Yaojun Lu

I am a modeling and simulation specialist with deep expertise in simulation-driven design and digital prototyping of fluid-handling equipment and flow-control processes. My work spans the oil & gas, oil/sand, subsea production, and mineral processing sectors, where I’ve consistently delivered high-impact innovations across government laboratories, industrial R&D centers, and multinational corporations.

Backed by a PhD in Engineering Thermophysics, a Professional Engineer license in thermal-fluid sciences, and over 20 years of global R&D experience, I bring a rigorous, physics-based simulation to solving complex flow, mix, separation, and transport challenges. My technical strengths include:

• Multiphase flow, rheology of complex fluids, heat transfer, and separation technologies
• Advanced computational modeling using CFD, FEA, FSI, and DEM
• Experimental validation with PIV, LDV, LIF, shadowgraph, and fiber-optic diagnostics.

I drive innovation through cross-disciplinary collaboration and simulation-led engineering analysis—optimizing fluid-handling equipment, debottlenecking flow-control processes, and troubleshooting production systems across diverse applications, including oil/water separation, oil/sand processing, produced water treatment, subsea production systems, and mineral processing facilities. To date, I’ve authored and presented over 50 technical papers in peer-reviewed journals and leading industry conferences.

My Career

Highlights are as follows

• Graduate research on gravity settlers and hydrocyclones, laying the foundation for advanced separation technologies
• Postdoctoral work at China’s State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow and the University of Alberta, advancing hydrocyclone design and primary oil/sand separation
• NSERC Visiting Scholar and Research Scientist at CANMET Energy Technology Center (Natural Resources Canada), leading research on complex fluid rheology, bitumen froth treatment, and tailings management
• Industry leadership roles at NATCO Group (now Schlumberger), FMC Technologies (now TechnipFMC), Bechtel Corporation, and Wood Group—delivering solutions in oil/water separation, produced water treatment, subsea equipment, and flow assurance
• Recent innovation roles at Donaldson and FLSmidth, applying simulation-driven design to air filtration systems and mineral processing equipment.

• Computational analysis: Demonstrated success in delivering high-fidelity simulation solutions for product development and engineering analysis, grounded in a deep understanding of flow physics and modeling strategies. My expertise encompasses multiphase flow, heat transfer, mass transport, fluid rheology, and advanced modeling techniques including CFD, FEA, FSI, and DEM, and paired with hands-on experimental validation using PIV, LAD, LIF, shadowgraphy, and fiber-optic diagnostics. Hands-on skills in developing and implementing customized models within CFD solvers, proficient in C and FORTRAN programming and experienced in managing large-scale simulations on high-performance computing (HPC) platforms.
• Research & Development: 30+ years of global R&D leadership across government labs, industrial centers, and multinational corporations, driving innovation in mixing/separation technologies, complex fluid rheology, flow assurance, ext.
  • Proven expertise in theoretical analysis, computational modeling, and experimental validation for designing fluid handling equipment, evaluating unit operations, and troubleshooting flow control systems
  • Key research credentials: (1) Master’s and PhD investigations on gravity settlers and hydrocyclones, (2) Postdoctoral research on hydrocyclones and oil/sand separation at China’s State Key Laboratory and University of Alberta, (3) Visiting scholar and research scientist at Canadian Government Laboratory, specializing in rheology, bitumen froth treatment, and tailings management. 
  • Industry Application: Specialized in oil/gas processing, produced water treatment, subsea equipment, filtration, flotation, and thickening systems across diverse industrial sectors
  • Proven track record in supporting product design and delivering engineering projects from concept through field implementation, with impactful roles at NATCO, FMC Technologies, Bechtel, and Wood Group
  • Led recent innovation in air filtration technology at Donaldson and advanced mineral processing equipment at FLSmidth; provided expert engineering consultation for oil/gas processing systems, oil/sand separation facilities, and mineral processing operations; skilled in optimal product design, equipment troubleshooting, and process debottlenecking to enhance system performance and reliability; proficient in flow assurance and thermal-flow analysis using industry-standard tools: OLGA, PIPESIM, HYSYS, PVTSim, and Multiflash.

I hold a BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering, a PhD in Engineering Mechanics, and a Professional Engineer (PE) license specializing in thermal-fluid sciences. My graduate research laid the foundation for my career in multiphase flow and separation technologies—first through the optimal design of gravity settlers for oil/water separation during my master’s studies, and later through the development of liquid-liquid hydrocyclones for produced water treatment in my doctoral work.

In 1998, I began postdoctoral research at the China State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow, focusing on numerical prediction of droplet breakup in hydrocyclones, followed by a second postdoctoral appointment at the University of Alberta, where I investigated primary oil/sand settling mechanisms. In 2002, I served as a visiting scholar in a Canadian government laboratory, studying the rheology of complex fluids in the oil/sand industry. I then joined Natural Resources Canada’s Energy Technology Center as a research scientist, where I led projects on bitumen froth treatment and tailings management