The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering presents its 2025 Ralph Peck Lecture featuring Henry R. Linden Professor of Engineering Hamid Arastoopour who will present “Pathway to a Sustainable Economy: Examples of Chemical Engineering Computational Research Contribution.” The lecture will take place on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, from 3:15–4:30 p.m. in room 131 of Perlstein Hall and will be livestreamed on YouTube.
Abstract
A pathway to a sustainable economy is both multi-faceted and complex and requires abundant supplies of renewable energy and water and materials recycling. An effective pathway aims to improve materials availability and the reliability, security, and affordability of energy and water by utilizing a least-cost strategy to reduce the negative impact of energy consumption on climate change and water availability; emphasizing the gradual decarbonization of the global energy system; increasing energy efficiency and conservation; and preserving natural resources and the environment.
This presentation will discuss examples of the critical role of engineering computational research in the creation of a pathway to a sustainable society. Specifically, the presentation will focus on my research group contributions in the areas of: computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of CO2 capture in circulating fluidized bed (CFB) systems; CO2 conversion to useful products using an electrolyzer; CFD research in the design of thermal energy storage for concentrated solar energy (CSE) using packed and fluidized bed systems; numerical simulation of the production of natural gas from unconsolidated hydrate reservoirs; and particle pulverization as a recycling tool for polymeric and elastomeric materials.
Biography
Hamid Arastoopour is currently Henry R. Linden Chair Professor of Engineering, director of the Wanger Institute for Sustainable Energy Research (WISER), and interim dean of Armour College of Engineering at Illinois Tech. Before that, he served as dean of Armour College of Engineering and as chair of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Illinois Tech.
Arastoopour has made significant contributions to research and education in the areas of particle technology, fluidization, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD), motivated by energy and sustainability applications. He holds 15 United States patents and has published three books, seven book chapters, and about 150 papers.
He is the recipient of several international awards including the Particle Technology Forum (PTF) Lifetime Achievements Award in 2024, Sustainable Engineering Forum Research Award in 2018, Thomas Baron Award in Fluid/Particle Systems in 2015, Fluidized Processes Recognition Award in 2003, the Donald Q. Kern Award in Heat Transfer and Energy Conversion in 2001, the PTF Lectureship Award in Fluidization and Fluid/Particle Systems in 1999, and the Ernest W. Thiele Award in 1997, all from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). He has been a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) since 2017 and AIChE since 2004. He is the recipient of the University Excellence in Teaching Award in 1992. He served on the editorial boards of Sustainability, Powder Technology and Fluids journals.
Arastoopour received his B.S. in Chemical and Gas Engineering from Abadan Institute of Technology and his M.S. and Ph.D. in gas engineering from Illinois Tech.
Peck Lecture Agenda
- 3:20 p.m.—Welcome and Introduction
- Sohail Murad, Professor and Chair
- 3:25 p.m.—Honoring and Remembering the 2024 Charles W. Pierce Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient Dr. Ecevit Bilgili
- 3:30 p.m.—Peck Lecture
- Hamid Arastoopour, Henry R. Linden Professor of Engineering
- 4:25 p.m.—Closing Remarks
- 4:30 p.m.—Reception