Peter E.G. Gogolek, BMath,MPhil, PhD

I work primarily in the thermal conversion of biomass into fungible fuels and other energy products. I also work on value recovery from energetic residual materials, i.e., energy from waste, which is essential for a truly functional circular economy.
Current research and/or projects
Using biomass as a feedstock to produce low carbon energy and fuels, to address the urgent requirement of lower carbon emissions to the atmosphere and increased sequestration of carbon by the biosphere.
Research and/or project statements
[1] Economical production of renewable natural gas (RNG) from wood.
[2] Utilization of syngas and other low calorific value gases in industrial energy processes, especially concerned with burners and sophisticaled controls.
[3] Evaluation of technologies for productions of energy products from organic industrial residues and/or MSW.
Professional activities / interests
I have an enduring interest in the recovery and utilization of what is currently wasted as an energy source, especially since this will reduce the anthropogenic carbon emissions. This covers the range from industrial waste gases, emissions from gas flaring, thermal processing of biomass and other solid residues.
As a government scientist, I am also interested in the interface between science and policy. I have organized a panel for the Canadian Science Policy Conference (CSPC) and had a two year secondment with the Federal Science and Technology Secretariat.
Education and awards
BMath, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON
MPhil (Applied Mathematics), University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON
PhD (Chemical Engineering), Queen’s University, Kingston, ON
Awards: Energy Sector Merit Award [2000] for Coker 2000, Departmental Merit Award for Excellence in Science [2012] for International Flare Consortium (IFC).
International experience and/or work
Visiting Professor, Technical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria [1997]
Co-Principal Investigator and Manager, International Flare Consortium (IFC).
Editor-in-Chief, Industrial Combustion (The Journal of the International Flame Research Foundation) [2012 to 2015].
Key publications
Estimation of combustion air requirement and heating value of fuel gas mixtures from flame spectra, Parameswaran, Thangam; Gogolek, Peter; Hughes, Patrick; Applied Thermal Engineering, 07/2016, Volume 105.
Comparison of the air-blown bubbling fluidized bed gasification of wood and wood–PET pellets, Robinson, T; Bronson, B; Gogolek, P; Mehrani, P.; Fuel, 08/2016, Volume 178.
Sample preparation for thermo-gravimetric determination and thermo-gravimetric characterization of refuse derived fuel, Robinson, T; Bronson, B; Gogolek, P; Mehrani, P; Waste Management, 02/2016, Volume 48
Large eddy simulations of wake-stabilised flares, Lawal, M.S; Fairweather, M; Gogolek, P; Gubba, S.R; Ingham, D.B; Ma, L; Pourkashanian, M; Williams, A.; Fuel Processing Technology, 08/2013, Volume 112.
Methane emission factors for biogas flares, Gogolek, Peter; IFRF Combustion Journal, 2012.
Research facility
Expertise
Affiliations
Member: Air and Waste Management Association (AWMA), American Flame Research Committee (AFRC), International Flame Research Foundation (IFRF).