Advanced heating and cooling technologies
I am Tingting Zhu and I work as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Thermal and Fluid Engineering (Heat Transfer and Thermodynamics group) at the University of Twente. My research focusses on Advanced Heating and Cooling Technologies.
Background
My personal background is in the Heat Transfer and Thermodynamics. My main motivation is to pursue the true meaning of applied science and to develop energy utilization technologies that value-adding for people, especially sustainable and efficient heating and cooling technologies.
In the years to come
My research aims to develop advanced energy utilization technologies to serve global energy transition. In the coming years, I will focus on the optimization and integration of heat pump systems, but also on the development of new advanced energy conversion technologies based on sustainable refrigerants and materials. I and my team will look into:
- Heat transfer mechanism of frost formation on evaporator surfaces
- Thermodynamic behavior of mixture refrigerants in heat pump systems
- Integration technology of multi-source energy (include renewable energy) in energy system
- Application of functional materials in heat exchangers.
Working on the frost formation
EDUCATION
Align with my research area in Thermal Engineering, I teach MSc course of Energy Conversion Technology, and I am in the teaching team for the topic of Energy System in bachelor programme module 2 (Energy and Materials) and module 3 (Energy and Sustainability). I’ve joined a challenge based learning (CBL) course, Energy Storage, which enable students discover challenges and bottlenecks in the application of each energy technologies. On top of that, I also supervise BSc, MSc and PhD students on their projects.
Booster heat pump in the district heating networks
Collaborations
I have worked on research projects with academia and industry partners (e.g. Technical University of Denmark, Ghent University, Danfoss, etc.) to understand the thermodynamic behavior of mixture refrigerants in heat pump cycles to meet industry needs for applications in 4th and 5th generation district heating networks. I have also co-supervised Masters students with experts from companies such as Thales Nederland B.V., Linthorst, to develop practical solutions for thermal energy applications and the integration of energy systems. Our research team has been actively applying for funding and conducting joint research with international partners from countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, and Belgium.