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
2025
Conference Publication
Leveraging unit-cost to build industrial opportunity: focusing on cost to drive opportunity with incidental decarbonization
Rozycki, Alex, Lu, Yuanshen and Klimenko, Alexander Y. (2025). Leveraging unit-cost to build industrial opportunity: focusing on cost to drive opportunity with incidental decarbonization. 2025 IEEE International Conference on Energy Technologies for Future Grids (ETFG), Wollongong, NSW, Australia, 7-11 December 2025. Piscataway, NJ, United States: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. doi: 10.1109/etfg61999.2025.11402415
2025
Journal Article
Emergence of intermittency in electricity prices and its modelling in the context of energy transition: a comparison to turbulent cascades
Green, D.S., Kratzer, M.M., Chapman, A., Lu, Y. and Klimenko, A.Y. (2025). Emergence of intermittency in electricity prices and its modelling in the context of energy transition: a comparison to turbulent cascades. Sustainable Energy, Grids and Networks, 44 101992, 1-21. doi: 10.1016/j.segan.2025.101992
2025
Conference Publication
Modelling of complex hydrogen networks
Kratzer, Matthew M., Yuan, Weijie, Lu, Yuanshen and Klimenko, Alexander Y. (2025). Modelling of complex hydrogen networks. 2025 IEEE PES 35th Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference (AUPEC), Brisbane, QLD Australia, 29 September-1 October 2025. Piscataway, NJ United States: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. doi: 10.1109/aupec66173.2025.11219566
2025
Journal Article
Performance driven energy costing: a novel analysis of solar photovoltaic cost performance and generation dynamics feeding hydrogen production
Rozycki, Alex, Lu, Yuanshen and Klimenko, Alexander Y. (2025). Performance driven energy costing: a novel analysis of solar photovoltaic cost performance and generation dynamics feeding hydrogen production. Energy Reports, 13, 5704-5730. doi: 10.1016/j.egyr.2025.02.053
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 (Part A) 124547, 1-16. 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. 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, 1-19. doi: 10.1016/j.energy.2024.131140
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.
2023
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 (2023). 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
2022
Journal Article
An analysis of renewable energy technology integration investments in Malaysia using HOMER Pro
Rahmat, Muhammad Aqil Afham, Abd Hamid, Ag Sufiyan, Lu, Yuanshen, Ishak, Muhammad Amir Aziat, Suheel, Shaikh Zishan, Fazlizan, Ahmad and Ibrahim, Adnan (2022). An analysis of renewable energy technology integration investments in Malaysia using HOMER Pro. Sustainability, 14 (20) 13684, 1-24. doi: 10.3390/su142013684
2021
Edited Outputs
Proceedings of the Australian Combustion Symposium 2021
Alexander Y. Klimenko, Andrew P. Wandel, Yuanshen Lu, Carolyn Jacobs, Ingo Jahn, Ruth Knibbe, Victor Rudolph, Pradeep Shukla, Anand Veeraragavan and Vincent Wheatley eds. (2021). Proceedings of the Australian Combustion Symposium 2021. Australian Combustion Symposium 2021, Toowoomba, QLD Australia, 23-24 November 2021. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland.
2021
Journal Article
Investigation on heat exchanger arrangement in solar enhanced natural draft dry cooling towers under various crosswind conditions
Xu, Mengfei, He, Suoying, Cheng, Jun, Gao, Ming, Lu, Yuanshen, Hooman, Kamel, Xu, Yi, Geng, Zhe and Zhang, Shuzhen (2021). Investigation on heat exchanger arrangement in solar enhanced natural draft dry cooling towers under various crosswind conditions. Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, 28 101505, 101505. doi: 10.1016/j.csite.2021.101505
2021
Journal Article
Asymptotic approximations for swirling turbulent plume rising from circular sources
Dai, Yuchen, Klimenko, Alexander, Lu, Yuanshen and Hooman, Kamel (2021). Asymptotic approximations for swirling turbulent plume rising from circular sources. Physical Review Fluids, 6 (9) 094604. doi: 10.1103/physrevfluids.6.094604
2021
Journal Article
Numerical investigation of swirl effects on a short natural draft dry cooling tower under windless and crosswind conditions
Dai, Yuchen, Lu, Yuanshen, Klimenko, Alexander Y., Wang, Ying and Hooman, Kamel (2021). Numerical investigation of swirl effects on a short natural draft dry cooling tower under windless and crosswind conditions. Applied Thermal Engineering, 188 116628, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2021.116628
2021
Journal Article
Experimental investigation on a novel arrangement of wet medium for evaporative cooling of air
Yan, Mingxuan, He, Suoying, Li, Na, Huang, Xiang, Gao, Ming, Xu, Mengfei, Miao, Jiayu, Lu, Yuanshen, Hooman, Kamel, Che, Jianjun, Geng, Zhe and Zhang, Shuzhen (2021). Experimental investigation on a novel arrangement of wet medium for evaporative cooling of air. International Journal of Refrigeration, 124, 64-74. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2020.12.014
2021
Journal Article
Resistance characteristics analysis of droplet logic gate based on lattice Boltzmann method
Yang, Fan, Shao, Xusheng, Wang, Ying, Lu, Yuansheng and Cai, Xiaoshu (2021). Resistance characteristics analysis of droplet logic gate based on lattice Boltzmann method. European Journal of Mechanics, B/Fluids, 86, 90-106. doi: 10.1016/j.euromechflu.2020.08.010
2020
Journal Article
Theoretical and numerical investigations of swirl enhanced short natural draft dry cooling towers
Dai, Yuchen, Lu, Yuanshen, Klimenko, Alexander Y., Wang, Ying and Hooman, Kamel (2020). Theoretical and numerical investigations of swirl enhanced short natural draft dry cooling towers. Applied Thermal Engineering, 180 115783, 115783. doi: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2020.115783
2020
Journal Article
Numerical study on the performance of a two-nozzle spray cooling system under different conditions
Zhang, Zhiyu, He, Suoying, Yan, Mingxuan, Gao, Ming, Shi, Yuetao, Lu, Yuanshen, Liu, Jiayou, Guo, Cong and Huang, Xiang (2020). Numerical study on the performance of a two-nozzle spray cooling system under different conditions. International Journal of Thermal Sciences, 152 106291, 106291. doi: 10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2020.106291
2019
Journal Article
Addressing the adverse cold air inflow effects for a short natural draft dry cooling tower through swirl generation
Dai, Yuchen, Kaiser, Antonio S., Lu, Yuanshen, Klimenko, Alexander Y., Dong, Peixin and Hooman, Kamel (2019). Addressing the adverse cold air inflow effects for a short natural draft dry cooling tower through swirl generation. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 145 118738, 118738. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2019.118738
2019
Journal Article
Experimental investigation on spray cooling using saline water
Nel, Christo, Guan, Zhiqiang, Lu, Yuanshen and Hooman, Kamel (2019). Experimental investigation on spray cooling using saline water. Mathematical Geosciences, 51 (3), 337-351. doi: 10.1007/s11004-018-09781-6
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Yuanshen Lu is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Available projects
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Unleashing low-altitude wind: fundamental study on wind resources and design optimisations for small-scale wind turbines
Wind energy is the second-largest source of renewable energy in Australia [1] and offers a complementary generation profile to solar energy. Currently, almost all commercial wind power is generated by large-scale horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs), typically installed in non-urban environments. However, in highly populated urban regions, large-scale windmills are unsuitable. This presents a significant market gap for small-scale, low-altitude wind energy systems. Currently, the wind industry lacks a comprehensive understanding of near-ground wind characteristics. Although structures of urban boundary layer (UBL) as well as wind statistical behaviours within roughness sub-layer (RSL) have been extensively studied in the academic domain, these insights do not readily translate to practical turbine design. There is clearly a gap between what academics offers and what industry needs.
This project seeks to address these key questions: 1. Understand the characteristics of low-altitude roughness sub-layer (RSL) wind resources in Australian coastal urban regions. 2. Identify optimal aerodynamic parameter ranges for small-scale vertical axis wind turbines under Australian low-altitude wind conditions. 3. Develop a dynamic control algorithm of turbine rotors for optimal energy conversion efficiency of small-scale wind turbines.
We are looking for interested candidates with some experience in wind turbine design, flow boundary layers, or other relevant areas. For more info, please contact me at y.lu7@uq.edu.au.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Sensorless operating-state estimation and adaptive maximum power point tracking of a small-scale H-type vertical-axis wind turbine system
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Richard Yan
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Doctor Philosophy
Performance evaluation of H2-based shaft furnaces using an accelerated CFD¿DEM modelling framework
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alexander Klimenko, Dr Xiaodong Ma
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Master Philosophy
Benchmark testing of REACH engine conversion
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alexander Klimenko
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Doctor Philosophy
A Numerical Analysis into the Effects of Hydrogen Blending in a Hybrid Reciprocating Diesel Engine
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
Analysis of complex hydrogen energy networks for Australian conditions
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Archie Chapman, 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
Predicting project performance using stochastic multiscale modelling
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alexander Klimenko
Completed supervision
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2026
Doctor Philosophy
Artificial tornado enhancing cooling towers/chimneys: mechanisms and engineering implementation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Vincent Wheatley
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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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