Jun Li

My research focuses on biomass energy, in the area of fundamental characterization of biomass fuels, development and optimization of biomass thermochemical processes, and energy-effective applications of biomass energy in industry or energy sectors, targeting to produce heat & power, syngas, bio-oil, and solid fuels by means of thermochemical conversion technologies, i.e. combustion, gasification, pyrolysis, and torrefaction.  The research work is supported by both modelling and experimental studies.

I have expertise in CFD modelling of ignition and flame properties, multiphase interactions, reacting progress, and heat transfer, and emissions formations. Experimental studies, at high temperatures and high heating rates conditions, are used to characterize the biomass fuel on its inherent properties, kinetics, and performances of thermochemical processes. 

• Development of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methods of thermal/chemical processes.
• Biomass characterization:fuel properties, kinetics, ignition, thermal conversion behaviour.
• Biomass combustion & co-firing: large percentage biomass substitutions; ash related problems and aerosol formations.
• Second generation biofuels production & upgrading by torrefaction, pyrolysis,  gasification, and synthesis.
• Integrated energy systems: biomass and solar system combination; co-processing biomass/bio-oil in oil refinery; advanced clean combustion technologies
• Ash related challenges: release mechanism and kinetics of alkali metals; removal of inherent alkali metals at fuel processing stage.

I have expertise in assessment of thermal conversion behaviors of biomass and waste feedstock; experimental characterization of solid, gas and liquid products from thermal conversions of biomass and waste feedstock; kinetic evaluation of thermal conversions of solid fuel at varying ranges of temperatures and heating rates; kinetic evaluation of release of alkali metals during biomass combustion and prediction of ash related slagging and fouling. I also have extensive experience in the numerical simulations of reacting flow, heat transfer and energy system with particular interest in the application areas of biomass energy, clean fuel technologies, thermal process and heat recovery.

My expertise is broadly covering the following areas:

• Numerical simulation of turbulence reacting flow, multiphase flow, and heat transfer,
• Biomass fuel characterization and thermal conversion performances analysis,
• Clean combustion technologies & applications (i.e. flameless, volumetric,  and oxyfuel combustion),
• Analysis and optimization of thermochemical processes and energy systems,
• Techno-economic and environmental assessment of energy systems.

CP206: Chemical Engineering Practice 1

CP414: Particle Technology & Advanced Reactors

CP407: Design Project

CP533: Clean Combustion Technologies