Yunhua Zhu

(509) 371-6095
Send Email
Biography
Yunhua Zhu came to the PNNL in 2005 after graduating from NCSU as Ph.D. in civil engineering. She joined Hydrocarbon Processing group in 2008 and is currently a senior research engineer. Dr. Zhu’s researches focus on process simulation and economic analysis for coal and biomass conversion systems. She has participated in multiple biofuel and bioenergy projects as a key contributor and task lead. Dr. Zhu has authored or co-authored journal articles, conference papers, book chapters and technical reports in clean and renewable energy area. She is also a peer reviewer for Applied Energy, Bioresource Technology, and Algal Research.
Yunhua Zhu is proficient in: Aspen Plus, ChemCad, Aspen Process Economic Analyzer
Research Interests
- Biomass Conversion System Simulation and Analysis
- Clean Coal Energy System Simulation and Analysis
- Carbon Capture
- Air Pollution Control
Education and Credentials
- Ph. D. in Civil Engineering, Minor in Statistics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 2004
- M.S. in Applied Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China 2001
- B.S. in Applied Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China 2001
Affiliations and Professional Service
- Peer reviewer for Applied Energy, Bioresource Technology, and Algal Research
Awards and Recognitions
- 2009 – Outstanding Performance Award, Energy and Environmental Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
- 2006 – FutureGen Design Team Award, Energy Science & Technology Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
PNNL Publications
2023
- Zhu Y., Y. Xu, A.J. Schmidt, M.R. Thorson, D.J. Cronin, D.M. Santosa, and S.J. Edmundson, et al. 2023. Microalgae Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Biocrude Upgrading: 2022 State of Technology. PNNL-34032. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Microalgae Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Biocrude Upgrading: 2022 State of Technology
2022
- Bartling A., P.T. Benavides, S.D. Phillips, T.R. Hawkins, A. Singh, M. Wiatrowski, and E. Tan, et al. 2022. "Environmental, Economic, and Scalability Considerations of Selected Bio-Derived Blendstocks for Mixing-Controlled Compression Ignition Engines." ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 10, no. 20:6699-6712. PNNL-SA-170232. doi:10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c00781
- Snowden-Swan L.J., S. Li, M.R. Thorson, A.J. Schmidt, D.J. Cronin, Y. Zhu, and T.R. Hart, et al. 2022. Wet Waste Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Biocrude Upgrading to Hydrocarbon Fuels: 2022 State of Technology. PNNL-33622. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Wet Waste Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Biocrude Upgrading to Hydrocarbon Fuels: 2022 State of Technology
- Zhu Y., A.J. Schmidt, P.J. Valdez, L.J. Snowden-Swan, and S.J. Edmundson. 2022. Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Upgrading of Wastewater-Grown Microalgae: 2021 State of Technology. PNNL-32695. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Upgrading of Wastewater-Grown Microalgae: 2021 State of Technology
2021
- Zhu Y., S.B. Jones, A.J. Schmidt, H.M. Job, J.M. Billing, J.R. Collett, and K.R. Pomraning, et al. 2021. Microalgae Conversion to Biofuels and Biochemical via Sequential Hydrothermal Liquefaction (SEQHTL) and Bioprocessing: 2020 State of Technology. PNNL-30124. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Microalgae Conversion to Biofuels and Biochemical via Sequential Hydrothermal Liquefaction (SEQHTL) and Bioprocessing: 2020 State of Technology
2020
- Zhu Y., S.B. Jones, A.J. Schmidt, J.M. Billing, D.M. Santosa, and D.B. Anderson. 2020. "Economic Impacts of Feeding Microalgae/Wood Blends to Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Upgrading Systems." Algal Research 51. PNNL-SA-148746. doi:10.1016/j.algal.2020.102053
- Zhu Y., S.B. Jones, A.J. Schmidt, J.M. Billing, M.R. Thorson, D.M. Santosa, and R.T. Hallen, et al. 2020. Algae/Wood Blends Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Upgrading: 2019 State of Technology. PNNL-29861. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Algae/Wood Blends Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Upgrading: 2019 State of Technology
2019
- Davidson S.D., J.A. Lopez-Ruiz, Y. Zhu, A.R. Cooper, K.O. Albrecht, and R.A. Dagle. 2019. "Strategies to Valorize the Hydrothermal Liquefaction-Derived Aqueous Phase into Fuels and Chemicals." ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 7, no. 24:19889-19901. PNNL-SA-135076. doi:10.1021/acssuschemeng.9b05308
- Jiang Y., S.B. Jones, Y. Zhu, L.J. Snowden-Swan, A.J. Schmidt, J.M. Billing, and D.B. Anderson. 2019. "Techno-Economic Uncertainty Quantification of Algal-derived Biocrude via Hydrothermal Liquefaction." Algal Research 39. PNNL-SA-138139. doi:10.1016/j.algal.2019.101450
- Zhu Y., S.B. Jones, A.J. Schmidt, K.O. Albrecht, S.J. Edmundson, and D.B. Anderson. 2019. "Techno-Economic Analysis of Alternative Aqueous Phase Treatment Methods for Microalgae Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Biocrude Upgrading System." Algal Research 39. PNNL-SA-137970. doi:10.1016/j.algal.2019.101467
2018
- Zhu Y., S.B. Jones, and D.B. Anderson. 2018. Algae Farm Cost Model: Considerations for Photobioreactors. PNNL-28201. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Algae Farm Cost Model: Considerations for Photobioreactors
2017
- Snowden-Swan L.J., Y. Zhu, M.D. Bearden, T.E. Seiple, S.B. Jones, A.J. Schmidt, and J.M. Billing, et al. 2017. Conceptual Biorefinery Design and Research Targeted for 2022: Hydrothermal Liquefacation Processing of Wet Waste to Fuels. PNNL-27186. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Conceptual Biorefinery Design and Research Targeted for 2022: Hydrothermal Liquefacation Processing of Wet Waste to Fuels
2016
- Albrecht K.O., Y. Zhu, A.J. Schmidt, J.M. Billing, T.R. Hart, S.B. Jones, and G.D. Maupin, et al. 2016. "Impact of Heterotrophically Stressed Algae for Biofuel Production via Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Catalytic Hydrotreating in Continuous-Flow Reactors." Algal Research 14. PNNL-SA-112594. doi:10.1016/j.algal.2015.12.008
- Snowden-Swan L.J., Y. Zhu, S.B. Jones, D.C. Elliott, A.J. Schmidt, R.T. Hallen, and J.M. Billing, et al. 2016. Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Upgrading of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Sludge: A Preliminary Techno-Economic Analysis. PNNL-25464. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Upgrading of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Sludge: A Preliminary Techno-Economic Analysis
- Snowden-Swan L.J., Y. Zhu, S.B. Jones, D.C. Elliott, A.J. Schmidt, R.T. Hallen, and J.M. Billing, et al. 2016. Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Upgrading of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Sludge: A Preliminary Techno-Economic Analysis Rev.1. PNNL-25464 Rev. 1. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Upgrading of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Sludge: A Preliminary Techno-Economic Analysis Rev.1
2014
- Dagle R.A., D.L. King, X.S. Li, R. Xing, K.A. Spies, Y. Zhu, and J.E. Rainbolt, et al. 2014. Coal-Derived Warm Syngas Purification and CO2 Capture-Assisted Methane Production. PNNL-23777. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Coal-Derived Warm Syngas Purification and CO2 Capture-Assisted Methane Production
- Jones S.B., Y. Zhu, D.B. Anderson, R.T. Hallen, D.C. Elliott, A.J. Schmidt, and K.O. Albrecht, et al. 2014. Process Design and Economics for the Conversion of Algal Biomass to Hydrocarbons: Whole Algae Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Upgrading. PNNL-23227. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Process Design and Economics for the Conversion of Algal Biomass to Hydrocarbons: Whole Algae Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Upgrading
- Jones S.B., Y. Zhu, L.J. Snowden-Swan, D. Anderson, R.T. Hallen, A.J. Schmidt, and K.O. Albrecht, et al. 2014. Whole Algae Hydrothermal Liquefaction: 2014 State of Technology. PNNL-23867. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Whole Algae Hydrothermal Liquefaction: 2014 State of Technology
- Tews I.J., Y. Zhu, C. Drennan, D.C. Elliott, L.J. Snowden-Swan, K. Onarheim, and Y. Solantausta, et al. 2014. Biomass Direct Liquefaction Options: TechnoEconomic and Life Cycle Assessment. PNNL-23579. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Biomass Direct Liquefaction Options: TechnoEconomic and Life Cycle Assessment
- Zhu Y., M.J. Biddy, S.B. Jones, D.C. Elliott, and A.J. Schmidt. 2014. "Techno-Economic Analysis of Liquid Fuel Production from Woody Biomass via Hydrothermal Liquefaction (HTL) and Upgrading." Applied Energy 129. PNNL-SA-90421. doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.03.053
2013
- Biddy M.J., R. Davis, S.B. Jones, and Y. Zhu. 2013. Whole Algae Hydrothermal Liquefaction Technology Pathway. PNNL-22314. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Whole Algae Hydrothermal Liquefaction Technology Pathway
- Dagle R.A., V.M. Lebarbier, J.A. Lizarazo Adarme, D.L. King, Y. Zhu, M.J. Gray, and S.B. Jones, et al. 2013. Single-Step Syngas-to-Distillates (S2D) Synthesis via Methanol and Dimethyl Ether Intermediates: Final Report. PNNL-22984. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Single-Step Syngas-to-Distillates (S2D) Synthesis via Methanol and Dimethyl Ether Intermediates: Final Report
- Zhu Y., K.O. Albrecht, D.C. Elliott, R.T. Hallen, and S.B. Jones. 2013. "Development of Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Upgrading Technologies for Lipid-Extracted Algae Conversion to Liquid Fuels." Algal Research 2, no. 4:455-464. PNNL-SA-93666. doi:10.1016/j.algal.2013.07.003
2012
- Zhu Y., S.B. Jones, M.J. Biddy, R.A. Dagle, and D.R. Palo. 2012. "Single-Step Syngas-to-Distillates (S2D) Process Based on Biomass-Derived Syngas - A Techno-Economic Analysis." Bioresource Technology 117. PNNL-SA-83001. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2012.04.027
2011
- Zhu Y., S.A. Tjokro Rahardjo, C. Valkenburt, L.J. Snowden-Swan, S.B. Jones, and M.A. Machinal. 2011. Techno-economic Analysis for the Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass to Liquid Fuels. PNNL-19009. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Techno-economic Analysis for the Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass to Liquid Fuels
2010
- Jovanovic I., S.B. Jones, D.M. Santosa, Z. Dai, K.K. Ramasamy, and Y. Zhu. 2010. A survey of Opportunities for Microbial Conversion of Biomass to Hydrocarbon Compatible Fuels. PNNL-19704. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. A survey of Opportunities for Microbial Conversion of Biomass to Hydrocarbon Compatible Fuels
- Lu S., Y.V. Makarov, Y. Zhu, N. Lu, N. Prakash Kumar, and B.B. Chakrabarti. 2010. "Unit Commitment Considering Generation Flexibility and Environmental Constraints." In 2010 IEEE Power and Energy Society General Meeting. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-69872.
- Roesijadi G., S.B. Jones, L.J. Snowden-Swan, and Y. Zhu. 2010. Macroalgae as a Biomass Feedstock: A Preliminary Analysis. PNNL-19944. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Macroalgae as a Biomass Feedstock: A Preliminary Analysis
- Zhu Y., S. Somasundaram, and J.W. Kemp. 2010. "Energy and Exergy Analysis of Gasifier-Based Coal-to-Fuel Systems." Journal of Energy Resources Technology 132, no. 2:Art. No. 021008. PNWD-SA-8530.
2008
- Zhu Y., S. Somasundaram, and J.W. Kemp. 2008. "Energy and Exergy Analysis of Gasifier-Based Coal-to-Fuel Systems." In Proceedings of the 2008 ASME Energy Sustainability Conference, 321-330. New York, New York:ASME. PNWD-SA-8124.