Education
Research Interests
My research goal is to develop new theory, technology, and software tools to design, operate, and control large-scale nonlinear engineering systems under uncertainty. The research will focus on the applications to energy and environment-related problems for efficiency and sustainability. My current research interests include:
Refereed Journal Articles
Cheng, X. and X. Li*, "On the P-formulation and the split-fraction-formulation for the generalized pooling problem", Computers & Chemical Engineering, 164, 107893, 2022.
Cheng, X. and X. Li*, "Discretization and global optimization for mixed-integer bilinear programming", Journal of Global Optimization, 2022. DOI: 10.1007/s10898-022-01179-3
Marfatia, Z. and X. Li*, "Data-Driven Natural Gas Compression Performance Models for Gas Transport Network Optimization", Digital Chemical Engineering, 3, 100030, 2022.
Marfatia, Z. and X. Li*, "On steady-state modelling for optimization of natural gas pipeline networks", Chemical Engineering Science, 255, 117636, 2022.
Kazda, K. and X. Li*, "Nonconvex multivariate piecewise-linear fitting using the difference-of-convex representation", Computers & Chemical Engineering, 150, 107310, 2021.
Kazda, K., A. Tomasgard, V. Norstebo, X. Li*, "Optimal utilization of natural gas pipeline storage capacity under future supply uncertainty", Computers & Chemical Engineering, 139, 106882, 2020.
Kazda, K. and X. Li*, "A critical review of the modeling and optimization of combined heat and power dispatch", Processes, 8(4), 441, 2020.
Li, X., L. Xie*, X. Li, H. Su, "A retrofit hierarchical architecture for real time optimization and control integration", Processes, 8(2), 181, 2020.
Cheng, X. and X. Li*, "A multi-commodity flow formulation for the optimal design of wastewater treatment networks", Computers & Chemical Engineering, 134, 106681, 2020.
Shao, F., X. Li*, L. Zhu, H. Gong and X. Chen*, "Optimal scheduling of the multigrade parallel distillation column system with a continuous-time formulation", Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, 58, 23225-23237, 2019.
Ogbe, E. and X. Li*, "A joint decomposition method for global optimization of multiscenario mixed-integer nonconvex nonlinear programs", Journal of Global Optimization, 75, 595-629, 2019.
Kazda, Kody, & Li, Xiang (2018). "Approximating nonlinear relationships for optimal operation of natural gas transport networks". Processes, 6, 198. DOI:10.3390/pr6100198
Ogbe, Emmanuel, & Li, Xiang (2018). "Extended cross decomposition for mixed-integer linear programs with strong and weak linking constraints". Computers and Chemical Engineering, 119, 237-257. DOI: 10.1016/j.compchemeng.2018.09.011
Ogbe, Emmanuel, & Li, Xiang (2017). "A new cross decomposition method for stochastic mixed-integer linear programming". European Journal of Operational Research, 256, 487-490. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejor.2016.08.005
Ogbe, E. and X. Li*, "A new cross decomposition method for stochastic mixed-integer linear programming", European Journal of Operational Research, DOI: 10.1016/j.ejor.2016.08.005, 2016.
Li, D. and X. Li*, Domain reduction for Benders decomposition based global optimization", Computers & Chemical Engineering 93, 248–265, 2016.
Li, D. and X. Li*, "A new optimization model and a customized solution method for natural gas production network design and operation", AIChE Journal, DOI: 10.1002/aic.15428, 2016
Li, X., A. Tomasgard and P. I. Barton*, "Natural gas production network infrastructure development under uncertainty", Optimization and Engineering, DOI: 10.1007/s11081-016-9322-5, 2016.
McLean, K., E. Ogbe and X. Li*, "Novel formulation and efficient solution strategy for strategic optimization of an industrial chemical supply chain under demand uncertainty", The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering 93, 971-985, 2015.
Li, X. and P. I. Barton*, "Optimal design and operation of energy systems under uncertainty", Journal of Process Control 30, 1-9, 2015.
McLean, K. and X. Li*, "Robust scenario formulations for strategic supply chain optimization under uncertainty," Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 52, 5721-5734, 2013.
Li, X.*, "Parallel nonconvex generalized Benders decomposition for natural gas production network planning under uncertainty," Computers & Chemical Engineering 55, 97-108, 2013.
Sundaramoorthy, A, X. Li, J. M. B. Evans, and P. I. Barton*, "Capacity planning under clinical trials uncertainty in continuous pharmaceutical manufacturing, 2: Solution method," Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 42, 13703-13711, 2012
Chen, Y., X. Li, T. A. Adams and P. I. Barton*, "Decomposition strategy for the global optimization of flexible energy polygeneration systems," AIChE Journal 58, 10, 3080-3095, 2012.
Li, X., Y. Chen and P. I. Barton*, "Nonconvex generalized Benders decomposition with piecewise convex relaxations for global optimization of integrated process design and operation problems," Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 51, 21, 7287-7299, 2012.
Li, X., A. Tomasgard and P. I. Barton*, "Decomposition strategy for the stochastic pooling problem," Journal of Global Optimization 54, 4, 765-790, 2012.
Li, X., A. Tomasgard and P. I. Barton*, "Nonconvex generalized Benders decomposition for stochastic separable mixed-integer nonlinear programs," Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications 151, 3, 425-454, 2011.
Li, X. and T. E. Marlin*, "Model predictive control with robust feasibility," Journal of Process Control 21, 3, 415-435, 2011.
Li, X., E. Armagan, A. Tomasgard and P. I. Barton*, "Stochastic pooling problem for natural gas production network design and operation under uncertainty," AIChE Journal 57, 8, 2120-2135, 2011.
Li, X. and T. E. Marlin*, "Robust supply chain performance via model predictive control," Computers & Chemical Engineering 33, 12, 2134-2143, 2009.
Li, X., Z. Shao* and J. Qian, "Module-oriented automatic differentiation in chemical process systems optimization," Computers & Chemical Engineering 28, 9, 1551-1561, 2004.
Shao, Z.*, X. Li and J. Qian, "Hybrid differentiation algorithm in chemical process system optimization," Journal of Chemical Industry and Engineering (China) 54, 10, 1397-1402, 2003.
Li, X., Z. Shao* and J. Qian, "Polycondensation process optimization based on hybrid automatic differentiation," Journal of Chemical Industry and Engineering (China) 53, 11, 1111-1116, 2002.
Li, X., W. Zhong and J. Qian*, "Automatic differentiation in chemical engineering process optimization," Acta Petrolei Sinica (Petroleum Processing Section, China) 17, 6, 79-83, 2001.
Refereed Book Chapters
Kazda, Z. and X. Li*, "Surrogate-based reduced-dimension global optimization in process systems engineering", in High Dimensional Optimization and Probability: With a View Towards Data Science, A. Nikeghbali, P. M. Pardalos, A. M. Raigorodskii, M. T. Rassias (Eds.), Springer, 341-357, 2022.
Li, X., A. Sundaramoorthy and P. I. Barton*, "Nonconvex generalized Benders decomposition," in Optimization in Science and Engineering, T. M. Rassias, C. A. Floudas and S. Butenko (Eds.), 307-311, 2014.
Refereed Conference Papers
Shao, F, X. Chen* and X. Li*, "Optimal scheduling of multi-grade parallel distillation column system: Comparison between continuous- and discrete-time formulations", The Annual Meeting of Chinese Process Systems Engineering Society, Xining, China, August 2018.
Cheng, X., K. Tang and X. Li*, "New Multi-Commodity Flow Formulations for the Generalized Pooling Problem", 10th IFAC Symposium on Advanced Control of Chemical Processes, pp. 162-167, Shenyang, China, 2018.
Li, D. and X. Li*, "Decomposition-based global optimization for optimal design of power distribution systems", 55th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, Accepted, Las Vegas, NV, 2016.
Ogbe, E. and X. Li*, "Multicolumn-multicut cross decomposition for stochastic mixed-integer linear programming", Proceedings of 12th International Symposium on Process Systems Engineering and 25th European Symposium on Computer Aided Process Engineering, pp. 737-742, Copenhagen, Denmark, May 2015.
Li, D. and X. Li*, "Global optimization of an industrial natural gas production network", 9th International Symposium on Advanced Control of Chemical Processes 2015, IFAC-PapersOnLine 48(8), pp. 337-342, Whistler, BC, June 2015.
Barton P. I.* and X. Li, "Optimal design and operation of energy systems under uncertainty," 10th International Symposium on Dynamics and Control of Process Systems, pp. 105-110, Mumbai, India, December 2013.
Li, X., A. Tomasgard and P. I. Barton*, "Long-term planning of natural gas production systems via a stochastic pooling problem," Proceedings of the 2010 American Control Conference, pp. 429-435, Baltimore, MD, June 2010.
Li, X., A. Tomasgard and P. I. Barton*, "Decomposition strategy for natural gas production network design under uncertainty," Proceedings of the 49th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, pp. 188-193, Atlanta, GA, December 2010.
Li, X. and T. E. Marlin*, "A novel robust model predictive control method for supply chain optimization under uncertainty", Proceedings of AEC/APC Symposium XXI, pp. 572-575, Ann Arbor, MI, September 2009.
Li, X. and T. E. Marlin*, "Robust supply chain performance via model predictive control," Proceedings of the 2008 Foundations of Computer-Aided Process Operations, Boston, MA, June 2008.
Li, X., Z. Shao* and J. Qian, "Complexity analysis for hybrid differentiation in process system optimization," Proceedings of the 8th international symposium on process systems engineering, pp. 517-522, Kunming, China, June 2004.
Li, X., W. Zhang, Z. Shao* and J. Qian, "Applying extended automatic differentiation technique to process system optimization problems," Proceedings of the American Control Conference 2001, pp. 4079-4084, Arlington, VA, June 2001.
Invited or Keynote Presentations
Li, X.*, "Decomposition based global optimization", Invited Department Seminar Presentation, Statistics and Biostatistics, Queen's University, ON, February 2020.
Li, X.*, "Optimal railway operation - Opportunities in timetable scheduling", Invited talk in Session #3 of CUTRIC-Transport Canada Rail Innovation Initiative, Waterloo, ON, June 2019.
Li, X.*, "Decomposition based global optimization and its application to energy systems engineering", Short Course for the Fields-CQAM Interdisciplinary Thematic Program, The Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences, Toronto, ON, April 2019.
Li, X.* and X. Cheng, "Discretization and global optimization for mixed-integer bilinear programs", Invited Department Seminar Presentation, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, December 2017.
Li, X.*, "Cross decomposition methods for large-scale optimization", Invited Department Seminar Presentation, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, December 2017.
Li, X.*, "Design and operation of natural gas production networks under uncertainty: A global optimization approach", Invited Department Seminar Presentation, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, August 2017.
Li, X.*, "Introduction to global optimization", Invited Department Seminar Presentation, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, August 2017.
Li, X.*, "New solution and formulation approaches for process design and operation under uncertainty", Invited Department Seminar Presentation, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, May 2016.
Li, X.*, "New solution and formulation approaches for process design and operation under uncertainty", Invited Talk at McMaster Advanced Control Consortium Annual Meeting, Hamilton, ON, May 2016.
Li, X.*, “Novel decomposition approaches for optimization of process and supply chain networks”, invited guest speaker, Spring IRC Workshop: Improve Process Operation Efficiency Through Process Control and Optimization, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, May 2015.
Li, X.*, "Decomposition-based optimization for process systems engineering under uncertainty", Invited Department Seminar Presentation, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, December 2014.
Li, X.* "Decomposition-based global optimization for design and operation of process networks under uncertainty", Guest Lecture for "ChE 345: Process Optimization", Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, May 2014.
Li, X., Y. Chen and P. I. Barton*, "Nonconvex generalized Benders decomposition and piecewise convex relaxation for optimal process design under uncertainty", 62nd Canadian Chemical Engineering Conference, Vancouver, BC, October 2012. (Keynote speaker).
Li, X. and P. I. Barton*, "Stochastic separable mixed-integer nonlinear programming via nonconvex generalized Benders decomposition", PhD Winter School on Managing Energy Infrastructure Investments Under Uncertainty, Oppdal, Norway, March 2011. (Invited lecturer).
Li, X. and T. E. Marlin*, "A novel robust model predictive control method for supply chain optimization under uncertainty", AEC/APC Symposium XXI, Ann Arbor, Michigan, September 2009. (Invited as winner of student paper competition).
Funding
If you are interested in joining my group, please first send me your CV and transcripts.