Seyed Mostafa Safdarnejad

Seyed Mostafa Safdarnejad

Contact Information

Education

  • Ph.D., Chemical Engineering , Brigham Young University (BYU), Provo, Utah (Aug. 2012-June 2016)
  • Emphasis: Development of Large-Scale Process Model, Optimization, and Advanced Process Control Frameworks for Energy–Intensive Processes
  • Thesis: Developing Modeling, Optimization, and Advanced Process Control Frameworks for Improving the Performance of Transient Energy–Intensive Applications Download (PDF) Scholar's Archive
  • M.Sc., Chemical Engineering , Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), Tehran, Iran (2008 –2011)
  • Emphasis: Thermodynamics and Reaction Kinetics
  • Thesis: CFD modeling of an Autothermal Catalytic Monolith Reformer to Obtain Hydrogen for Fuel Cells
  • B.Sc., Chemical Engineering , Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), Tehran, Iran (2004-2008)
  • Emphasis: Process Design of Petroleum Industries
  • Thesis: Hydraulic Calculation of Transport Pipelines of Two Gas Fields using OLGA and Pipesim Software Packages

Research Interests

  • Basic and Advanced Process Control
  • Steady state and Dynamic Simulation and Optimization
  • Process Design
  • Development of model predictive controller for different applications
  • Energy
  • CO2 Capture
  • Agent-based modeling

Publications

  • Safdarnejad, S.M., Hedengren, J.D., Baxter, L.L, Dynamic optimization of a hybrid system of energy-storing cryogenic carbon capture and a baseline power generation unit, Applied Energy Journal, Vol. 172, pp. 66–79, doi:10.1016/j.compchemeng.2015.12.001 Article
  • Safdarnejad, S.M., Gallacher, J., Hedengren, J.D., Dynamic parameter estimation and optimization for batch distillation, Computers and Chemical Engineering, Vol. 86, 4 March 2016, pp. 18-32, DOI:10.1016/j.compchemeng.2015.12.001 Article
  • Safdarnejad, S.M., Hedengren, J.D., Lewis, N.R., Haseltine, E., Initialization Strategies for Optimization of Dynamic Systems, Computers and Chemical Engineering, Vol. 78, pp. 39-50 Article
  • Safdarnejad, S.M., Hedengren, J.D., Baxter, L.L, Plant-level Dynamic Optimization of Cryogenic Carbon Capture with Conventional and Renewable Power Sources, Applied Energy Journal, Vol. 149, pp. 354-366, 2015, DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.03.100 Article
  • Eaton, A., Safdarnejad, S.M., Hedengren, J.D., Moffat, K., Hubbell, C., Brower, D.V., Brower, A.D., Post-Installed Fiber Optic Pressure Sensors on Subsea Production Risers for Severe Slugging Control, ASME 34th International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering, OMAE2014/42196, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada, June 2015. Preprint
  • Safdarnejad, S.M., Kennington, L., Baxter, L., Hedengren, J.D., Investigating the Impact of Cryogenic Carbon Capture on Power Plant Performance, American Control Conference, pp. 5016-5021, Chicago, IL, July 2015, DOI: 10.1109/ACC.2015.7172120. Preprint
  • Safdarnejad, S.M., Rowshanzamir, S., Eikani, M.H., A CFD Model for Methane Autothermal Reforming on Ru/γ-Al2O3 Catalyst, Procedia Engineering, 42, (2012), 2–24

Conference Proceedings

  • Safdarnejad, S.M., Strahl, W., Hedengren, J.D., Baxter, L.L., Comparison in Dynamic Response of Energy-Storing Cryogenic and Chemical Absorption Carbon Capture Systems to Electricity Demand, AIChE National Meeting, Minneapolis, MN, Nov. 2017
  • Jackson, R., Safdarnejad, S.M., Bayrak, E. S., Cinar, A., et. al., Agent Based Modeling of a Mammalian Cell Culture Bioreactor with High Performance Computing to Predict Cell Behavior, AIChE National Meeting, Minneapolis, MN, Nov. 2017
  • Safdarnejad, S.M., Hedengren, J.D., Baxter, L.L., Performance Comparison of a Cryogenic and Chemical Absorption Carbon Capture Systems in Response to a Dynamic Electricity Load Profile, Carbon Management Technology Conference, Houston, TX, July 2017
  • Safdarnejad, S.M., Richards, J., Griffiths, J., Hedengren, J.D., Baxter, L.L., Increased Stability of a Power Grid by Energy Storage of Cryogenic Carbon Capture, AIChE Spring Meeting, Houston, TX, Apr. 2016
  • Safdarnejad, S.M., Gallacher, J., Hedengren, J.D., A New Framework for Dynamic Parameter Estimation and Optimization of Batch Distillation Columns, AIChE National Meeting, AIChE Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT, Nov 2015. Abstract
  • Safdarnejad, S.M., Hedengren, J.D., Baxter, L.B., Reduction in Cycling of the Boilers By Using Large-Scale Energy Storage of Cryogenic Carbon Capture, AIChE Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT, Nov 2015. Abstract
  • Park, J., Safdarnejad, S.M., Asgharzadeh Shishavan, R., Hedengren, J.D., Rastegar, R., Snell, A., Nonlinear Model Predictive Control of Managed Pressure Drilling Based on Hammerstein-Wiener Piecewise Linear Models, AIChE Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT, Nov 2015. Abstract
  • Safdarnejad, S.M., Hedengren, J.D., Baxter, L.L., Dynamic Optimization of the Hybrid System of a Baseline Power Generation Unit and Cryogenic Carbon Capture, Western Section of the Combustion Institute, Fall 2015 Meeting, Provo, UT, October 5-6, 2015.
  • Eaton, A., Safdarnejad, S.M., Hedengren, J.D., Nybø, R., Aghito, M., Boubsi, R.E., Braaksma, J., van Og, G., Model Redundancy for Data Validation in Automated Managed Pressure Drilling, SPE ATCE, Houston, TX, Sep. 2015.
  • Safdarnejad, S.M., Hedengren, J.D., Baxter, L.L, Effect of Cryogenic Carbon Capture (CCC) on Smart Power Grids, AIChE Spring Meeting, Austin, TX, Apr. 2015 Abstract
  • Safdarnejad, S.M., Hall, T., Hedengren, J.D., Baxter, L.L, Dynamic Optimization of Cryogenic Carbon Capture with Large-scale Adoption of Renewable Power, AIChE Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, Nov 2014. Abstract
  • Hedengren, J.D., Mojica, J.L., Asgharzadeh Shishavan, R., Safdarnejad, S.M., Recent Advances in the Application of MIDAE Systems, AIChE National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, Nov 2013. Abstract
  • Safdarnejad, S.M., Rowshanzamir, S., Eikani, M.H., Studying the Performance of an Autothermal Catalytic Monolith Reformer to Obtain Hydrogen, “8th International Energy Conference”, May 24th -25th, 2011, Tehran, Iran
  • Safdarnejad, S.M., Rowshanzamir, S., Eikani, M.H., Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation of Autothermal Reforming for Fuel Cell Applications, “3rd International Conference on Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials”, November 14th - 28th, 2011, Italy
  • Safdarnejad, S.M., Rowshanzamir, S., Eikani, M.H., A CFD model of autothermal reforming, “7th International Chemical Engineering Congress and Exhibition”, November 21th -24th, 2011, Kish, Iran

Experience

* May 2016- July 2017: Intech Process Automation, Texas, USA

  • Increased the measurement accuracy by deploying equation-based simulation models, advanced optimization, and statistical data analysis in error minimization of the data collected from power plants and oil and gas processes
  • Developed in-house first-principles and empirical models (steady-state and dynamic) for parameter estimation, advanced optimization, and model predictive control of energy systems
  • Prepared functional design specification and provided engineering support for commercial business development for Intech’s Process Data Assessment and Reconciliation (ProDAR) Solution

* January 2016- July 2016: Illinois Institute of Technology, Illinois, USA

  • Developed a mathematical model in C++ to predict the behavior of mammalian cells in a bioreactor and verified it with experimental data
  • Optimized the performance of an agent-based model of a bioreactor system to run faster and more efficiently

* Aug 2012- June 2016: Brigham Young University, Utah, USA

  • Developed a new dynamic parameter estimation, optimization, and multivariable control framework for a batch distillation column
  • Dynamic optimization and control of the power plants equipped with cryogenic carbon capture
  • Designed a nonlinear multivariable controller and a moving horizon estimator for automated estimation and control of the pressure in drilling process
  • Advanced severe slugging model predictive controller for subsea production risers using post-installed fiber optic pressure sensors
  • Developed the nonlinear dynamic optimization and model predictive control framework for integration of smart power grid with cryogenic carbon capture
  • Developed initialization strategies for optimization of dynamic systems

* May 2013-Aug 2013: Intern at Sustainable Energy Solutions (SES), Utah, USA

  • Dynamic simulation and optimization of cryogenic carbon capture
  • Studied the impact of energy storage on the CCC process
  • Conducted experiments on the bench-scale cryogenic carbon capture
  • Investigated different methods for CO2 mitigation and compared the performance with cryogenic carbon capture

* Sep. 2009- Aug. 2012 : Soroush Energy Pouya, Management Consultancy and Engineering Company, Iran

  • Developed and optimized the process simulation models for amine sweetening and sour water stripping units, compressor stations, and transport pipelines by using Aspen Plus, Hysys, PRO II, and OLGA software packages
  • Optimized the size of the transport pipelines using Pipesim and OLGA software packages (steady state and transient simulations)
  • Led the process engineering discipline in implementing the hydraulic and slug volume calculations of the transport pipelines for two projects (steady state and dynamic simulations)
  • Prepared the conceptual design and other technical documents such as hydraulic analysis, design basis, PFD, P&ID, alarm management, heat and mass balance calculations, and equipment and instrument datasheets
  • Simulated the PVT data of Varavi reservoir fluid with PVTsim software package

* May 2012- Aug. 2012: Sadid Jonoob, Engineering and Construction Company, Iran

  • Optimized the size of the transport pipelines using Pipesim and OLGA software packages (steady state and transient simulations)
  • Managed the process engineering discipline in investigating the hydraulic behavior of the transport pipelines for one project
  • Prepared the technical documents on hydraulic investigation of transport pipelines
  • Simulated the PVT data of Sarajeh reservoir fluid with PVTsim software package to be used in OLGA

* Feb. 2009 - May 2011: Iran University of Science and Technology, Renewable Energy Research Laboratory

  • Developed a CFD model for a monolithic reformer for hydrogen production using Fluent software package
  • Investigated the practical methods for onboard hydrogen generation to be used in PEM fuel cells

* Feb. 2008 - Oct. 2008: Iranian Central Oil Fields Company (ICOFC)

  • Performed the hydraulic and slug volume calculations of the transport pipelines (dynamic simulation)
  • Prepared the technical documents and design specification sheets for the equipment used in the transport pipelines
  • Simulated the PVT data of Sarajeh and Dey reservoir fluids with PVTsim software package

Awards

  • 2016: Most citations award on a published paper at Chemical Engineering Department, BYU
  • 2012-2016: Chemical Engineering Department Scholarship, BYU
  • 2008: Accepted in M.Sc. at IUST in Chemical Engineering program through Exceptional Talents Committee
  • 2008: Ranked 6th among 70 B.Sc. students in Chemical Engineering program at IUST
  • 2007: Placed 3rd and 4th in nationwide competitions of manufacturing CHEM-E-CAR (Chemical powered cars) in fields of poster and performance, respectively
  • 2007: Placed 1st in inner- university competition of manufacturing CHEM-E-CAR (Chemical powered cars) in fields of performance and poster

Skills

  • Optimization, control, and numerical skills: Real-time optimization, Design of model predictive controllers, Tuning classic and advanced Controllers (PID, LMPC, NMPC), Regulatory and set-point tracking control, First-principle and empirical modeling, Dynamic estimation, Initialization and optimization of large-scale models, Data Reconciliation
  • Flow assurance skills: Steady state and transient simulation, Hydraulic calculations, Pipeline sizing, Slug volume calculations, Fluid modeling in PVTsim and Multiflash
  • Chemical Engineering Software: Aspen Plus, Hysys, VMGSim, PRO II, OLGA, Pipesim, PVTsim, Pipephase, Multiflash, Fluent, Flarenet
  • Programming Languages: Matlab, Simulink, Python, APMonitor, GAMS, C++ , Mathcad, Polymath
  • Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Visio

Certificates

  • Introduction to VMGSim software package, Houston, USA (Sep. 2017)
  • Data Validation and Reconciliation in Vali, Houston, USA (Mar. 2017)
  • Digital Oil Field Training- Frontender, Houston, USA (Sep. 2016)
  • Digital Oil Field Training- Frontender, Houston, USA (Sep. 2016)
  • OLGA Well Dynamics- Schlumberger, Houston, USA (Apr. 2015)
  • Introduction to PRO II software package - Soroush Energy Pouya, Tehran, IRAN (Nov. 2011)
  • Introduction to Flarenet software package - Soroush Energy Pouya, Tehran, IRAN (Dec. 2011)
  • CFD simulation using Fluent and Gambit software packages - Novin Parsian Institute, Tehran, IRAN (Feb. 2010)
  • Introduction to Aspen software package - Research Institute of Petroleum Industry, Tehran, IRAN (May 2009)
  • Introduction to OLGA software package - Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, IRAN (Mar. 2006)

Interests

Soccer, Swimming, Tennis