1242344 and WO20010441
  6. “Method and apparatus for determining flow rates and solids concentrations in multiphase streams,” Cocco, Raymond A., Chrisman, Ray W., Cleveland, John, A., Jr., US Patent 5365326.




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