Overview
Background
Dr. Yuanshen Lu began his current role at the University of Queensland (UQ) as a DECRA Fellow and Lecturer in September 2019. Previously, he was a Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at Griffith University, following several years of postdoctoral research experience at UQ. He received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering in 2015.
Dr. Lu’s primary research interests lie in energy conversion and thermo-fluids within conventional and renewable energy systems, as well as hydrogen utilization. His current work focuses on heat engines (e.g., supercritical CO₂ power cycles), turbomachinery (e.g., wind turbines), and heat management in energy systems, including applications in heat exchangers, cooling towers, ground-source heat pumps, and thermal management in hydrogen-based steelmaking processes.
Dr. Lu is actively engaged with industry and has contributed to sectors such as thermal power generation, coal seam gas, HVAC, renewable energy, and steel industry. Leveraging his expertise in advanced experimentation and modeling, he is dedicated to driving innovations in energy harvesting, power consumption, and energy savings across a range of renewable applications. Dr. Lu currently serves as UQ’s Program Leader in the Australian Solar Thermal Research Institute (ASTRI) program, leading the Power Conversion team in developing supercritical CO₂ power cycles. He is also the Deputy Director of the Centre for Multiscale Energy Systems (CMES) at UQ.
Availability
- Dr Yuanshen Lu is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Central South University
- Masters (Extended) of Engineering - Mechanical, Central South University
- Doctor of Philosophy of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer
My main interests are energy conversion and management at both system and single component/mechanism levels. Typical topics I work on include supercritical CO2 Brayton or organic Rankine thermodynamic cycles, heat exchangers, cooling towers, and waste heat managements of internal combustion engines/other industry processes.
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Renewable energy systems and green hydrogen usage
I am interested in thermo-fluids problems in renewable energies, working on projects including momentum turbomachinery such as wind/tidal turbines, direct usage of solar thermal such as solar stills, and ground source heat pumps as well as renewable-based HVAC. In the hydrogen sector, my primary research involves advanced modeling of H2-based steel-making processes and hydrogen transport & storage networks.
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Fluid mechanics
My interests are in fundamental fluid mechanics problems, including natural convection, plume theory, vortex, and porous media.
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Experimental thermo-fluids
I have extensive experience in in-lab or on-site experiments as well as flow visualization for energy components and systems. I specialize in designing and setting up novel experimental techniques and facilities tailored to specific demands.
Works
Search Professor Yuanshen Lu’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2018
Journal Article
A conceptual study on air jet-induced swirling plume for performance improvement of natural draft cooling towers
Lu, Yuanshen, Klimenko, Alexander, Russell, Hugh, Dai, Yuchen, Warner, John and Hooman, Kamel (2018). A conceptual study on air jet-induced swirling plume for performance improvement of natural draft cooling towers. Applied Energy, 217, 496-508. doi: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.02.095
Featured
2017
Journal Article
An experimental facility to validate ground source heat pump optimisation models for the Australian climate
Lu, Yuanshen, Hooman, Kamel, Atrens, Aleks D. and Russell, Hugh (2017). An experimental facility to validate ground source heat pump optimisation models for the Australian climate. Energies, 10 (1) 138, 138. doi: 10.3390/en10010138
Featured
2016
Journal Article
An investigation on cooling performance of air-cooled heat exchangers used in coal seam gas production
Lu, Yuanshen, Guan, Zhiqiang, Hooman, Kamel and Parulekar, Prashant S. (2016). An investigation on cooling performance of air-cooled heat exchangers used in coal seam gas production. Heat Transfer Engineering, 38 (11-12), 1073-1088. doi: 10.1080/01457632.2016.1217039
Featured
2016
Journal Article
Experimental investigation into the positive effects of a tri-blade-like windbreak wall on small size natural draft dry cooling towers
Lu, Yuanshen, Guan, Zhiqiang, Gurgenci, Hal, Alkhedhair, Abdullah and He, Suoying (2016). Experimental investigation into the positive effects of a tri-blade-like windbreak wall on small size natural draft dry cooling towers. Applied Thermal Engineering, 105, 1000-1012. doi: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.03.175
Featured
2015
Other Outputs
Small natural draft dry cooling towers for renewable power plants
Lu, Yuanshen (2015). Small natural draft dry cooling towers for renewable power plants. PhD Thesis, School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2015.298
Featured
2015
Conference Publication
Experimental study on the effects of a tri-blade-like windbreak wall on small size natural draft dry cooling towers
Lu, Yuanshen, Guan, Zhiqiang, Gurgenci, Hal, He, Suoying and Alkhedhair, Abdullah (2015). Experimental study on the effects of a tri-blade-like windbreak wall on small size natural draft dry cooling towers. IAHR International Conference on Cooling Tower and Heat, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 7-11 September 2015. Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland.
Featured
2015
Journal Article
Experimental study of crosswind effects on the performance of small cylindrical natural draft dry cooling towers
Lu, Yuanshen, Guan, Zhiqiang, Gurgenci, Hal, Hooman, Kamel, He, Suoying and Bharathan, Desikan (2015). Experimental study of crosswind effects on the performance of small cylindrical natural draft dry cooling towers. Energy Conversion and Management, 91, 238-248. doi: 10.1016/j.enconman.2014.12.018
Featured
2014
Journal Article
The influence of windbreak wall orientation on the cooling performance of small natural draft dry cooling towers
Lu, Yuanshen, Gurgenci, Hal, Guan, Zhiqiang and He, Suoying (2014). The influence of windbreak wall orientation on the cooling performance of small natural draft dry cooling towers. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 79, 1059-1069. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2014.09.012
Featured
2014
Conference Publication
Performance analysis of natural draft dry cooling tower with inlet air precooling
Guan, Zhiqiang, Gurgenci, Hal, He, Suoying and Lu, Yuanshen (2014). Performance analysis of natural draft dry cooling tower with inlet air precooling. International symposium on industrial chimneys and cooling towers, Prague, Czech Republic, 8-11 October 2014. Wuppertal, Germany: Bergische Universität.
Featured
2014
Journal Article
Experimental study of film media used for evaporative pre-cooling of air
He, Suoying, Guan, Zhiqiang, Gurgenci, Hal, Hooman, Kamel, Lu, Yuanshen and Alkhedhair, Abdullah M. (2014). Experimental study of film media used for evaporative pre-cooling of air. Energy Conversion and Management, 87, 874-884. doi: 10.1016/j.enconman.2014.07.084
Featured
2013
Journal Article
Windbreak walls reverse the negative effect of crosswind in short natural draft dry cooling towers into a performance enhancement
Lu, Y., Guan, Z., Gurgenci, H. and Zou, Z. (2013). Windbreak walls reverse the negative effect of crosswind in short natural draft dry cooling towers into a performance enhancement. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 63, 162-170. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2013.03.075
Featured
2012
Journal Article
Solar enhanced natural draft dry cooling tower for geothermal power applications
Zou, Zheng, Guan, Zhiqiang, Gurgenci, Hal and Lu, Yuanshen (2012). Solar enhanced natural draft dry cooling tower for geothermal power applications. Solar Energy, 86 (9), 2686-2694. doi: 10.1016/j.solener.2012.06.003
Featured
2012
Conference Publication
CFD simulations on small natural draft dry cooling towers
Lu, Y., Guan, Z. and Gurgenci, H. (2012). CFD simulations on small natural draft dry cooling towers. 18th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, Launceston, Australia, 3-7 December 2012. Hawthorn, Vic., Australia: Australasian Fluid Mechanics Society.
Featured
2011
Conference Publication
Analytical and numerical modelling on solar enhanced natural draft dry cooling tower
Zou, Zheng, Gurgenci, Hal, Guan, Zhiqiang and Lu, Yuanshen (2011). Analytical and numerical modelling on solar enhanced natural draft dry cooling tower. 15th IAHR Cooling Tower and Air-Cooled Heat Exchanger Conference and 2011 Annual Symposium of Industrial Cooling Tower Study Committee of CSEE Thermal Power Chapter, Beijing, People's Republic of China, 23-26 October 2011. Beijing, People's Republic of China: China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR).
Featured
2011
Conference Publication
Development of small natural draft dry cooling towers for geothermal power plants
Lu, Yuanshen, Guan, Zhiqiang, Gurgenci, Hal and Zou, Zheng (2011). Development of small natural draft dry cooling towers for geothermal power plants. The 15th IAHR Cooling Tower and Air-Cooled Heat Exchanger Conference & 2011 Annual Symposium of Industrial Cooling Tower Study Committee of CSEE Thermal Power Chapter, Beijing, China, 23 - 26 October 2011. Beijing, People's Republic of China: China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR).
2025
Journal Article
Design optimization and off-design performance analysis of one-dimensional supercritical CO2 Brayton cycle
Li, Hao, Zhang, Ruhai, Li, Zhen, Lee, Sangkyoung, Ju, Yaping, Zhang, Chuhua and Lu, Yuanshen (2025). Design optimization and off-design performance analysis of one-dimensional supercritical CO2 Brayton cycle. Applied Thermal Engineering, 258 124547, 124547. doi: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2024.124547
2024
Journal Article
Heat-dumping capacity of natural draft cooling towers improved by artificial plume swirl
Vashahri, Javad, He, Suoying and Lu, Yuanshen (2024). Heat-dumping capacity of natural draft cooling towers improved by artificial plume swirl. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 235 126235, 126235. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2024.126235
2024
Journal Article
Supercritical carbon dioxide cycle thermodynamic and exergoeconomic improvements using a bidirectional coupling strategy
Li, Hao, Li, Zhen, Lee, Sangkyoung, Lu, Yuanshen, Ju, Yaping and Zhang, Chuhua (2024). Supercritical carbon dioxide cycle thermodynamic and exergoeconomic improvements using a bidirectional coupling strategy. Energy, 296 131140, 131140. doi: 10.1016/j.energy.2024.131140
2024
Journal Article
A review on research and application of multi-energy complementary system containing high proportion of renewable energy based on different attributes
Shi, Jie, Zhang, Yanni, Kong, Deqiang, Liu, Lian, Lu, Yuanshen and Hooman, Kamel (2024). A review on research and application of multi-energy complementary system containing high proportion of renewable energy based on different attributes. Archives of Thermodynamics, 44 (4), 3-41. doi: 10.24425/ather.2023.149726
2024
Conference Publication
Application of swirl generators in the heat dump capacity of natural draft dry cooling towers
Vashahri, Javad and Lu, Yuanshen (2024). Application of swirl generators in the heat dump capacity of natural draft dry cooling towers. 11th Australasian Congress on Applied Mechanics (ACAM 2024), Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 7-9 February 2024. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Engineers Australia.
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Yuanshen Lu is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Artificial tornado enhancing cooling towers/chimneys: mechanisms and engineering implementation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Vincent Wheatley
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Doctor Philosophy
evaporative refrigeration systems using liquid desiccants
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alexander Klimenko, Dr Xiaodong Ma
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Doctor Philosophy
Control mechanisms of small-scale vertical axis wind turbines and their optimizations
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Richard Yan
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Doctor Philosophy
Using mixed biofuels in power generation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alexander Klimenko
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Doctor Philosophy
Hydrogen production network and energy transition in Queensland and Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alexander Klimenko
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Doctor Philosophy
Using mixed biofuels in power generation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alexander Klimenko
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Doctor Philosophy
Predicting project performance using stochastic multiscale modelling
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alexander Klimenko
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigation of flashback mechanisms in premixed or partially premixed combustors for hydrogen-containing fuels
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alexander Klimenko
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Doctor Philosophy
Development of sub-grid scale turbulent combustion closure models for hydrogen-based combustion
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alexander Klimenko
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Doctor Philosophy
Analysis of complex hydrogen energy networks for Australian conditions
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Archie Chapman, Dr Alexander Klimenko
Completed supervision
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
A Study on Swirling Plume Enhanced Natural Draft Dry Cooling Towers
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alexander Klimenko
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Yuanshen Lu directly for media enquiries about:
- Energy conversion and storage
- Energy efficiency and management
- Fluid mechanics modelling
- Geothermal heat pumps
- Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)
- Industrial cooling
- Power cycles
- Renewable energy systems
- Renewable-based hydrogen
- Solar thermal energy
- Wind and tidal energy
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