Research fields

　　The research in the Laboratory is deeply engaged in the fundamentals for conversions and utilizations of different kinds of energy and mass, the phenomena and mechanisms of complex flows in turbomachinery and the integration theory and key technologies of the integrated energy systems based on the full three-dimensional flow theory created by Academician Chunghua Wu and the cascade utilization of energy. The Laboratory is devoted to the development and innovations of the sustainable energy systems, the expansions of the interdisciplinary fields of energy and environmental science and the technical innovations for energy conservations and emission reductions.

A test bench rig for indirect combustion of fuels	The National Foundation Committee was inspecting an experimental locale.

Research directions

　　1. Developments and innovations in energy and power systems

　　The researchers investigate the holographic characteristics and the related laws in the integrated systems at an interdisciplinary level, create new methods for the integrations, designs, optimizations and analyses of the systems, and develop theory for the integrated systems with the cascade utilization of energy. Aiming at the key national demands, the research staffs develop and create novel energy and power systems, including new combined cycles for coal combustion, poly-generation systems powered by chemical energies, distributed systems for cooling, heating and power cogeneration, multifunctional systems with multi-fossil fuels and multi-products, solar thermal power systems and seawater distillation systems.

　　2. Mechanisms and technologies of key processes in energy conversions

　　The researchers involve the research and development of the mechanism and technology in the key energy conversion processes with the integrated cascade utilizations of chemical and physical energies released in energy and power systems. The research includes the mechanism and technology of such new chemical energy releases as chemical chain combustion and indirect combustion, the mechanism and technology in the integrated control of pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions and in energy conversions, the mechanism and technology in the key coupled cycle processes in novel combined power and cooling cogeneration, and the mechanism and technology in the conversion and utilization of solar energy and the mechanism and technology in such utilizations of exhaust heat as absorption cooling, heat pumping and dehumidifying. 

　　3. Integrated principle of CO2 mitigation and novel environmentally friendly energy systems

　　The research is engaged in the exploration of integrated principle of energy conversion and utilizations, and CO2 mitigations by investigating the mechanisms and principles of CO2 formations, reactions, transfer and conversions in energy and power systems to discover the irreversible correlation mechanisms and coupling characteristics between the conversion and utilization of chemical energy and CO2 separation. With the principle, the researchers develop novel environmentally friendly energy systems with zero CO2 emission and zero energy consumption, including the integrated combustion-CO2 separation thermo-dynamical cycle systems of chemical chain combustions, the cogeneration systems with CO2 emission control, and the multi-functional hydrogen generation system with multi-power suppliers and zero energy consumption for CO2 separation.

　　4. Research and developments of advanced design and analysis systems for aerodynamics and cooling

　　The research covers the complicated flow phenomena and flow loss mechanism in steam and gas turbines and the advanced blade cooling technology and the mechanism of thermal fluid-structure coupling. On a basis of full understanding of complicated flows, heat transfer and thermal fluid-solid coupling mechanisms, the researchers construct advanced design, analysis and experimental systems for aerodynamics and cooling. The research is engaged in studies of steady and unsteady flows in multi-stage turbines, the interactions between the axial asymmetric flow field and the flow field in the full circumferential row of blades, the turbine blade cooling, the analyses of thermal fluid-structure coupling, the analysis systems of advanced CFD aerodynamics and the optimization designs.

Research staffs in the Laboratory

　　There are totally 3 research professors inclusively of an academician in the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 3 visiting research professors inclusively of a foreign professor, 5 associate research professors or senior engineers, 1 visiting research professor for a project, the Western Light, 14 graduate students for doctoral degrees and 10 graduate students for master’s degrees. 

The research projects granted in 2008

　　9 research projects are being advanced on schedules inclusively of 2 key international collaborative project of the National Natural Science Foundation, the control and strategy study of greenhouse gas, and the experimental and theoretical studies of the unsteady flow mechanism in axial asymmetric gas turbomachinery. Among the 9 research projects, an accomplished key project led by research Professor Hongguang Jin has been evaluated with a grade of A by the foundation committee. The Laboratory had 9 new projects granted in 2008, including a special 863 project, a key project, 2 normal projects and a knowledge innovation project of the National Natural Science Foundation and 2 international cooperative projects.

A scientifi c book, comprehensive cascade utilization of energy and the integrated
energy systems with gas turbines, has been pressed.

Main research achievements and progresses in 2008

　　The research in the Laboratory covers developments and innovations of multi-energy complementary and solar-energy thermal chemical systems. The researchers have independently developed an integrated parabolic-curve trough-type experimental facility for methanolysis with solar energy. The output is 10 kW. The maximum conversion ratio of methanolysis is up to 82%. The energy conversion efficiency of solar energy into fuel chemical energy exceeds 50%. The researchers have proposed a power-hydrogen cogeneration system with thermal chemical reactions of methyl alcohol powered by low-temperature solar energy for the first time in the world. With the system, the energy consumption for hydrogen generation is 102 MJ/kg-H2 without counting the solar energy consumption. It is lower than the rate of 159 MJ/kg-H2 in a routine methyl alcohol generation and reformation system. The researchers have developed a new research direction of the utilization of solar energy and a creatively new high-tech of renewable energy at international level highly evaluated by domestic and foreign colleagues.

A test bench rig for medium solar energy-fuel onversion	A test bench rig for parabolic-curve trough-type solar energy-fuel conversion

　　The researchers in the Laboratory engage in principle and novel integrated systems of CO2 reductions. We have set up the general equations for the irreversibility between the available energies for chemical reactions/heat and the CO2 separation, and found coupling characteristics between CO2 separation and the cascade utilization of chemical energy in the systems of indirect combustion, chain chemical combustion and cogeneration. We have creatively proposed an integrated cogeneration system for CO2 separation after synthetic reactions. The efficiency of CO2 separation is higher than that in regular systems. We have tentatively proposed technical maps suitable for the national greenhouse gas control. The implementation of the maps is expected to have new economical benefits of several hundred million tons of standard coal or an increase of hundred billion US dollars for this country every year. The research results have offered a reliable scientific database for the sustainable development in energy, environmental and low-carbon emission technologies in this country and won high evaluations at a European Union-China Energy Conference.

　　The researchers have proposed a new trans-equilibrium heat-power coupled cycle with the working medium of ammonia water in a parallel or series type, optimized and integrated a new-type coupled cooling-power co-supplying cycle and met different needs in heating and condensing processes in dynamical sub-cycles. Because of the cycles, the back pressure at the outlet of a gas turbine can be obviously reduced. Compared with a single generation system with equal outputs, the energy-saving rate is enhanced by up to 30%.

　　The research on aerodynamics and heat transfer in turbomachinery is being processed smoothly. Supported by a subject of a national 973 project, the researchers have set up an experimental facility of measuring the integrated cooling and heat-transfer characteristics in a gas turbine cascade with an instantaneous temperature field measuring system with thermochromic liquid crystal and have proposed a passage structure with alternative small and large ribs with good integrated heat-transfer characteristics. A national patent for the structure has been approved. Supported by a national 863 project and sub-projects of a 973 project, the researchers have investigated the closed-loop steam cooling in turbines and proposed a closed-loop cooling structure suitable for the trailing ends of blades. A national patent for invention for the structure has been approved.

　　A scientific book in Chinese, comprehensive cascade utilization of energy and the integrated energy systems with gas turbines, was funded by an Academic publication project in science and technology and pressed by the Science Press in 2008. Academician Ruixian Cai receives the 2008 Ho Leung Ho Lee Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress. At the annual ASME Turbo Expo meeting, a paper written by Hongguang Jin, Wei Han and Linsan Gao receives the Best Paper Award. At the 21st Meeting of the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) held in Poland, a paper written by Xiaosong Zhang, Wei Han, Hui Hong and Hongguang Jin was selected for the Young Scientists Awards of ECOS. Na Zhang is a co-recipient of the first Chunghua Wu Award for outstanding youth scholar. Qibin Liu is a co-recipient of the President Award for Excellence in the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the first Chunghua Wu Award for Outstanding Student.