About the Principal Consultant
Peter Z. Havlik, P.E.
Principal Consultant | Chemical Process Engineer
Peter Havlik is a licensed Professional Engineer (Oklahoma) with more than 40 years of chemical process engineering experience across renewable fuels, Fischer-Tropsch synthetic fuels, hydroprocessing, and refining. He holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Houston and is named on 17 U.S. patents covering hydroprocessing, feedstock pretreatment, and bio-based fuels and fluids.
His career spans Chevron Renewable Energy Group, REG Synthetic Fuels, Syntroleum, and Pennzoil, where he led process engineering for renewable fuels and gas-to-liquids facilities — including FEED and detailed design of a $1 billion renewable fuels plant, development of a hydrodeoxygenation technology package, reactor and internals design, materials selection, and startup support. He has taken technology from bench and pilot units through demonstration and commercial operation, supported HAZOPs, PSV and EPC design reviews, DCS development, third-party due diligence, technology transfer, and patent prosecution and litigation.
Following his retirement in 2025, he founded PZH Process Design to provide independent consulting to engineering, manufacturing, energy, and industrial clients.
Areas of Expertise
- Renewable Fuels & Renewable Diesel
- Fischer-Tropsch Technology
- Hydroprocessing & Hydrodeoxygenation
- Feedstock Pretreatment
- Process Design Packages
- Reactor Design & Internals
- HAZOPs & PHAs
- Process Control & DCS Support
- Materials Selection & Metallurgy
- Scale-Up: Bench to Commercial
- Patents & Intellectual Property Support
- Technology Transfer & Licensing
Patents
Named inventor on 17 issued U.S. patents, plus one pending application, covering hydroprocessing, feedstock pretreatment, Fischer-Tropsch products, and bio-based fuels and fluids.
- US 6,939,999Integrated Fischer-Tropsch Process with Improved Alcohol Processing Capability
- US 7,655,135Process for Removing Solid Particles from a Hydroprocessing Feed
- US 7,846,323Process for Co-Producing Jet Fuel and LPG from Renewable Sources
- US 7,968,757Hydrocracking Process for Biological Feedstocks and Hydrocarbon Produced Thereof
- US 8,026,401Hydrodeoxygenation Process
- US 8,575,409Method for the Removal of Phosphorus
- US 8,629,308Method for the Conversion of Polymer Contaminated Feedstocks
- US 8,969,259Bio-Based Synthetic Fluids
- US 9,163,183Removal of Solubilized Metals from Fischer-Tropsch Products
- US 9,328,303Reducing Pressure Drop Build-Up in Bio-Oil Hydroprocessing Reactors
- US 9,404,064Method of Removing a Contaminant from a Contaminant-Containing Biological Composition Useful as a Biofuel Feedstock
- US 9,523,041Reducing Pressure Drop Build-Up in Bio-Oil Hydroprocessing Reactors
- US 10,011,783Bio-Based Synthetic Fluids
- US 11,118,133Method of Upgrading Low-Value and Waste Fats, Oils, Greases
- US 11,186,785Bio-Based Synthetic Fuels
- US 11,655,431Method for Upgrading Low-Value and Waste Fats, Oil, and Greases
- US 12,391,899Method for Upgrading Low-Value and Waste Fats, Oil, and Greases
- PendingUse of Ammonium Hydroxide in Pretreatment of Lipid Feedstocks with Fatty Acids
To search these patents, visit the USPTO Patent Public Search website.