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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

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

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

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

2014

  • 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

  • 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

2010

  • 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.
  • 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

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