Yunhua Zhu

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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.