Ang Liu is an assistant teaching professor in the Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering at Penn State University, where he earned his Ph.D. He also holds a master’s and a bachelor’s degree in mining engineering. His research focuses on coupled processes in fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and geomechanics, with applications in mine health and safety, sustainable mineral production, and energy transition.
Liu has served as PI, Co-PI and leading researcher on projects funded by organizations such as the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and Penn State. As a teacher, he has taught core mining engineering courses, including Mine Ventilation, and a large general education course, Energy and Geo-Environmental Engineering, reaching over 10,000 students in both online and in-person formats since 2022. Beyond research and teaching, Liu is actively involved in professional service within his program, department, and the broader mining community. His contributions include serving as a journal handling editor and organizing summer camps to attract prospective students to mining engineering.
Research Interests
• Geomechanics and rock mechanics
• Multiphase reactive flow and transport behaviors in porous media
• Mathematical modeling and numerical simulations on coupled processes
• Rock characterizations and imaging
• GeoH2 production
• Hydrogen cleaning and carbon dioxide storage in coal seams
• Mine ventilation optimization, ground control
- Liu, A., Liu, S., Zhang, K., Xia, K., 202. Competitive sorption of binary CH4-CO2 mixture and its implication for carbon storage in coals.Separation and Purification Technology354, 129399. (IF:8.2)
- Liu, A., Liu, S., 2024. Evaluation of parameters impacting grey H2 storage in coalbed methane formations. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 202, paper 114686.(IF:16.3)
- Liu, A., Liu, S., Zhang, R., Sang, G., Xia, K. 2023. Cyclical water vapor sorption-induced structural alterations of mine roof shale.International Journal of Coal Geology, 273, paper 104267. (IF:5.6)
- Liu, A., Liu, S., Xia, K., Liu, P., Yang, Y., Wang, G., 2023. Characterizing Anisotropic Swelling Strains of Coal Using Combined Rosette Strain Gauge and CT-Scans.Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 56, 5405-5426.(IF:5.5)
- Liu, A., Liu, S., 2023. Hydrogen sorption and diffusion in coals: implications for hydrogen geo-storage. Applied Energy, 334,120746.(IF:10.1)
- Liu, A., Liu, S., Wang, K., 2023. Coupled model of multi-mechanistic gas–water transport behavior in tight shale. Energy and Fuels,37(4):2860-2874. (IF:5.2)
- Liu, A., Liu, S, Wang, K., 2022. Moisture retention and multi-mechanistic transport behavior in nanoporous coal. Langmuir ,38:14941-14958.(IF:3.7)
- Liu, A., Liu, S., Liu, Y., Liu, B., Liu, T., 2022. Characterizing mechanical heterogeneity of coal at nano-to-micro scale using combined nanoindentation and FESEM-EDS. International Journal of Coal Geology,261,104081. (IF:5.6)
- Liu, A., Liu, S., 2022. Mechanical property alterations across coal matrix due to water-CO2 treatments: A micro-to-nano scale experimental study.Energy,248,123575. (IF:9.0)
- Liu, A., Liu, S., 2021. A fully-coupled water-vapor flow and rock deformation damage model for shale and coal its application for mine stability evaluation.International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences,146,104880. (IF:7.0)
• International Outstanding Young Scholar Award, International Committee on Mine Safety Science and Engineering (2024)
• Handing Editor, International Journal of Coal Science & Technology, Springer (2022 -)
• Best reviewer, International Journal of Coal Science & Technology, Springer (2021)
• Reg Hardy Memorial Scholarship for Excellence in Mining and Rock Mechanics Contribution, Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, Penn State University (2021)
• Frank J. Vastola and Ruth J. St. Clair Vastola Graduate Scholarship, Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, Penn State University (2021)
• Nico van Wingen Memorial Graduate Fellowship, SPE Foundation (2021)