Plenary speakers

Wenquan Tao

Björn Palm, Senior professor

KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden

Björn Palm is senior professor in energy technology at KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden, where he for more than 20 years was heading the Division of Applied Thermodynamics and Refrigeration. His research covers components and systems for heat pumps and refrigeration systems, from microstructures of boiling surfaces, to combinations of heat pumps and thermal energy storage for load shifting in the energy system. Publications include two-phase flow in plate heat exchangers and microchannels, nanofluids and enhancement of heat transfer, thermal energy storage, geothermal heat pumps and heat transfer in the ground. A special interest has been the application of natural refrigerants like hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide, but also the use of ammonia in small systems. This has led to investigations of how to design systems with minimum charge of refrigerant. Safety with flammable refrigerants and charge reduction are topics of ongoing research.

Bo Gao, PhD

Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Dr. Bo GAO is from the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences . She is the director of the State Laboratory of Cryogenic Science and Technology and the deputy director of the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry-Laboratoire national de métrologie et d’essais Joint Laboratory on Cryogenic Metrology Science and Technology. With over a decade of dedication to low-temperature thermometer, she has achieved success in implementing the new Kelvin definition between 5 K to 25K. Her contributions to the temperature measurement community have been recognized with international and domestic awards. During the ICENSS conference, she will give a talk on low-temperature metrology.

Kamel Azzouz, PhD HDR

R&I Director, Head of 1D Simulations, Thermal & Thermodynamics Expertise

Valeo Thermal Systems / BG

Title: Thermal Hybridization in the Automotive Industry: Recovery, Transport, and Storage of Thermal Energy

In the current automobile industry, three key aspects related to thermal energy are their production, transport, and storage. To optimize energy utilization in a vehicle, the most efficient method must always be prioritized. In many cases, it becomes necessary to address all three aspects either simultaneously or sequentially. The integration of these three research axes—thermal energy storage using phase-change materials, recovery, conversion, and transport of thermal energy, as well as the intensification of heat transfer—forms the overarching theme of Thermal Hybridization. These three research areas involve, on the one hand, scientific advancements related to understanding solid-liquid phase change phenomena and heat transfer in multiphase fluids, and on the other hand, validation through experimental systems incorporating innovative technologies. The talk will cover all the three aspects from a particular angle of vehicle industry. 

Vivien LU

Professor, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Prof. Lu is recognized as a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher in Engineering and ranks among Stanford University's top 2% of global scientists in Energy. Renowned for her contributions to renewable energy and building energy engineering, she has published four books, along with over 350 SCI-cited journal papers. Her research has received financial support exceeding HK$80 million from the Research Grant Council of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Commission, and various academic and industry partners. Her work has been widely covered by global media and has earned numerous international awards, including the Second Prize of the Ministry of Education's Scientific Research Outstanding Achievement Award, the Gold Medal at the Geneva Inventions Expo, the Global Innovation Award at the TechConnect World Innovation Conference, and the Gold Medal at the Asia Innovation and Invention Expo.

Topic: Spectrally engineered strategies for building outer-space energy harvesting

In energy transmission, buildings can be transformed from primary energy consumers to energy harvesters through advanced, spectrally engineered strategies. By precisely regulating the spectral properties of building envelopes, we can strategically harness the outer-space energy sources, such as solar energy and the coldness of the universe, to enhance building energy efficiency and harvesting. This talk will provide insights and guidance for future endeavors in building design and urban planning, with the aim of achieving carbon-neutral cities.

Antonio Cisternino

Professor of Computer Science, IT architect, University of Pisa

Title and subject to come...