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Eric Tan

Researcher V-Chemical Engineering


303-384-7933
Orcid ID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9110-2410

Research Interests

  • Conceptual process design, economics, and sustainability for conversion of biomass to biofuels and chemicals

  • Renewable and sustainable energy

  • Green engineering

  • Carbon nano-structures, fuel cell, hydrogen production, kinetic modeling, and heterogeneous catalysis

Affiliated Research Programs

  • Thermochemical Conversion Platform Analysis

  • Biochemical Conversion Platform Analysis

  • Strategic Analysis under Analysis and Sustainability Platform

Areas of Expertise

  • Techno-economic analysis

  • Sustainability and life-cycle analysis (SimaPro, Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation [GREET] Model)

  • Process design and modeling (Aspen Plus, Aspen HYSYS)

  • Heterogeneous catalysis

    • Mechanistic-assist design of catalysts

    • Mechanism elucidation

    • Catalyst characterization

  • Kinetic modeling (Langmuir—Hinselwood—Hougen—Watson [LHHW], CHEMKIN)

  • Carbon deposition on metal and alloy surfaces

  • Hydrogen production (steam methane reforming [SMR], partial oxidation [POX], autothermal reformer [ATR])

  • Fuel cell (proton exchange membrane [PEM], solid oxide fuel cell [SOFC])

Education

  • Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, University of Akron

  • M.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Akron

  • B.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Akron

Professional Experience

  • Senior Research Engineer, Biorefinery Analysis Team, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, National Bioenergy Center, 2009–present

  • Senior Process Engineer, Linde Process Plants, Inc. (a member of the Linde Group), 2007–2009

  • Development Engineer, Delphi Catalyst, 2003–2007

  • Fuel Cell Engineer, Plug Power, 2000–2003

  • Research Engineer, Wright Materials Research Co., 1999–2000

  • Research Staff, Northeastern University, 1997–1999

Patents

  1. "Reformer system, a method of producing hydrogen in the reformer system, and a method of using the reformer system," U.S. Patent Application No. 20050022450 (2005)

  2. "Rapid oxidation/stabilization technique for carbon foams, carbon fibers and C/C composites," U.S. Patent No. 6,733,737 (2004)

Featured Publications

  1. "Strategic supply system design—a holistic evaluation of operational and production cost for a biorefinery supply chain," Biofuels, Bioproducts & Biorefining (2015)

  2. "Chapter 3: Perspectives on Process Analysis for Advanced Biofuel Production," in Direct Microbial Conversion of Biomass to Advanced Biofuels (2015)

  3. Process Design and Economics for the Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Hydrocarbons: Dilute-Acid and Enzymatic Deconstruction of Biomass to Sugars and Catalytic Conversion of Sugars to Hydrocarbons, NREL Technical Report (2015)

  4. Process Design and Economics for the Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Hydrocarbons via Indirect Liquefaction: Thermochemical Research Pathway to High-Octane Gasoline Blendstock Through Methanol/Dimethyl Ether Intermediates, NREL and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Technical Report (2015)

  5. "Techno-economic Analysis of Corn and Corn Stover n-Butanol production from corn grain and corn stover," Biofuels, Bioproducts & Biorefining (2014)

  6. "Investigation of Thermochemical Biorefinery Sizing and Environmental Sustainability Impacts for Conventional Supply System and Distributed Preprocessing Supply System Designs," Biofuels, Bioproducts & Biorefining (2014)

  7. "Technoeconomic Analysis for the Production of Mixed Alcohols via Indirect Gasification of Biomass Based on Demonstration Experiments," Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. (2014)

  8. "Techno-economic Analysis and Life-cycle Assessment of Cellulosic iso-Butanol and Comparison with Cellulosic Ethanol and n-Butanol," Biofuels, Bioproducts & Biorefining (2014)

  9. "Sustainability Metrics and Life Cycle Assessment for Thermochemical Conversion of Woody Biomass to Mixed Alcohols," in International Proceedings of Chemical, Biological & Environmenta (2013)

  10. "Direct Production of Gasoline and Diesel Fuels from Biomass via Integrated Hydropyrolysis and Hydroconversion Process — A Techno-Economic Analysis," Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy (2014)

  11. "Investigation of Biochemical Biorefinery Sizing and Environmental Sustainability Impacts for Conventional Bale System and Advanced Uniform Biomass Logistics Designs," Biofuels, Bioproducts & Biorefining (2013)

  12. "Chapter 19: Techno-Economic Analysis and Life-Cycle Assessment of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Sugars Using Various Pretreatment Technologies," in Biological Conversion of Biomass for Fuels and Chemicals: Explorations from Natural Utilization Systems (2013)

  13. Process Design and Economics for the Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Hydrocarbons: Dilute-Acid and Enzymatic Deconstruction of Biomass to Sugars and Biological Conversion of Sugars to Hydrocarbons, NREL Technical Report (2013)

View all NREL Publications for Eric Tan.

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