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Building the Trans-Atlantic Energy Bridge

_{Displacing Russian energy will be one of Europe’s greatest challenges over the coming decade. Image from Adams, Canadian J Chem Eng 101:1-13 (2023)}

Recent conflicts in Europe have exposed serious issues in the energy security of the Western world. Our overall goal is to develop a Trans-Atlantic Energy Bridge that will supply Europe with sustainable energy from North America. To do this, we need more sustainable forms of traditional fuels, but we can supplement this with alternative fuels, such as liquid hydrogen, biofuels, and synthetic fuels produced from wastes and nuclear energy. 

We are developing the future energy conversion and management systems that will be key to transforming our global energy systems for a safer and more secure world, while maintaining carbon dioxide emissions reduction goals. The research includes sustainable design and eco-technoeconomic analysis of the unit operations, systems, and overall supply chain. .

Selected Recent Publications

Adams TA II. How Canada can supply Europe with critical energy by creating a Trans-Atlantic Energy Bridge. Canadian J Chem Eng 101:1-13 (2023). Editor’s choice award. [Open Access] 

Technologies for a Norwegian Hydrogen Economy

_{Data from Adams, Canadian J Chem Eng 101:1-13 (2023).}

One of the hottest topics right now is the coming Hydrogen Economy. However, there are many concerns about the production, storage, and transportation of H₂ fuel products. Our research looks at evaluating the most promising technologies from a triple-bottom-line of sustainability approach—what solutions have the best economic, environmental, and socio-political cases for adoption into the hydrogen economy? Which technologies, routes, and supply chains are the most promising? What are the best early-stage technologies to invest in? We answer these questions through bottom-up and top-down eco-technoeconomic analyses (eTEAs), often including the detailed design and simulation of candidate processes throughout the supply chain.

Some current technologies of interest 
include liquid hydrogen storage, 
formic acid as a hydrogen carrier, and 
solid oxide electrolysis systems. 

Selected Recent Publications

Naeini M, Cotton JS, Adams TA II. An Eco-Technoeconomic Analysis of Hydrogen Production Using Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells that Accounts for Long-Term Degradation. Frontiers in Energy Research 10:1015465 (2022). [Open Access] 

Sustainable Power Generation with Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

_{A superstructure of SOFC systems studied in the Adams Group. Image from Adams et al., Ind Eng Chem Res 52:3089−3111 (2013) [full article]}

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) are an amazing power generation device that not only produces electricity at high efficiency but has many unique properties that can be exploited for benefits in the larger system. For almost 15 years, the Adams team has been developing SOFC systems at various scales ranging from building and community scale (~50 kW) to bulk municipal scale (~750 MW). They can be conveniently integrated with energy storage systems, air separation systems, and CO₂ capture systems. They are also fuel flexible, and pair well with many other kinds of technologies.

In our work, we focus on the following:

• SOFC systems for Integrated Community Energy
• Hybrid SOFC systems integrated with gas turbines
• SOFC systems with 100% CO₂ Capture
• Practical operation of SOFC systems and SOFC degradation management through gradual transient strategies

Selected Recent Publications

Naeini M, Cotton JS, Adams TA II. Dynamic Lifecycle Assessment of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell System Considering Long-Term Degradation Effects. Energy Conversion and Management 255:115336 (2022). [Publisher Version]

Lai H, Harun NF, Tucker D, Adams TA II. Design and Eco-techno-economic Analyses of SOFC/GT Hybrid Systems Accounting for Long-term Degradation Effects. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 46:5612-5629 (2021) [Publisher Version]

Naeini M, Lai H, Cotton JS, Adams TA II. Economically Optimal Sizing and Operation Strategy for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells to Effectively Manage Long Term Degradation. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 60:47:17128-17142 (2021) [Publisher Version]

Naeini M, Lai H, Cotton JS, Adams TA II. A Mathematical Model for Prediction of Long-Term Degradation Effects in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 60:1326-1340 (2021). [Publisher Version | Open Access Preprint]

Steel Refinery Carbon Footprint Reduction

_{We designed an advanced combined cycle gas turbine system using coke oven gas (lower), displacing the current boiler-based steam turbine system. The system is in use today. Image from Deng L, Adams TA II. Ind Eng Chem Res, 57:38:12816-12828 (2018). [Publisher Version | Open Access Preprint]}

In this collaborative project with ArcelorMittal Dofasco in Hamilton, we are creating processes that reduce the CO₂ footprint of steel refining through process retrofits.

Avenue 1: We designed an advanced gas turbine based cycle powered by coke oven gas (COG) that can be retrofitted into place without the need for heat substitution elsewhere in the plant, resulting in the same direct CO₂ emissions but a higher power production, thus reducing net CO₂ emissions from the grid. This process has been constructed and now produces power from waste!

Avenue 2: We designed a process that captures CO₂ from Blast Furnace Gas (BFG) and converts it to methanol, aided by advanced sulfur removal strategies. This both increases the potency of BFG for balance-of-plant uses and reduces direct CO₂ emissions by “storing” carbon in methanol.

Avenue 3: We are designing systems to help displace coal with bio-char. We are focusing on valorizing the complex off-gases produced during bio-char production, noting that the mass of the off-gases is actually greater than the mass of the biochar produced.

Selected Recent Publications

Rose J, Adams TA II. Process Design and Techno-Economic Analysis of Usage of Biomass Pyrolysis By-Products in the Ontario and Aichi Steel Industries. Computer Aided Chemical Engineering 49:115-120 (2022) [Publisher Version]

Deng L, Adams TA II. Optimization of coke oven gas desulfurization and combined cycle power plant electricity generation. Ind Eng Chem Res, 57:38:12816-12828 (2018). [Publisher Version | Open Access Preprint]

Deng L, Adams TA II. TEA of Coke Oven Gas and Blast Furnace Gas to Methanol Process with Carbon Dioxide Capture and Utilization. Energy Conversion and Management 204:112315 (2020).  [Publisher Version | Open Access Preprint]

Deng L, Adams TA II. Comparison of steel manufacturing off-gas utilization methods via life cycle analysis. Journal of Cleaner Prod 277:123568 (2020). [Publisher Version | Open Access Preprint] 

Integrated Community Energy Systems

_{An integrated community energy system (ICE) manages heat and electricity sharing between buildings in a neighbourhood. One’s waste becomes another’s energy source. Image from Monteiro, Cotton, and Adams, submitted}

The energy systems of the future will be tightly integrated components that dispatch, share, and make energy on demand on increasingly localized networks. Energy harvesting from wind and solar will also play a major role. Significant energy savings and CO₂ reductions can be achieved through integration, but this requires extremely complex dynamic system management, factoring in predictions, optimization, planning, and scheduling.

Selected Recent Publications

Monteiro NS, Cotton JS, Adams TA II. Design and eco-techno-economic analysis of a natural gas cogeneration energy management center (EMC) – Part 1: Short-term thermal storage. (undergoing peer review, 2023). 

Monteiro NS, Cotton JS, Adams TA II. Design and eco-techno-economic analysis of a natural gas cogeneration energy management center (EMC) – Part 2: Long-term thermal storage. (undergoing peer review, 2023)

Eco-technoeconomic Analysis Standards Development

_{Our technology assessment meta study for advanced (future) power systems with CO2 capture technology. The study “de-hypes” the literature by recomputing key metrics such as life cycle greenhouse gas emissions and levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) according to a common set of analysis standards. This results in a clear and unbiased comparison between technologies, identifying the most and least promising for investment and research. The methodologies developed in this work are being incorporated into an ISO standard. Image from Okeke IJ, Ghantous T, Adams TA II. Chemical Product & Process Modelling, art. 41 (2021) [Download]}

Our most common industrial collaborations are in the area of technology value assessments. We typically use eco-technoeconomic analyses (eTEAs) to evaluate the economic feasibility and environmental impacts of every new systems concept we put forward. We do this in order to understand our innovations in the context of the triple bottom line of sustainability. We also apply this for early technology screening of individual pieces of equipment. For example, our collaborators may have developed a new catalyst, membrane, reactor system, bioprocess, or separation technology. We then take that and try to assess its value by analyzing how the new technology would function in the context of the larger system. Typically, we need to design and simulate a new system that would incorporate the technology, and then use eTEAs to make judgements about the value of that technology compared to other competing strategies (which can result in similar or even very different systems). Some examples are: 

• Solvent screening for biobutanol extraction
• Advanced power plants w/ CO₂ capture
• Bio-butyl acrylate production
• Formic acid production
• Liquid H₂ systems
• Seaweed as bio-feedstock
• Methanol to butanol conversion via acetic acid route
• Microwave-enhanced algae-derived lipid production
• Waste rubber-to-SNG

As a result of his work, Prof. Adams is now leading the efforts at the International Standards Organization as the Convenor in charge of the development of ISO TS 14076, the new global standard for conducting eTEAs which is based on the research methodologies developed by Prof. Adams. 

Selected Recent Publications

Adams TA II, Hoseinzade L, Madabhushi PM, Okeke IJ. Comparison of CO₂ capture approaches for fossil-based power generation: Review and meta-study. Processes 5:44 (2017) [Open Access Version]

Glover M, Hoseinzadeh L, Adams TA II. Biomass-gas-and-nuclear-to-liquids (BGNTL) Polygeneration Process Part II: Techno-Economic Analysis. Canadian J Chem Eng, 100:2546-2556 (2022). [Publisher Version]

Okeke IJ, Adams TA II. Advanced Petroleum Coke Oxy-Combustion Power Generation with Carbon Capture and Sequestration: Part I: Design and Techno-Economic Analysis. Canadian J Chem Eng 2021:S323-S339 (2021). [Publisher Version]

Nezammahalleh H, Adams TA II, Ghanati F, Nosrati M, Shojaosadati SA. Techno-economic and environmental assessment of conceptually designed in situ lipid extraction process from microalgae. Algal Research 35:547-560 (2018) [Publisher Version]

Carbon Capture, Utilization, or Sequestration (CCUS)

_{A catalytic CO2 purification process suitable for CO2 captured from oxycombustion power plants. Image from Okeke IJ, Ghantous T, Adams TA II. Chemical Product & Process Modelling, art. 41 (2021) [Download]}

Although CCUS technologies are a part of most systems we study, we also research CCUS systems specifically. For example, we designed a CO₂ purification system for oxyfuel combustion which outperforms other strategies, like cryogenic purification. We also develop CO₂/water separation systems perfect for CCUS from solid oxide fuel cell, chemical looping, or oxyfuel power plants. We also designed nuclear-heated reactor systems that convert CO₂ into syngas through high temperature mixed reforming or dry reforming.

Selected Recent Publications

Okeke IJ, Ghantous T, Adams TA II. Design Strategies for Oxy-Combustion Power Plant Captured CO₂ Purification. Chemical Product & Process Modelling, art. 41 (2021) [Publisher Version]

Hoseinzade L, Adams TA II. Dynamic modeling of integrated mixed reforming and carbonless heat systems. Industrial & Engineering Chem Research 57:6013-6023 (2018) [Publisher Version | Open Access Preprint]

Waste-To-Energy Systems

_{This process superstructure shows the many different ways in which wastes can be converted into a variety of useful products through syngas routes. Image from Subramanian et al. Energy, 250:123722 (2022). [Download]}

Waste can sometimes be a high energy resource that can be exploited for significant environmental benefits. Not only is the waste eliminated, but virgin resources (like fossil fuels) are displaced. In our group, we focus on two high-value, underutilized resources: petroleum coke and spent rubber.

Through a gasification process at high temperature and pressure, the waste can be broken down into its atomic parts, which quickly recombine to for syngas, a mixture of CO, H₂, and other gases. These can then be used to produce all sorts of products, like hydrogen fuels, synthetic natural gas, dimethyl ether, alcohols, activated carbon, or synthetic diesel/gasoline. Or, it can be combined with CO₂ capture and used for clean power production. Our group uses optimal design under uncertainty approaches to determine the best candidate processes and products under future market scenarios.

Selected Recent Publications
Subramanian ASR, Gundersen TS, Barton PIB, Adams TA II. Global optimization of a hybrid waste tire and natural gas feedstock polygeneration system. Energy 250:123722 (2022). [Publisher Version]

Fajimi LU, Oboirien BO, Adams TA II. Simulation studies on the co-production of syngas and activated carbon from waste tyre gasification process using different reactor configurations. Energy Conversion & Management X 11:1001005 (2021) [Open Access Version]

Subramanian A, Gundersen T, Adams TA II. Optimal design and operation of a waste tire feedstock polygeneration system. Energy 223:119990 (2021). [Publisher Version] 

Okeke IJ, Adams TA II. Advanced Petroleum Coke Oxy-Combustion Power Generation with Carbon Capture and Sequestration: Part II: Environmental Assessment and Cost of CO₂ Avoided. Canadian J Chem Eng 99:S340-S355 (2021). [Publisher Version]

Optimal Energy Storage Use: Optimization for Dynamic Operations

_{Above: Black lines are real electricity demands and red lines are the power produced by an SOFC system integrated with compressed air energy storage in Ontario market conditions. (A) Optimizing for load matching. (B) Optimizing for profit. The algorithms use energy price and demand predictions in real time. Applications of the methods includes integrated wind and solar. Image from Nease, Monterio, and Adams, Comput Chem Eng, 94:235-249 (2016). [Download]}

Energy storage is a major systems component of any municipal or neighbourhood power system, and will be even more important with the growth of renewable power systems and advanced baseload power systems like SOFCs. The Adams group has been developing models and algorithms that can create optimal system designs that factor in energy storage and market uncertainty. We have developed real time / rolling horizon optimization algorithms that re-run every few minutes that factor in both short and long term demand forecasting in order to make the best decisions on how to use our energy storage systems right now. Our research currently looks at energy storage systems such as compressed air energy storage, therochemical energy storage (i.e. storage in high-energy chemical bonds), geothermal storage, phase change material storage, and others.

Selected Recent Publications

Lai H, Adams TA II. A direct steam generation concentrated solar power plant with a decalin/naphthalene thermochemical storage system. Chemical Engineering Research & Design 131:584-599 (2018). [Publisher Version] 

Nease J, Monteiro N, Adams TA II. Application of a two-level rolling horizon optimization scheme to a SOFC and compressed air energy storage plant for the optimal supply of zero-emissions peaking power. Computer & Chemical Engineering 94:235-249 (2016). [Publisher Version | Open Access Postprint]

Semicontinuous Distillation Systems

_{A patent-pending system using divided wall semicontinuous distillation that fits in a shipping container. Image from Ballinger and Adams, Comput Chem Eng 105:197-211 (2017) [Download]}

Semicontinuous distillation is an advanced form of distillation that has been developed by the Adams team over the past 17 years. The premise is that a single distillation column can be used to separate chemical mixtures that normally require two or three distillation columns to achieve. This is possible by the use of a complex design coupled with a custom control system that operates the column cyclically. Product is always withdrawn from the column, although in varying degrees throughout the cycle. Unlike batch though, there are no costly startup or shut-down phases in the cycle. The end result is a compact and cost effective system that is typically economically superior to traditional multicolumn designs at intermediate flow rates, especially those typical of biofuels and pharmaceutical manufacturing. The systems can be designed small enough to fit in a shipping container for remote deployment.

Selected Recent Publications

Madabhushi PB, Adams TA II. On the application of shooting method for determining semicontinuous distillation limit cycles. Chemical Engineering Research & Design 160:370-382 (2020). [Publisher Version | Open Access Version]

Ballinger S, Adams TA II. Space-constrained purification of dimethyl ether through process intensification using semicontinuous dividing wall columns. Computers & Chemical Engineering 105:197-211 (2017) [Publisher Version | Open Access Version]

Flexible Systems and Agile Chemical Manfacturing

_{This flexible polygeneration process can transition between methanol product-ion and DME production depending on market and business conditions. Equipment is multi-purpose and used differently depending on the operating mode. Image from Adams et al. Frontiers Energy Res 6:41 (2018) [Download].}

One major research focus in the Adams group is on flexible polygeneration, in which we create chemical plants which can change their product output mix based on market conditions. In this way chemical plants can be designed that are more robust in the face of market uncertainty and can respond to changing business or political circumstances. Our studies have shown that potentially up to an extra billion dollars in net present value can be earned in some cases by changing products along with prices and playing on the margins. 

To do this, we combine chemical process synthesis and design expertise, process modeling and simulation, process intensification, techno-economic analyses, and optimization under uncertainty techniques. This produces probability-based economically optimal designs and corresponding strategies for its operation depending on the market conditions of the moment. Business case analyses are used to compute the added-value of the flexibility compared to a single-product baseline. Right now, we are working on flexible systems to produce bio-aviation fuels that can handle seasonal variations in harvested biomass sources.

Selected Recent Publications

Subramanian ASR, Adams TA II, Gundersen T, Barton PIB. Optimal design and operation of flexible polygeneration systems using decomposition algorithms. Comput Aid Chem Eng 48:919-924 (2020) [Publisher Version]

Adams TA II, Thatho T, Le Feuvre MC, Swartz CLE. The optimal design of a distillation system for the flexible polygeneration of dimethyl ether and methanol under uncertainty. Frontiers in Energy Research 6:41 (2018).  [Open Access Version]

T-Cell Vaccine Development

_{We are developing systems for rapid vaccine candidate selection of the next generation of vaccines after mRNA: T-Cell vaccines. Here, our first principles models (lines) predict cyclic behaviour which explains the experimental data in the omentum in mice (circles). Image from Christian et al. Science Immunology 7, eabq7432 (2022). [Download]}

Since 2019, we have been teaming up with immunologists, virologists, and pathologists to develop the next generation of vaccines called T-Cell vaccines. These promise to perform better against rapidly-mutating viruses like HIV and coronavirus. On a NIAID funded collaboration, we apply the same process dynamics principles to human and animal immune systems to aid in the development of the vaccines. We are developing a human model of how T-cells divide after a vaccine injection, which when combined with patient blood samples can be used to predict the future protective abilities of the shot. 

Selected Recent Publications

Christian DA, Adams TA II, et al. cDC1 coordinate innate and adaptive responses in the omentum required for T cell priming and memory. Science Immunology 7, eabq7432 (2022). [Publisher Version | Open Access Version]