Professor Xudong Zhao

Professor Xudong Zhao

Professor of Engineering/ Director of Research

Faculty and Department

  • Institutes
  • Energy and Environmental Institute

Qualifications

  • BEng
  • MSc
  • PhD / DPhil (University of Nottingham)

Summary

Xudong Zhao is a globally recognised energy researcher whose focus is around sustainable building services, renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. Over his 30 year career he has led or participated in 58 research projects worth £18.5m, 40 engineering consultancy projects worth £5m and claimed 11 patents.

- 58 research projects with a total fund value in excess of £18.5 million

- 213 scientific papers

- 11 patents

- 7 books published (as a co-author)

- 25 postdoctoral research fellows and 30 PhD students have been (is being) supervised

- 40 engineering design and construction projects completed

- 1 MSc programme developed

- 8 teaching modules undertaken

16971_16/17S2 Renewable Energy Technologies for Buildings

57020 Fluid dynamics - lab experiment reporting marking

57182_16/17S1 Built Environment Technologies

K11SD2 Building Services Design 2

K1AES2 Environmental Services Design 2

K14RMS Research Methodology

06061 Preparing for Learning in HE - teacher

Engineering FdEng Projects

Engineering Group Projects

Engineering Undergraduate Projects

Taught MSc Individual Projects.

Recent outputs

View more outputs

Journal Article

Performance investigation of a novel low-carbon solar-assisted multi-source heat pump heating system demonstrated in a public building in Hull

Li, Y., Li, Z., Song, Z., Fan, Y., Zhao, X., & Li, J. (2024). Performance investigation of a novel low-carbon solar-assisted multi-source heat pump heating system demonstrated in a public building in Hull. Energy Conversion and Management, 300, Article 117979. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2023.117979

Simulation and economic analysis of an innovative indoor solar cooking system with energy storage

Zhou, C., Wang, Y., Li, J., Ma, X., Li, Q., Yang, M., …Zhu, Y. (2023). Simulation and economic analysis of an innovative indoor solar cooking system with energy storage. Solar Energy, 263, Article 111816. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2023.111816

Eco-economic performance and application potential of a novel dual-source heat pump heating system

Li, Y., Cui, Y., Song, Z., Zhao, X., Li, J., & Shen, C. (2023). Eco-economic performance and application potential of a novel dual-source heat pump heating system. Energy, 283, Article 128478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2023.128478

Hydrogen-based combined heat and power systems: A review of technologies and challenges

Yu, S., Fan, Y., Shi, Z., Li, J., Zhao, X., Zhang, T., & Chang, Z. (2023). Hydrogen-based combined heat and power systems: A review of technologies and challenges. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.05.187

Annual analysis of the photovoltaic direct-expansion heat pump assisted by double condensing equipment for secondary power generation

Song, Z., Ji, J., Zhang, Y., Li, Y., Li, J., & Zhao, X. (2023). Annual analysis of the photovoltaic direct-expansion heat pump assisted by double condensing equipment for secondary power generation. Renewable energy, 209, 169-183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2023.03.059

Research interests

-Renewable/Sustainable Energy Technologies & Systems , including solar thermal/power system, ambient and ground source energy utilizations, among others.

-Energy efficient technologies& Systems, including CHP, heat pipe, heat pump and PCM among others.

-Energy in Built Environment, including services engineering, environmental technology and energy systems.

Working with numerous institutes on the collaborative EU, UK and China Project

-University of Nottingham

-University of Sheffield

-University College London

-Brunel University

-South Bank University

-Bath University

-De Montfort University

-University of Leeds

-Strathclyde University

-Heriot-Watt University

-Northumbria University

-Queens Mary University of London

-University of Reading

-University of Edinburgh

-Munters UK Ltd

-Ebm-pepst UK Ltd

-Thermacore Europe

-IT Power

-NPS Humber Ltd

-Arup

-Bill Dunster architects - ZEDfactory Ltd

-Hurleypalmerflat

-Vale Window Company Ltd

-Nuaire Ltd

-Bobby Gilbert & Associates Ltd

-PICK EVERARD

-Sustainable Energy Installations Ltd

-Renewable Energy Supplier Ltd

-EPS Ltd

-SKYLINE CG

-Nuaire Ltd

-Vale Window

-Dragodas, Spain

-Munters Europe, Sweden

-Nobatek, France

-Valliant, Turkey

-Ascamm, Spain

-Inea, Czech Republic

-Va-Q-tec AG, Germany

-UPM, Spain

-UMINHO, Portugal

-VTT, Finland

-IIT, Israel

-MGEP, Spain

-NUC, Norway

-TUDA, Germany

-CNRS, France

-Onyxsolar, Spain

-Apintech, Greece

-Tensoforma, Italy

-Acciona, Spain

-Tecnalia, Spain

-D’appolonia SPA, Italy

-AUTH, Greece

-European Alumium Association, Belgium

-CARTIF, Spain

-Elval, Greece

-Fenix TNT SRO, Czech Republic

-UBU, Spain

-Fasada, Poland

-PICH-Aguil, Spain

-Tsinghua University, China

-Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China

-University of Science and Technology of China

-Harbin Institute of Technology, China

-Tongji University, China

-Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, China

-Guangdong University of Technology, China

-Taiyuan University of Technology, China

-Shanghai Pacific Energy Centre, China

-Gree Ltd, China

-Sinogreen Ltd, China

-Youshida Ltd, China

-Aolan Ltd, China

Lead investigator

Project

Funder

Grant

Started

Status

Project

(Dr Na Zhu) A Novel Enivornment/Solar-Interactive and Building-integrate-able Power Generation System Enabling Harness of Solar and Environmental Energy

Funder

UKRI UK Research and Innovation

Grant

£204,031.00

Started

1 September 2023

Status

Ongoing

Project

A novel solar heat harvesting technology enabling the full-spectrum capture and enhanced building performance

Funder

Royal Society

Grant

£12,000.00

Started

31 March 2022

Status

Ongoing

Project

A Pioneering, Near-Zero-Carbon and All-Climate-Adaptive Air Conditioning System Using Atmospheric Latent Heat and Natural Light Energy

Funder

EPSRC Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council

Grant

£814,323.00

Started

1 September 2023

Status

Ongoing

Project

Protected Cultivation of Horticultural Crops: Setting a New Standard

Funder

Innovate UK

Grant

£59,981.00

Started

1 April 2023

Status

Ongoing

Project

A Novel Loop-Heat-Pipe (LHP)-based Data Centre Heat Removal and Recovery System Employing the Micro-channels Cold/Hot Plates

Funder

EC European Commission

Grant

£190,621.00

Started

9 September 2019

Status

Complete

Project

Development of a next generation, highly efficient, low cost and building integrate-able solar PV/thermal system for building space heating, hot water and power supply

Funder

EPSRC Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council

Grant

£387,416.00

Started

1 April 2017

Status

Complete

Project

Low Energy Dew Point Cooling for Computing Data Centres

Funder

EC European Commission

Grant

£327,560.00

Started

1 January 2017

Status

Complete

Project

Innovative Building Renewable Energy and Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage Technologies

Funder

British Council

Grant

£48,000.00

Started

1 April 2017

Status

Complete

Project

A novel Hybrid Photovoltaic-Thermoelectric Power Generation System Employing the Flat-plate Micro-channel Heat Pipe

Funder

EC European Commission

Grant

£156,363.00

Started

1 October 2017

Status

Complete

Project

A Passive, Zero-Carbon Data Centre Heat Removal and Recovery System Employing a Novel Micro-Channel Loop Heat Pipe Heat Exchanger

Funder

EC European Commission

Grant

£156,363.00

Started

1 October 2017

Status

Complete

Project

E2VENT (H2020 LEIT)

Funder

EC European Commission

Grant

£102,500.00

Started

1 January 2015

Status

Complete

Project

Multiple Factors Engaged Heat Transfer in the Refuge Chambers

Funder

Royal Society

Grant

£12,000.00

Started

1 March 2015

Status

Complete

Project

Key Technologies for Enhancing Energy Efficiency of the Dew Point Air Cooler and its Manufacturing Process

Funder

EPSRC Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council

Grant

£381,235.00

Started

1 May 2015

Status

Complete

Project

Developing a novel PV/T heating system for Chinese style rural buildings

Funder

Shanxi Jingxu Renewable Energy Co Ltd

Grant

£28,000.00

Started

1 October 2014

Status

Complete

Project

Development of a novel solar/ground sourced heat and power system for typical northern China building

Funder

Shanxi Jingxu Renewable Energy Co Ltd

Grant

£44,000.00

Started

1 September 2016

Status

Complete

Project

Integrated Application of Renewable Energy and Phase Change Energy Storage

Funder

British Council

Grant

£24,799.00

Started

1 April 2018

Status

Complete

Project

Advanced Carbon and Energy Management and Eco-design Platform for Urban Districts

Funder

Innovate UK

Grant

£17,720.00

Started

1 September 2018

Status

Complete

Project

A low carbon heating system for existing public buildings employing the innovative mixed indoor/outdoor air source heat pump and multiple-throughout-flowing micro-channel solar panels array

Funder

BEIS Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy

Grant

£1,191,853.00

Started

1 October 2018

Status

Complete

Co-investigator

Project

Funder

Grant

Started

Status

Project

A Super Performance Dew Point Cooler for Data Centres

Funder

BEIS Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy

Grant

£300,502.00

Started

1 July 2019

Status

Complete

Postgraduate supervision

Over more than 30 years of professional career, he has led or participated in 58 research projects funded by EU, EPSRC, Royal Society, Innovate-UK, Royal Academy of Engineering, China Ministry of Science and Technology and industry with accumulated fund value of approximately £18.5 million, 40 engineering consultancy projects worth £5 million, and claimed 11 patents. Up to date, he has supervised 30 PhD students and 25 postdoctoral research fellows, published 213 peer-reviewed papers in high impact journals and referred conferences, involved authorization of 8 books, chaired, organized and gave keynote (invited) speeches in 30 international conferences. His researches in solar PV, solar thermal, solar PV/T (photovoltaic/thermal), heat pump, and sustainable heating & cooling have achieved world-leading standards, being placed at the ‘2017 world highly cited researchers list’, receiving the ‘The UK Rushlight Innovation Award’, ‘European Dragon-STAR Innovation Silver Award (2nd place)’, ‘World Society of Sustainable Energy Technology 1st, 2th and 3th Round Innovation Awards’ in consecutive years of 2016, 2017 and 2018, and being nominated as a candidate for ‘2018 World Eni-awards’. He is currently undertaking a number of important national and international roles: (1) Member of the UK ‘EPSRC Engineering Prioritisation Panel’; (2) Executive Board Member of the ‘World Society of Sustainable Energy Technologies’; (3) Executive Management Board Member of the ‘International Conference Series for Sustainable Energy Technologies’; (4) Steering Committee Member of the ‘European District Heating and Cooling Technology Platform’ involving development of work documents for European Commission in this subject (e.g. Digital District Heating and Cooling etc); (5) Editorial board member of the journals ‘Energy’, ‘Renewable Energy’, ‘Energies’, ‘Future Cities and Environment’, ‘Frontiers in Built Environment and Mechanical Engineering’, ‘Heat Exchangers’, ‘Sustainable Cities and Society’, ‘Journal of Architectural Research and Development (JARD)’, ‘Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning’ and ‘Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering’; (6) Guest Lead Editors for the ‘Applied Energy’, ‘International Journal of Photo-energy’, ‘Energies’, and ‘Frontier of Energy Researches’; (7) The referee for EU FP7 programme, colleague member of EPSRC (UK), referee of ESRC (UK), French National Agency (ANR), Kazakhstan National Science and Technology Ministry, Portugal Science and Technology section and Hong Kong Research Grant Council; and (8) UK Newton Fund Programme Advisor focusing on China related research collaboration. Recently, he was selected as the member of the ‘EU Academy of Sciences’, and won the sole ‘Research Excellence Award’ from the University of Hull.

Completed PhD's

1.Bing Wang (Second Supervisor) – Composite fibre materials, completed in 2016, Hull

2.Yang Qin (Second Supervisor) – Composite material characterization, completed in 2018, Hull.

3.Jinzhi Zhou (First Supervisor) – Investigation of a novel PV-micro-channel-evaporator based heating system, completed in 2018, Hull

4.Jinchun Shen (First Supervisor) – Investigation of a novel heat pipe incorporating solar façade system, completed in 2015, Hull

5.Xingxing Zhang (First Supervisor) – A novel zero (low) carbon, building integrated solar/air PV/c-l-h-p heat pump system, completed in 2014, Hull

6.Peng Xu (First Supervisor) – A super-performance dew point air cooler and its application in buildings, completed in 2018, Hull

7.Zishang Zhu (First Supervisor) – Optimisation study of the eco-building design in China, completed in 2017, Hull

8.Chrsitine Ballard (First Supervisor) – Investigation into the best practice for building energy and sustainability, completed in 2009, Nottingham

9.Andreas Engelhardt (First Supervisor) – Effect of shape-changing on the performance and operating characteristics of heat pipes, completed in 2009, Nottingham

10.Zhiyin Duan (First Supervisor) – Investigation of a novel dew point cooling technology for EU building air conditioning, completed in 2011, Nottingham

11.Zhangyuan Wang (First Supervisor) – Investigation of a novel façade-based solar loop heat pipe water heating system, completed in 2011, Nottingham

12.Shuli Liu (Second Supervisor) – A novel heat recovery/desiccant cooling system, completed in 2008, Nottingham

13.Musa Muazo (Second Supervisor) – Novel evaporation cooling systems for building applications, completed in 2008, Nottingham

14.Ferdinard Daminabo (Second Supervisor) – A novel bio-mass driven micro-CHP system, completed in 2009, Nottingham

15.Matiwaza Ncube (Second Supervisor) – Development of a methodology for rapid assessment of indoor environment quality (IEQ) using measured or design data, and energy use, completed in 2010, Nottingham

16.Nick Beckett (Second Supervisor) – Investigation of control strategies of a novel domestic renewable energy storage system, completed in 2010, Nottingham

17.Yanqi Cui (Second Supervisor) – PCM technology for buildings, completed in 2014, Nottingham.

18.Mahamood Mustfa (Second Supervisor) – Ecological air conditioning system using dew point cooling and desiccant dehumidification – Middle East case study, completed in 2016, De Montfort

19.Xia Hua (First Supervisor) – Investigation of photo-catalyst building construction materials for enviroment remediation and self cleaning, completed in 2015, De Montfort

20.Samira Mustafa (Second Supervisor) – BIPV cooling technology and its application in buildings, completed in 2017, De Montfort

21.Gang Ren (First Supervisor) – Energy system planning and performance study of a near-to-zero carbon island in sub-tropical climate region, thesis submitted, Harbin Institute of Technology, China

Current PhD supervisions

•Min Yu, PhD student (CSC scholarship). Investigation of a novel solar PV/Micro-Channel-Loop-Heat-Pipe (PV/MCLHP) heat and power system. X. Zhao (First Supervisor), P. Rubini (Second supervisor). Commencing at Sep. 2016

•Yi Fan, PhD student (University fee-waive and industrial Scholarship). A hybrid solar/ground sourced heat and power system for buildings. X. Zhao (First Supervisor), P. Rubini (Second supervisor). Commencing at Sep. 2016

•Yousef Golizadeh Akhlaghi, PhD student. Development of the design and optimisation tool for a novel data-centre based dew point air conditioning system. X. Zhao (First Supervisor), X. Ma (Second supervisor). Commencing at Sept. 2017

•Samson Shittu, PhD student. Optimum control strategy for a novel data-centre based dew point air conditioning system. X. Zhao (First Supervisor), X. Ma (Second supervisor). Commencing at Sept. 2017

•Yu Cui, PhD student. Study of a novel integrated, cloud-computing based district-scale energy and environment management system. X. Zhao (First Supervisor). Commencing at Sept. 2018

•Peng Qin, PhD student. An intelligent energy management system for city and district. Z. Zhu (First Supervisor), X. Zhao (Second Supervisor). Commencing at Jan. 2019

•Mohammed Alsaleem, PhD student. A novel data centre cooling system using a novel micro-channel loop heat pipe system. X. Ma (First supervisor), X. Zhao (Second Supervisor). Commencing at Jan. 2019.

Awards and prizes

UK Rushlight Innovation Award

2019

Hull Winner of Research Excellence Award

2018

2018 University of Hull Winner of Research Excellence Award (only one), by University of Hull

World Society of Sustainable Energy Technology 3th Round Innovation Award

2018

World Society of Sustainable Energy Technology 3th Round Innovation Award, by the ‘World Society of Sustainable Energy Technologies, August 2018, Wuhan China

World Society of Sustainable Energy Technology 2st Round Innovation Award

2017

World Society of Sustainable Energy Technology 2st Round Innovation Award, by the ‘World Society of Sustainable Energy Technologies, July 2017, Bologna Italy

World Society of Sustainable Energy Technology 1st Round Innovation Award

2016

World Society of Sustainable Energy Technology 1st Round Innovation Award, by the ‘World Society of Sustainable Energy Technologies, July 2016, Singapore

European Dragon-STAR Innovation Silver Award

2015

European Dragon-STAR Innovation Silver Award (2nd place), by European Commission, May 2015, Brussels

University of Hull Professors’ assessment award

2015

University of Hull Professors’ assessment award (top graded level) for exceptional achievement, UK, 2015

DMU (De Montfort University) Vice-Chancellor’s award

2011

DMU (De Montfort University) Vice-Chancellor’s award (double increment and extra bonus) for exceptional achievement, UK, 2011

Annual awards

2007 - 2009

Nottingham University annual awards (double increment) for exceptional achievement, UK, 2007/2008, 2008/2009

Committee/Steering group role

Member

20

the UK EPSRC Engineering Prioritisation Panel

Executive Board Member

20

World Society of Sustainable Energy Technologies (WSSET)

Steering Committee Member

20

European DHC+ (District Heating and Cooling) Technology Platform, European Heat & Power Association

Executive Board Member

20

International Sustainable Energy Technologies Conference Management Board

Expert Panel Member

20

International Academic Exchange Information Centre (AEIC)

Conference organisation

Chair, EU-China Symposiums on Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Phase Change Energy Storage Technologies

2018

Session Chair, the 6th International Conference on Crogenics and Refrigeration (ICCR)

2018

Scientific Committee Member/Session Chair, 2017 International Symposium on Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning - ISHVAC2017

2017

Chair/Keynote-speaker, UK-China Innovative Building Renewable Energy and Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage Technologies

2017

Session Chair, 16th International Conference on Sustainable Energy Technologies

2017

Executive Chair, 2016 International Symposium on Sustainable Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technologies

2016

TPC (Technical Programme Committee) Member, 2016 International Conference on Energy Development and Environmental Protection (EDEP 2016)

2016

Organization Committee Member/Chair, 2014 International Refrigeration Technology Symposium

2014

Scientific Committee Member, IHTS2014 (International Heat Transfer Conference)

2014

Scientific Committee Member, 8th International Symposium on Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning - ISHVAC2013

2013

Scientific Committee Member, 5th International Symposium on Building Retrofitting Technologies

2013

Session Chair, 12th International Conference on Sustainable Energy Technologies

2013

Co-organiser, The 5th International Forum on Energy Saving and Environmental Protection Technologies in Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration & 2012 International Forum on Energy Efficiency Standards & Emission Reduction Mechanism

2012

Scientific Committee Member, International Conference on the Process Industry Thermal Energy Management

2011

Chair, UK-China Forum in Sustainable Energy and Environmental Technologies for Buildings

2009

Session Chair, 2009 International UECTC-RE Conference

2009

Co-Chair of 8th Conference of UK Chinese Association of Resource and Environment

2008

Session Chair, 5th International Conference on Sustainable Energy Technologies

2006

Conference presentation

Keynote Speaker, the 5th China Youth Scholar Forum on Thermodynamic and Energy Utilization

2018

Invited Keynote Speaker, 7th China Building and Environmental Conference

2018

Keynote Speaker, International Energy and Environment Summit 2017

2017

Invited Speaker, International Data Centre World Conference

2017

Invited Keynote Speaker, 3rd International Symposium on Energy Challenges and Mechanics

2015

Invited Speaker: 2014 World Renewable Energy Congress

2014

Invited Keynote Speaker, 2012 China Symposium on Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology

2012

Invited Speaker and Session Chair, Low Carbon Earth Summit-2011 (LCES-2011)

2011

Invited Keynote Speaker, 2011 Beijing International Forum on Energy Saving Heating and Clean Energy Technologies

2011

Journal editorial role

Editorial Board Member for ‘Renewable Energy’

2019

Member of Editorial Board, ‘Journal of Architectural Research and Development (JARD)’

2018 - 2021

Guest editor, special issue of ‘Applied Energy’

2018

Member of Editorial Board and Special Issue Chief Editor

2017 - 2020

Member of Editorial Board and Special Issue Chief Editor for ‘Energy’ (IF: 5.582), 2017 - 2020

Subject editor of ‘Energies’

2017 - 2020

Lead Guest Editor, special issue of the ‘Energies’ (SCI)

2016 - 2017

Lead Guest Editor, special issue of the ‘Frontier of Energy Researches’

2016 - 2017

Member of Editorial Board, ‘Future Cities and Environment’

2015 - 2018

Lead Guest Editor, special issue of ‘International Journal of Photoenergy’

2015 - 2016

Member of Editorial Board, Journal of Energy and Power Engineering

2014 - 2017

Member of Editorial Board, Frontiers in Built Environment and Mechanical Engineering

2014 - 2017

Member of Editorial Board, Heat Exchangers

2014 - 2017

Member of Editorial Board, Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering

2013

Member of Editorial Board, Energy Science and Technology

2012 - 2015

Member of Editorial Board, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning

2011

Member of Editorial Board, Sustainable Cities and Society

2010 - 2014

Membership/Fellowship of professional body

EC(UK) Chartered Engineer

20

Member of CIBSE

20

Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, UK

Committee member

20

Committee member of the UK Chinese Association of Resource and Environment

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