FUNNEL Model for Estimation of Life Cycle GHG Emissions

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Life cycle assessment (LCA) is an exceptionally useful means to evaluate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with using fuels derived from crude oils. We have developed a model called FUNNEL (FUNdamental Engineering PrinciplEs-based ModeL) to estimate GHG emissions from the different life cycle stages of using transportation fuels. This covers the extraction of crude oil to refining to combustion in vehicle engines.

The FUNNEL model is used to calculate well-to-wheel emissions of transportation fuels derived from crude oils. Engineering fundamentals are used to determine crude extraction and transportation emissions. The model is linked to Aspen HYSYS to model refinery emissions. Multiple conventional and unconventional crude pathways can be examined side by side. We are currently integrating future technology pathways such as solvent enhanced SAGD technologies.

Associated publications:

  1. Safaei M, Oni AO, Gemechu E, Kumar A. Evaluation of energy and greenhouse gas emissions of bitumen-derived fuels from toe-to-heel air injection extraction technology, FUEL, 2019, 256: 115930. (PDF)
  2. Safaei M, Oni AO, Gemechu E, Kumar A. Evaluation of energy and GHG emissions’ footprints of bitumen extraction using Enhanced Solvent Extraction Incorporating Electromagnetic heating technology, Energy, 2019, 186: 115854. (PDF)
  3. Soiket M, Oni AO, Kumar A. The development of a process simulation model for energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of a vapor solvent-based oil sands extraction and recovery process, Energy, 2019, 173: 799-808. (PDF)
  4. Soiket M, Oni AO, Gemechu E, Kumar A. Life cycle assessment of greenhouse gas emissions of upgrading and refining bitumen from the solvent extraction process, Applied Energy, 2019, 240:236-250. (PDF)
  5. Mahbub N, Gemechu E, Zhang H, Kumar A. The life cycle greenhouse gas emission benefits from alternative uses of biofuel coproducts, Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 2019, 34: 173-186. (PDF)
  6. Mahbub N, Zhang H, Oyedun AO, Kumar A, Poganietz W-R. Life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) of oxymethylene ether as a diesel additive produced from forest biomass, International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 2018. (PDF)
  7. Di Lullo G, Gemechu E, Oni AO, Kumar A. Extending sensitivity analysis using regression to effectively disseminate life cycle assessment results, The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 2019, 25(2): 222-239. (PDF)
  8. Kumar M, Oyedun AO, Kumar A. Biohydrogen production from bio-oil via hydrothermal liquefaction. In: Biofuels. Elsevier Inc., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2019, pp. 715-732. (PDF)
  9. Thaker A, O. Oni, Gemechu E, Kumar A. Evaluating energy and greenhouse gas emission footprints of thermal energy storage systems for concentrated solar power applications, Journal of Energy Storage, 2019, 26 (100992): 1-12. (PDF)
  10. Kapila S, Oni AO, Gemechu E, Kumar A. The development of net energy ratios and life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of large-scale mechanical energy storage systems, Energy, 2019, 170: 592-603. (PDF)
  11. Kumar M, Oyedun AO, Kumar A. A comparative analysis of hydrogen production from the thermochemical conversion of algal biomass, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2019, 44 (21): 10384-10397. (PDF)
  12. Oyedun AO, Patel M, Kumar M, Kumar A. Upgrading of bio-oil via hydrodeoxygenation. In: Brown R (ed.). Chemical Catalysts for Biomass Upgrading. Wiley-VCH, 2019, 715-732. (PDF)
  13. Sapkota K, Oni AO, Kumar A. Techno-economic and life cycle assessments of the natural gas supply chain from production sites in Canada to north and southwest Europe, Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 2018, 52:401-409. (PDF)
  14. Nimana B, Verma A, Rahman MM, Canter C, Olateju B, Kumar A. Life cycle analysis of bitumen transportation to refineries by rail and pipeline, Environmental Science and Technology, 2017, 51 (1), 680–691. (PDF)
  15. Di Lullo G, Zhang H, Kumar A. Uncertainty in well-to-tank with combustion greenhouse gas emissions of transportation fuels derived from North American crudes, Energy, 2017, 128, 475-486. (PDF)
  16. Mahbub N, Oyedun AO, Kumar A, Oestreich D, Arnold U, Sauer, J. A life cycle assessment of OME (oxymethylene ether) synthesis from biomass-derived syngas as a diesel additive, Journal of Cleaner Production, 2017, 165: 1249–1262. (PDF)
  17. Di Lullo G, Zhang H, Kumar A. Evaluation of uncertainty in the life cycle assessment of well-to-tank and combustion greenhouse gas emissions of various transportation fuels, Applied Energy, 2016, 184: 413-426. (PDF)
  18. Raj R, Ghandehariun S, Kumar A, Linwei M. A well-to-wire life cycle assessment of Canadian shale gas for electricity generation in China, Energy, 2016, 111: 642–652. (PDF)
  19. Wong A, Zhang H, Kumar, A. Life cycle assessment of renewable diesel production from lignocellulosic biomass. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 2016, 21, (10), pp 1404-1424. (PDF)
  20. Ghandehariun S, Kumar A. Life cycle assessment of wind-based hydrogen production in Western Canada. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 2016, 41, (22), pp 9696-9704. (PDF)
  21. Shahrukh H, Oyedun AO, Kumar A, Ghiasi B, Kumar L, Sokhansanj S. Comparative net energy ratio analysis of pellet produced from steam pretreated biomass from agricultural residues and energy crops. Biomass and Bioenergy 2016, 90, pp 50-59. (PDF)
  22. Shahrukh H, Oyedun AO, Kumar A, Ghiasi B, Kumar L, Sokhansanj S. Net energy ratio for the production of steam pretreated biomass-based pellets. Biomass and Bioenergy 2015, 80, (0), pp 286-297. (PDF)
  23. Rahman M, Canter C, Kumar A. Well-to-wheel life cycle assessment of transportation fuels derived from different North American conventional crudes. Appl. Energy 2015, 156, pp 159-173. (PDF)
  24. Nimana B, Canter C, Kumar A. Life cycle assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from Canada's oil sands-derived transportation fuels. Energy 2015, 88, pp 544-554. (PDF)
  25. Nimana B, Canter C, Kumar A. Energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in upgrading and refining of Canada's oil sands products. Energy 2015, 83, pp 65-79. (PDF)
  26. Olateju B, Monds J, Kumar A. Large scale hydrogen production from wind energy for the upgrading of bitumen from oil sands. Applied Energy 2014, 118, pp 48-56. (PDF)
  27. Rahman M, Canter C, Kumar A. Greenhouse gas emissions from recovery of various North American conventional crudes. Energy 2014, 74, pp 607-617. (PDF)
  28. Thakur A, Canter C, Kumar A. Life-cycle energy and emission analysis of power generation from forest biomass. Applied Energy 2014, 128, pp 246-253. (PDF)
  29. Miller P, Kumar A. Development of emission parameters and net energy ratio for renewable diesel from Canola and Camelina. Energy 2013, 58, pp 426-437. (PDF)
  30. Kabir MR, Kumar A. Comparison of the energy and environmental performances of nine biomass/coal co-firing pathways. Bioresource technology 2012, 124, pp 394-405. (PDF)
  31. Sultana A, Kumar A. Development of energy and emission parameters for densified form of lignocellulosic biomass. Energy 2011, 36, (5), pp 2716-2732. (PDF)
  32. Sarkar S, Kumar A. Large-scale biohydrogen production from bio-oil. Bioresource technology 2010, 101, (19), pp 7350-7361. (PDF)