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ARS Home » Plains Area » Mandan, North Dakota » Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory » Docs » Igathi-Research-Expertise

Expertise Areas

  • Biomass and feedstock process engineering
  • Biomass physical properties and quality
  • Biomass storage
  • Postharvest and agricultural process and food engineering
  • Mathematical modeling and numerical simulation
  • Machine vision and computer applications in agricultural engineering
  • LaTeX documentation system for journal articles and extension publications
  • Innovation in research

Current Research

  • Energy beet front end processing for biofuel industry development
  • Affected woody biomass utilization pathways
  • Biomass and bioproducts physical, mechanical, thermal, hydration properties, and quality
  • Machine vision based wool fiber thickness determination and grading
  • Size reduction and separation of biomass
  • Biomass densification and packaging
  • Mechanical preprocessing methods of feedstock
  • Physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of biomass products
  • Machine vision applications for dimensional, size distribution, volume estimation, and grading products
  • Thermal processing and energy densification of biomass
  • Biomass feedstock logistics
  • Economic aspects of biomass preprocessing and delivery

Current and Recent Project Grants

  • Image Processing Based Wool Testing System. 2013-2014. American Wool Council. Total grant: $22,000. Awarded November 2012. PIs: Reid Redden, Igathinathane Cannayen, and Christopher Schauer.
  • Mechanical, thermal, and storage characteristics of biomass. 2012-2013. Specific Cooperative Agreement between USDA-ARS and NDSU. Awarded November 2012. Total grant: $17,000. PI: Igathinathane Cannayen.
  • Flood Affected Wood Biomass Utilization Opportunities in North Dakota. 2013-2014. US Forest Service and Cooperative Forestry Assistance. Awarded September 2012. Total grant: $73,570. PI: Igathinathane Cannayen.
  • Energy Beet Research, Phase II. 2012-2014. Renewable Energy Program, North Dakota Energy Commission. Total grant: $1,000,000. Front End Processing (FEP) component share: $194,972. Awarded January 2012. PI: Lloyd Anderson; FEP lead and Co-PI: Igathinathane Cannayen, and Co-PIs for other project components.
  • Environmental and Economic Consequence of Biomass Feedstock Production in The Northern Great Plains. 2008-2013. Specific Cooperative Agreement between USDA-ARS and NDSU. Total grant: $ 24,390. Award PI: Timothy Faller; Project PI: Igathinathane Cannayen (Status: Completed).
  • Biomass Testing Laboratory for Physical and Thermal Characteristics of Feedstock of North Dakota. 2010-2012. Renewable Energy Program, North Dakota Energy Commission. Total: $450,000. Awarded April 2010. PI's: Igathinathane Cannayen and Cole Gustafson (Status: Completed).