Dr Yuanshen Lu
Centre Deputy Director
UQ Amplify Fellow
School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering
Researcher biography
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.
Journal Articles
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Duniam, Sam, Jahn, Ingo, Hooman, Kamel, Chen, Yuanshen and Veeraragavan, Ananthanarayanan (2018). Comparison of direct and indirect natural draft dry cooling tower cooling of the sCO2 Brayton cycle for concentrated solar power plants. Applied Thermal Engineering, 130, 1070-1080. doi: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2017.10.169
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
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
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
Alkhedhair, Abdullah, Jahn, Ingo, Gurgenci, Hal, Guan, Zhiqiang, He, Suoying and Lu, Yuanshen (2016). Numerical simulation of water spray in natural draft dry cooling towers with a new nozzle representation approach. Applied Thermal Engineering, 98, 924-935. doi: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2015.10.118
He, Suoying, Guan, Zhiqiang, Gurgenci, Hal, Hooman, Kamel, Lu, Yuanshen and Alkhedhair, Abdullah M. (2015). Experimental study of the application of two trickle media for inlet air pre-cooling of natural draft dry cooling towers. Energy Conversion and Management, 89, 644-654. doi: 10.1016/j.enconman.2014.10.031
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
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
He, Suoying, Guan, Zhiqiang, Gurgenci, Hal, Jahn, Ingo, Lu, Yuanshen and Alkhedhair, Abdullah M. (2014). Influence of ambient conditions and water flow on the performance of pre-cooled natural draft dry cooling towers. Applied Thermal Engineering, 66 (1-2), 621-631. doi: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2014.02.070
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
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
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
Conference Papers
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.
Dai, Yuchen, Klimenko, Alexander Y., Lu, Yuanshen and Ehsan, M. Monjurul (2018). Numerical investigations on the effect of swirling plume on natural draft dry cooling towers. 21st Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference , Adelaide, SA Australia , 10-13 December 2018. Perth, WA Australia: Australasian Fluid Mechanics Society.
Li, Xiaoxiao, Guan, Zhiqiang, Gurgenci, Hal, Lu, Yuanshen and He, Suoying (2016). Simulation of the UQ Gatton natural draft dry cooling tower. IAHR International Conference on Cooling Tower and Heat, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 7-11 September 2015. Kidlington, Oxford, United Kingdom: Pergamon Press. doi: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.03.041
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.
Lu, Yuanshen, Parulekar, Prashant, Guan, Zhiqiang and Hooman, Kamel (2015). A study on cooling performance of air-cooled heat exchangers for CSG production. IAHR International Conference on Cooling Tower and Heat, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 7-11 September 2015. Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland.
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.
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.
He, S. Y., Gurgenci, H., Guan, Z. Q. and Lu, Y. A. (2012). Investigation of pre-cooling with Munters media for air-cooled geothermal power plants performance enhancement. 2012 Australian Geothermal Energy Conference, Sydney, Australia, 14 - 16 November 2012. Canberra, Australia: Geoscience Australia.
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).
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).
Thesis
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