Systems Engineering for Renewable Energy: Novel Approaches for New Problems
Speaker
Christos T. Maravelias
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment
Princeton University
Abstract
Systems Engineering for Renewable Energy: Novel Approaches for New Problems
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.
Bio
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 energy systems synthesis and analysis with emphasis on renewable energy technologies. He has authored a research monograph on Chemical Production Scheduling and co-authored more than 200 journal articles. He is the recipient of numerous awards including the David Smith and Outstanding Young Researcher awards from the CAST Division of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), the Sustainable Engineering Forum research Award from AIChE, as well as the Production and Operations Management Society Applied Research Challenge Award.