Skip to Main Content U.S. Department of Energy
Energy and Environment Directorate

Yunhua Zhu

Yunhua Zhu

(509) 371-6095

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

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

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

2017

2016

2014

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

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.

Energy and Environment

Core Research Areas

Contacts