♦Principal Investigator:
Dr Huangwei Zhang (PhD, Cambridge University, 2015)
Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, NUS
Email: huangwei.zhang@nus.edu.sg; Tel: +65 6516 2557
LinkenIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/huangwei-zhang-363576231/
Dr. Huangwei Zhang is currently an Assistant Professor in Department of Mechanical Engineering at National University of Singapore (NUS). He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Engineering Mechanics and Fluid Mechanics from Beihang University (China) in 2007 and 2009 respectively, Ph.D. degree from Department of Engineering at University of Cambridge (United Kingdom) in 2015. The general scientific problems he works on are mainly multi-phase reacting flows, leveraging combined approaches of theoretical analysis, numerical simulation and experimental diagnostics. They cover multiple dimensions, including high-speed and low-speed flows, dilute and dense particle concentration, as well as multi-phase interface tracking. His team is dedicated to making the research towards a wide range of engineering applications, including but not limited to: (1) advanced propulsion system, (2) clean combustion and decarbonization technology, (3) energy safety and resilience, and (4) sustainable energy solutions. In recent several years, his research is focused on hydrocarbon fuel detonative combustion and ammonia/hydrogen combustion for energy transition, with significant industrial collaborations in Singapore and overseas. He is the Secretary of the Singapore Section of the Combustion Institute (SSCI).
EDUCATION:
- Ph.D., Energy and Combustion, University of Cambridge 2011 – 2015, Doctoral Thesis: Extinction in turbulent swirling non-premixed flames
- M. Eng., Fluid Mechanics, Beihang University 2007 – 2009
- B. Eng., Engineering Mechanics, Beihang University 2003 – 2007
EMPLOYMENT AND POSITION:
- Assistant Professor 07/2017 – Present, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore
- Principal Investigator 10/2020 – Present, NUS (Chongqing) Research Institute, Chongqing, China
- Principal Investigator 07/2022 – Present, NUS Center for Hydrogen Innovations (CHI)
- Post-doctoral Research Associate 06/2015 – 07/2017, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge (advisor: Prof. Epaminondas Mastorakos)
- Research Associate 10/2009 – 08/2011, College of Engineering, Peking University (advisor: Prof. Zheng Chen)
RESEARCH FUNDING:
- Hydrogen combustion in Singapore, PI, 01/10/2024 – 30/09/2027, CREATE Thematic Programme in Decarbonisation, National Research Foundation (NRF).
- Development of an integrated system of ammonia partially cracking and gas turbine combustion with cascade waste heat utilization, Lead PI, 01/04/2024 – 31/03/2027, Low-Carbon Energy Research (LCER) Phase 2 Programme – Directed Hydrogen Programme, National Research Foundation (NRF).
- Post-Release Impact Mitigation Evaluation (PRIME), Team-PI, 01/04/2024 – 31/03/2027, Low-Carbon Energy Research (LCER) Phase 2 Programme – Directed Hydrogen Programme, National Research Foundation (NRF).
- Droplet and spray combustion of liquid ammonia as a fuel, 06/09/2024 – 06/08/2027, PI, Singapore Ministry of Education (MOE) for AcRF Tier 2 Grant.
- Development of a test rig for model gas turbine combustor fueled with ammonia and natural gas blends, 01/07/2022 – 30/06/2024, PI, NUS Center for Hydrogen Innovations (CHI) 1st Grant Call.
- Turbulence-flame interactions in turbulent premixed combustion under extreme conditions, 15/03/2022 – 14/09/2024, PI, Singapore Ministry of Education (MOE) Tier 1 Grant.
- Resilience analysis on hydrogen as a low-emission fuel: disruption prevention, prediction and recovery, 31/03/2021 – 30/09/2022, Lead PI, Singapore National Research Foundation (NRF).
- Towards accurate prediction Of high speed jet noise with large eddy simulation, 01/07/2019 – 31/12/2019, PI, TL@NUS, Singapore Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).
- Modelling high-rise building fire dynamics under tropical climate conditions, 16/01/2020 – 15/01/2023, PI, Singapore Ministry of Education (MOE).
- Large eddy simulation of high-speed turbulent Flows, 01/01/2019-31/12/2019, PI, TL@NUS, Singapore Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).
- Numerical simulations of rotating detonation engines for next-generation aero-propulsion systems, 01/04/2019-31/03/2021, PI, USyd-NUS Partnership Collaboration Awards – 2018 – 1, National University of Singapore.
- Prediction of soot formation from turbulent flames under gas turbine combustion condition, 01/03/2019-28/02/2022, PI, Ministry of Education (MOE).
- Large eddy simulation of turbulent combustion and its application in detonative propulsion, 01/01/2018-31/12/2018, PI, Joint Call for Seed Research Proposals by TL@NUS – 2017 – 2, Singapore Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).
- Modelling extinction dynamics in turbulent flames, 01/09/2017 – 31/08/2021, PI, NUS Start-up Grant – 2017 – 1.
JOURNAL EDITORSHIP:
- Young Editorial Board, Advances in Applied Energy, January 2022 – Present
- Young Editorial Board, Carbon Neutrality, August 2022 – Present
- Guest Editor, for special issue of “hydrogen flame and detonation physics”, Physics of Fluids
- Guest Editor, for special issue of “non-fossil renewable gaseous fuels: synthesis, storage, and utilization”, Applied Energy
- Guest Editor, for special issue of “Detonation propulsion: fundamentals and applications”, Applications in Energy and Combustion Science
- Editorial Board, Energy and AI. 2023 – Present
- Editorial Board, Combustion and Flame. January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2030
- Member of PROCI (Proceedings of The Combustion Institute) Publication Committee (PPC) for The Combustion Institute. 2024 – 2026
SELECTED PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:
- Local Organizing Committee Member, The 32nd International Symposium on Shock Waves (ISSW32), National University of Singapore, July 14-19, 2019
- OpenFOAM in Combustion Webinar organizer, March 2022 – May 2023
- Scientific Committee, The Symposium on Ammonia Energy, 2023, Orléans, France; 2024, Shanghai, China
- Chair of Local Organizing Committee, The First International OpenFOAM Combustion Workshop, 19-20 June 2023, China
- Organizer of BUAA-NUS Bilateral Workshop on Simulation and Digitisation, August 14, 2023, Beijing, China
- Member Of the International Organizing Committee of 15th International Conference on Combustion and Energy Utilization (ICCEU), 2023
- Member of Initial Review Committee (IRC) for 40th International Symposium on Combustion, 2024
- International Scientific Committee of The Ninth International Symposium on Physics of Fluids (ISPF9), 12-15 June 2024, Datong, China
- Chairman of Workshop on New Energy and Artificial Intelligence, 12 June 23, 2024, Datong, China
- Chair of Local Organizing Committee, Co-chair of Programme Committee, The 15th Asia-Pacific Conference on Combustion (ASPACC), May 18th-22nd 2025, Singapore
♦Post-doc Research Fellow:
| Name | Time | PhD Institution | Research Topic |
Dr. Li Shangpeng |
October 2021 – Present | Tsinghua University | Droplet and spray combustion |
Dr. Yang Zhengzheng |
December 2022 – Present | Sichuan University | Catalytic combustion |
Dr. Jiang Zhiwu |
April 2023 – Present | University of Science and Technology of China | Droplet and sprays |
Dr. Sun Jie |
July 2024 – Present | Peking University | Hydrogen combustion and safety (Modelling) |
Dr. Ma Peng |
July 2024 – Present | Tsinghua University | Ammonia combustion (Experiment) |
Dr. Wang Yicun |
August 2024 – Present | Zhejiang University | Hydrogen combustion and safety (Modelling) |
Dr. Li Jinzhou |
August 2024 – Present | University of Leeds | Ammonia combustion (Experiment) |
Dr. Samir Boset Rojas Chavez |
August 2024 – Present | King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) | Ammonia combustion (Experiment) |
♦PhD Student:
| Name | Time | Previous Institution | Research Topic |
Cao Chenyang |
July 2020 – Present | Tongji University | Flame synthesis of nanoparticles |
Zhang Pikai |
July 2020 – Present | Beihang University | Two-phase flows with phase change |
Wang Yuanying |
July 2021 – Present | Xi’an Jiaotong University | Detonation modelling |
Liu Ce |
July 2021 – Present | Beijing Jiaotong University | Computational modeling of selective laser melting in AM process |
Xu Xiaoyu |
July 2021 – Present | National University of Singapore | |
Hafiz Ahmad |
September 2021 – Present | Shanghai Jiao Tong University | Sooting flames |
Zhang Juntang |
January 2022 – Present | Beijing Institute of Technology | Gas-solid two-phase combustion |
Li Mengjie |
January 2022 – Present | University of Science and Technology of China | Li-ion battery jet fires and battery safety |
Ding Yan |
August 2022 – Present | Zhejiang University | Li-ion battery modelling |
Xie Shumeng |
Jan 2023 – Present
(President’s Graduate Fellowship) |
Peking University | Ammonia combustion |
Zhang Zehua |
August 2023 – Present | Beihang University (Bachelor), SUSTech (Master) | AI for combustion science |
Hu Hao |
August 2023 – Present | Sun Yat-sen University | Ammonia combustion |
♦Master Student:
| Name | Time | Information | Research Topic |
He Lai |
August 2023 – Present | ME5001 Project | Li-ion Battery modelling |
Wang Yutong |
August 2023 – Present | ME5001 Project | Li-ion Battery modelling |
Gao Haiting |
August 2023 – Present | ME5001 Project | Li-ion Battery modelling |
Jiang Qianjie |
January 2024 – Present | ME5001 Project | Li-ion Battery modelling |
♦Visiting Student:
| Name | Time | Information | Research Topic |
Guo Xiaoyang |
October 2023-Present | Ph.D. student |
Ammonia/Methane Combustion: Ignition and Blow-off |
Li Xin |
October 2023-Present | Ph.D. student |
Supersonic combustion |
Ding Hongming |
January 2024-Present | Ph.D. student |
Gas-particle two-phase flows |
Li Menglei |
Feburary 2024-Present | Ph.D. student |
Combustion CFD |
Shi Wenshuo |
March 2024-Present | Master student | Hydrogen / ammonia detonation simulations |
Li Shuhong |
September 2024-Present | PhD student | Hydrogen / methane combustion |
♦Undergraduate FYP Researcher:
| Name | Time | Information | Research Topic |
| Tan Shi Da | August 2022 – Present | NUS Year 4 | Jet Fire Damage Analysis on Hydrogen Pipeline |
| Phoe Chuan Nan Adriell | August 2022 – Present | NUS Year 4 | Modelling of cell- and pack-level Li-ion battery fires in electric car applications |
| Sean Low Kia Hng | August 2022 – Present | NUS Year 4 | Simulations of thermal characteristics of Li-ion battery under abuse conditions |
| Tham Rui Sheng | August 2022 – Present | NUS Year 4 | Suppression on self- ignition of high-pressure hydrogen gas |
♦Alumnus (Undergraduate student):
| Name | Time | Information | Research Topic |
| Sai Surya Yarlagadda | January 2020 – Present | National University of Singapore, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Year 4. Co-supervised with Energy Studies Institute, NUS |
Techno-economic cost benefit analysis of electric vehicles for land transport |
| Li Hui | August 2020 – Present | National University of Singapore, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Year 4. | Numerical simulation of high-speed reacting flows |
| Dong Mengqiu | August 2020 – Present | National University of Singapore, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Year 4. | Simulation of metal particle melting due to laser heating |
| Chen Hong Wei | August 2020 – Present | National University of Singapore, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Year 4. | Spray flame modelling |
| Zhao Jinqing | August 2019 – May 2020 | NUS, ME4, FYP | Numerical simulations of detonation propagation in hydrogen/air mixture with adaptive mesh refinement |
| Guo Sidi | May 2020 | NUS, ME4, FYP | Eulerian Modelling of moderately dense turbulent spray flames |
| Du Yanran | August 2019 – May 2020 | NUS, ME4, FYP | Parametric study of natural ventilation across a typical classroom in Singapore |
| Yeo Hwee Kiat | August 2019 – May 2020 | NUS, ME4, FYP | Numerical simulations of detonation propagation in inhomogeneous hydrogen/air mixture |
| Ee Ting Gen Marcus | January 2019 – November 2019 | NUS, ME4, FYP | Prediction of pollutant formation of laminar premixed ammonia flames under gas turbine conditions |
| Lim Xiong Zhi | October 2017 – May 2018 | NUS, ME4, FYP | Prediction of Combustion and Pollutant Emission from a Pulverized Coal Jet Flame |
| Chen Sihe | September 2017 – January 2018 | NUS, ME2, UROP student | Eulerian Modelling of Particle-laden Bluff Body Flows |
| Yeo Jia Ming, Benjamin | July 2018 – April 2019 | NUS, ME4, FYP | Prediction of fire dynamics in compartments with various ventilation conditions |
| Kimberly Han Jun Yi | July 2018 – April 2019 | NUS, ME4, FYP | Numerical simulation of tunnel fires under longitudinal ventilation conditions |
| Yeo Zhanyi | July 2018 – April 2019 | NUS, ME4, FYP | Effects of low-temperature chemistry in detonation |
| Sim Jun Yong Roy | July 2018 – April 2019 | NUS, ME4, FYP | Effects of water droplet mists on fire propagation and quenching |
| Voo Zhi Wei | July 2018 – April 2019 | NUS, ME4, FYP | Numerical simulation of flame ignition of supersonic non-premixed jet flows |
♦Alumnus (Academic visitor):
| Name | Time | Information | Research Topic |
| Wen Yuzhe | April 2024 – July 2024 | PhD student, Tsinghua University | Laminar flame instability |
| You Binchuan | October 2022 – September 2023 | PhD student, Harbin Engineering University | Plasma assisted combustion |
| Liu Enhui | January 2022 – January 2023 | PhD student, Harbin Engineering University | Natural Gas Gas Turbine Combustion |
| Lu Jinghe | January 2022 – January 2023 | PhD student, Harbin Engineering University | Kerosene spray gas turbine combustion |
| Jia Xiongbin | January 2022 – January 2023 | PhD student, Harbin Engineering University | Detonation simulations |
| Li Shengnan | August 2022 – August 2023 | PhD student, Liaoning Technological University | Coal/methane hydroben detonation |
| Lin Wenjun | Sept 2022 – Sept 2023 | PhD student, Xi’an Jiaotong University | Gas turbine combustion |
| Wang Shang | April 2022 – April 2023 | PhD student, Nanjing University of Sci & Technol. | LES of supersonic combustion |
| Su Jingyi | October 2021 – July 2022 | PhD student, Peking University | Liquid n-heptane detonation |
| Guo Hongbo | January 2021 – June 2022 | PhD student, Harbin Engineering University | Oblique detonation |
| Shi Jingtai | January 2021 – January 2022 | PhD student, China University of Mining and Technology | Methane detonation, methane/coal dust hybrid detonation |
| Jin Shan | January 2021 – January 2022 | PhD student, Harbin Engineering University | Rotating detonations with liquid fuels |
| Huang Yakun | January 2020 – October 2020 | PhD student, Nanjing U Aero & Astro | Spray flame ignition |
| Liu Hongsheng | October 2019 – October 2020 | Associate Professor, Dalian University of Technology | combustion |
| Zhao Yongsheng | September 2019 – September 2020 | Beihang University | Shock-BL interactions |
| Hu Xiaolei | August 2019 – March 2020 | Lecturer, Anhui University of Technology | Two-phase flows |
| Zhong Wei | December 2018 – December 2019 | Associate Professor, Zhengzhou University | Fire modelling |
| Cui Zhigang | March 2018 – August 2018 | Lecturer, Taiyuan University of Technology (TYUT) | Combustion in circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler; Modelling of pulverized coal combustion |
| Yang Juntao | September 2018 – April 2019 | PhD student, Nanyang Technological University | Applications of machine learning for modelling turbulent flows |
| Li Guangze | March 2018 – August 2020 | PhD student, Beihang University | LES of spray flame autoignition |
| He Zhiqiang | August 2019 – August 2020 | PhD student, Zhejiang University | CFD algorithm development for rarefied flows |
| Meng Qingyang | August 2019 – August 2020 | PhD student, Harbin Engineering University | Rotating detonation combustion |
♦Alumnus (Graduate student):
| Name | Time | Information | Research Topic |
| Zhu Ruixuan | August 2018 – August 2019 | PhD student, University of Oxford |
Numerical Simulation of Detonation in Ammonia/Hydrogen (NH3/H2) Mixtures |
| Arab Omar Zaki O | August 2019 – May 2020 | PhD Student, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology |
Numerical Simulation of Gas-Particle Two-Phase Flows |
| Tay Jia Min | August 2021 – May 2022 | Thermo analysis of a CubeSat | |
| Xiong Zhekun | August 2022 – May 2023 | ME5001 project | Lithium-ion battery modelling |
| Shangguan Peijie | August 2022 – May 2023 | ME5001 project | Hydrogen gas turbine flame simulations |
| Zhang Hanrong | July 2021 – January 2024 | Master of Science | Lithium-ion battery modelling |
♦Alumnus (Research fellow):
| Name | Time | Information | Research Topic |
| Zijun Wang | October 2021 – June 2024 | Assistant Professor, Chongqing Jiaotong University | Hydrogen safety |
| Qingyang Meng | December 2021 – June 2024 | Research Fellow, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University | Spray detonation |
| Yongqiang Li | January 2022 – January 2024 | Associate Professor, Chongqing University of Science and Technology | Building aerodynamics |
| Qiang Li | Feburary 2023 – July 2023 | Associate Professor, Beijing Institute of Technology | Spray flames |
| Yong Xu | November 2022 – January 2024 | Research Fellow, The Cambridge Centre for Advanced Research and Education in Singapore (CARES) | Hydrogen detonation |
| Huang Zhiwei | October 2018 – January 2022 | Associate Professor, Shanghai Jiao Tong University | Supersonic combustion, turbulent combustion modelling |
| Zhao Majie | March 2018 – April 2021 | Professor, Beijing Institute of Technology | Detonation |
| Zhuang Yijie | July 2018 – August 2019 | Associate Professor, Guangdong University of Technology | Theoretical analysis of droplet-laden flames |
| Yu Zhou | August 2019 – October 2021 | Researcher, Guangdong Foshan Xianhu Laboratory | Two-phase combustion |
♦Alumnus (Research assistant):
| Name | Time | Information | Research Topic |
| Bochao Liu | January 2022 – January 2024 | Hydrogen combustion |
♦Alumnus (PhD student):
| Name | Time | Information | Research Topic |
| Liu Yangyang | July 2018 – January 2020 | Research fellow, National University of Singapore | High-order numerical schemes for incompressible and compressible flows |
| Xu Yong | July 2018 – July 2022 | Research fellow, Cambridge Centre for Advanced Research and Education in Singapore Ltd. |
Dynamics of hydrogen detonation with dispersed phase |
| Li Qiang | July 2018 – July 2022 | Associate Professor, Beijing Institite of Technology (BIT) | Ignition and propagation of laminar spray flames |
Group Photos:
(August 2018, Mount Faber Park, SG)
(March 2019, Faculty of Engineering, NUS)
(July 2020, Zoom Meeting, during COVID-19 pandemic)
(Jan 6, 2023, Zoom group meeting)
(July 3, 2023, Zoom group meeting)
(January 7, 2024, Zoom group meeting)
(August 4, 2024, Zoom group meeting)