Dr Huayong Zhao

DPhil, FHEA

  • Senior Lecturer in Fluid Mechanics
  • UG admissions tutor for Mech. Eng

Background

Dr Huayong Zhao joined the Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering at Loughborough University as a Research Associate in 2012. He then took the position of Lecturer in Fluid Mechanics in 2014, and later Senior Lecturer in 2021. Prior to this, he was awarded the D.Phil. degree in Engineering by the University of Oxford in 2012, and the B.Sc. degree in Electromechanical Engineering by the University of Macau in 2008.

 

Dr Zhao's research aims to improve the efficiency and sustainability of liquid-vapour multiphase energy systems, with a particular focus on the propulsion technologies. He is very interested in probing into the liquid-vapour phase change process encountered in energy systems, including the cryogenic energy systems, through optical measurement techniques and analytical/numerical analysis. Dr Zhao is also working in the quantification of the energy system performance experimentally and through thermodynamic analysis.

Dr Zhao's recent projects deal with

  • Liquid-vapour phase change process, including boiling and thin-film evaporation, for thermal management techniques.
  • Cryogenic energy systems, e.g. liquid nitrogen engine.
  • Evaporation of droplets, including metastable droplets.

Grants and Contracts

  • 2019 – 2024, Industrial funding, Two-Phase Evaporative Cooling (PI).
  • 2016 – 2021, Advanced Propulsion Centre, APC5 - Cryogenic Engines for Mobile Zero Emission Power (PI).
  • 2021 – 2022, Industrial funding, Contact Thermal Resistance (CI).
  • 2016 – 2018, Advanced Propulsion Centre, APC3 - Advanced Systems for Carbon Emission Reduction through New Technology (CI).
  • 2013 – 2015, InnovateUK, COOL-E (CI).

Current teaching responsibilities

  • WSA800 Thermodynamics and fluid mechanics
  • WSB802 Fluid mechanics 2
  • WSB112 Engineering Science 2 (fluid mechanics session)
  • WSC801 Advanced heat transfer

Current administrative responsibilities

  • UG admissions tutor for Mech. Eng.

Selected Publications

  • Christodoulou, F., Sechenyh, V., Zhao, H.*, Garner, C., & Clarke, H. (2021). Performance of a Novel Liquid Nitrogen Power System. Applied Thermal Engineering, 191. doi:10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2021.116896.
  • Sechenyh, V., Christodoulou, F., Zhao, H*., Garner, C., & Fennell, D. (2021). The Effect of Heat Exchange Fluid Composition on the Performance of a Liquid Nitrogen Engine System. Energies, 14(5). doi:10.3390/en14051474.
  • Rebelo, N., Zhao, H.*, Nadal, F., Garner, C., & Williams, A. (2019). Evaporation of liquid nitrogen droplets in superheated immiscible liquids. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 143. doi:10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2019.118575.
  • Zhao, P.*, Hargrave, G., Versteeg, H., Garner, C., Reid, B. A., Long, E., & Zhao, H. (2018). The dynamics of droplet impact on a heated porous surface. Chemical Engineering Science, 190, 232-247. doi:10.1016/j.ces.2018.06.030.
  • Zhao, H.*, & Williams, A. M. (2018). Predicting the critical heat flux in pool boiling based on hydrodynamic instability induced irreversible hot spots. International Journal of Multiphase Flow, 104, 174-187. doi:10.1016/j.ijmultiphaseflow.2018.02.021.
  • Zhao, H.*, & Bhabra, B. (2018). Experimental Investigation of the Kelvin-Helmholtz Instabilities of Cylindrical Gas Columns in Viscous Fluids. International Journal of Multiphase Flow, 105, 74-83. doi:10.1016/j.ijmultiphaseflow.2018.03.017.

External Collaborators

  • Caterpillar
  • Air Product
  • University of Twente

External roles and appointments

  • Fellow of Higher Education Academy