Abstract

We discuss how process systems engineering (PSE) studies can facilitate the development of novel strategies for the production of renewable fuels and chemicals. Importantly, we show how PSE can be used to identify technological and economic drivers, and, ultimately, guide future research efforts. After an overview of the methods used for these studies, we discuss the synthesis and analysis of two broad classes of strategies: (1) biomass-to-fuels/chemicals systems and (2) systems that employ solar energy for power and fuels generation. Finally, we discuss how the synthesis of integrated renewable energy systems leads, naturally, to new types of problems for which traditional approaches are insufficient; and outline progress towards the development of novel methods to address these challenges. 

Biography

Christos Maravelias is the Chair of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and the Anderson Family Professor in Energy and the Environment at Princeton University. His research interests lie in the general area of process and energy systems engineering and optimization. Specifically, he is studying production planning and scheduling, supply chain optimization, and chemical and energy systems synthesis and analysis with emphasis on renewable energy technologies. He has authored more than 200 journal articles and a research monograph on Chemical Production Scheduling. He is the recipient of numerous awards including the David Smith and the CAST Outstanding Young Researcher awards from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, as well as the Production and Operations Management Society Applied Research Challenge Award.  

Group website: https://cbe.princeton.edu/people/christos-maravelias