Email:zhushunmin@mail.ipc.ac.cn

Tel: +86-010-82543731

Address: Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 29 Zhongguancun East Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100190, China.



Dr Shunmin Zhu is a Professor working at the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry (TIPC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Before this role, he was an Assistant Professor and a Marie Curie Fellow working at the Department of Engineering, Durham University. Dr Zhu is a holder of the Humboldt Research Fellowship for Experienced Researchers and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship, respectively. Before joining Durham University, he worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Clean Energy Processes Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London and the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry (TIPC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), respectively. Dr Zhu received his Ph.D. degree (being awarded the CAS President Award and Outstanding Graduate Award) from TIPC, CAS in 2020. In 2019, he also gained research experience at the University of Sussex sponsored by the UK-China Newton Fund Ph.D. placement program.


Dr Zhu’s research aims to develop advanced thermal energy technologies for providing power, heating and cooling that can minimize global primary-energy use and reduce CO2 emissions for a sustainable future. Specifically, his research interests include free-piston internal/external combustion and free-piston Stirling engines, novel thermoacoustic power generation technologies, and hybrid renewable energy systems. To date, Dr. Zhu has received 9 research grants from the European Commission, the British Council, the EPSRC, etc. on energy conversion technologies and systems. Dr Zhu has published more than forty peer-reviewed papers in internationally recognized journals (e.g. Cell Reports Physical Science, Applied Physic Letters, Applied Energy, and Energy Conversion and Management) and granted more than ten patents. His researches have been featured in the world’s leading scientific media such as ‘EurekAlert’, ‘PhysOrg’, ‘PV magazine’, ‘Advances in Engineering’, and so on.

Research Areas

  • Free-piston Stirling engine generators;
  • Thermoacoustic engine generators;
  • Thermomagnetic generators;
  • Liquid metal magnetohydrodynamic generators;
  • Hybrid renewable energy systems.

Education

  • 9/2015-7/2020, Ph.D. in Engineering Thermophysics, TIPC, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), China;


  • 7/2019-10/2019, Visiting Ph.D. student, Department of Engineering and Design, University of Sussex, UK (sponsored by the UK-China Newton Fund PhD placement program);


  • 9/2011-6/2015, B.Eng. in Marine Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, China.

Experience

   
Work Experience
  • 12/2025-Present, Professor, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China


  • 7/2025-12/2025, Assistant Professor, Department of Engineering, Durham University, UK


  • 9/2023-7/2025, Marie Curie Fellow, Department of Engineering, Durham University, UK


  • 9/2021-9/2023, Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, UK


  • 7/2020-9/2021, Postdoctoral Researcher, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry (TIPC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), China

Publications

   
Papers

‪Shunmin Zhu‬ - ‪Google Scholar‬


Shunmin Zhu ResearchGate


Year 2026：


[37] Ngwaka U*, Zhu S*, Ling-Chin J, Shivaprasad KV, Hu S, Smallbone A, et al. Cryogenic closed-cycle linear engine integration for cold energy recovery in fuel cell trucks. Appl Energy 2026;410:127551. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.APENERGY.2026.127551.

[36] Jodat A, Najafian M, Emamian A, Erfan Manesh B, Sheykhi M, Zhu S*. A novel approach to improving refrigeration cycle performance: using a two-stage intermediary heat exchanger and ultrasonic humidifying system along with economic analyses. Energy Convers Manag 2026;353:121198. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENCONMAN.2026.121198.

[35] Jin Q, Ma H, Sun H, Wei L, Li W, Chen Y, Wang D, Zhu S*, Yu G*, Dai W, Luo E. Experimental and numerical investigation of heat transfer characteristics of spirally finned tube heat exchanger in a thermoacoustic Stirling generator. Energy 2026:141598. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENERGY.2026.141598.

[34] Chen H, Yang Y, Wu T, Zhu S, Yu G, Yang R*, et al. A thermoacoustically-driven liquid metal magnetohydrodynamic generation system with a thermal efficiency of 11%. The Innovation Energy 2026;3:100139. https://doi.org/10.59717/j.xinn-energy.2026.100139.

[33] Zhang Y, Chen Y, Yu G*, Zhu S*, Luo J, Chen Y, et al. High-power post-positioned gas spring hybrid thermoacoustic electric generator: Dynamic and stable performance characterization. Energy 2026;348:140530. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2026.140530.


Year 2025：


[32] Wang B, Zhu S* Ngwaka U, Jia B, Shivaprasad KV, Wang Y, et al. Investigation of the operating characteristics of a free-piston closed-cycle Joule engine generator with helium as working fluid. Energy Conversion and Management: X 2025;26:100909.

[31] Wang H, Chen Y*, Zhu S*, Zhang L, Yu G, Kang H, et al. Numerical study and sensitivity analysis of heat transfer characteristics of heat exchangers in a high-power free-piston Stirling generator. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments 2025;75:104243.

[30] Jin Q, Yu G*, Sun H, Luo J, Ma H, Li Y*, Zhu S*, Luo E. Experimental and numerical study on radiative cooling of a linear alternator in a free-piston Stirling electric generator. Energy Conversion and Management: X 2025;26:101043. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ECMX.2025.101043.

[29] Sheykhi M*, Mehregan M*, Ghorbani S, Emamian A, Kayhani MH, Delouei AA, Shahabodin Kharazmid S, Sheykhian MK, Zhu S*. Simulation and performance optimization of a novel hybrid CCHP system based on the prime movers of internal combustion engine and Stirling engine. Appl Energy 2025;393:126103.

[28] Wei L, Sun H*, Ma H, Yu G*, Zhu S*, Dai W, et al. Upscaling of thermoacoustic-Stirling duplex cryocoolers based on resonance tube coupling. IScience 2025;28.

[27] Wang H, Chen Y*, Luo E, Kang H, Zhu S*, Study on the influence of real gas compressibility on the performance of free-piston Stirling engines. Appl Therm Eng 2025;280:128441.

[26] Zhang Y, Du Y, Li Y, He T, Hong T, Gou D, Rasool N, Zhu S*, Tang Z*. Experimental and numerical study on heat and mass transfer of Zanthoxylum bungeanum microwave drying. Thermal Science and Engineering Progress 2025;67:104137. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.TSEP.2025.104137.

[25] Roy D, Ngwaka U, Shivaprasad KV, Zhu S, Taghavifar H, Williams R, et al. Techno-economic assessment of a fuel flexible free piston engine generator based energy system for cold ironing application. Energy 2025:136954.

[24] H Wang, Y Chen, J Luo, L Zhang, H Kang, E Luo, S Zhu*, A novel high-power free-piston stirling engine generator with integrated heat pipes for thermal-to-electric conversion of clean energy. Energy, 2025, 314, 134218.

[23] H Sun, Q Jin, G Yu*, S Zhu*, E Luo. Experimental and numerical study on the mechanical inconsistency of a dual-opposed free-piston Stirling engine generator. Energy, 2025;315:134432.

[22] F Ahmed, J Wang, R Yang, G Yu, S Zhu, W Tang, E Luo, Harnessing acoustic energy with liquid metal triboelectric nanogenerators: A promising approach for moving-parts-free power generation. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2025, 260, 125048.


Year 2024：


[21] D Roy, S Zhu*, R Wang, P Mondal, J Ling-Chin, AP Roskilly. Techno-economic and environmental analyses of hybrid renewable energy systems for a remote location employing machine learning models. Applied Energy 2024, 361:122884.

[20] H Sun, G Yu*, D Zhao, S Zhu*, W Dai, E Luo. Operating characteristics study of a dual-opposed free-piston Stirling generator. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2024, 249: 123387.

[19] Y Chen, G Yu*, Y Chen*, S Zhu*, J Luo, Y Sun, E Luo. Post-positioned gas spring enables ultra-high output power of hybrid thermoacoustic electric generators. Cell Reports Physical Science, 2024, 5;101835. (this paper is featured by ‘Science Featured’)

[18] D Roy, S Zhu*, R Wang, I González-Pino, M Herrando, C N Markides, A P Roskilly. Techno-economic and environmental analyses of a solar-assisted Stirling engine cogeneration system for different dwelling types in the United Kingdom. Energy Conversion and Management, 2024, 302:118160. (this paper is featured by ‘PV magazine’)

[17] K Zhou, S Zhu*, Y Wang*, AP Roskilly. Modelling and Experimental Characterisation of a Water-to-Air Thermoelectric Heat Pump with Thermal Energy Storage. Energies, 2024, 17(2): 414. (this paper is featured by ‘PV magazine’)

[16] Y Chen, G Yu*, Y Ma, J Xue, F Ahmed, Y Cheng, H Sun, S Zhu, W Dai, E Luo. A thermally-coupled cascade free-piston Stirling engine-based cogeneration system. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2024;236:121679.


Year 2023：


[15] S Zhu, K Wang, I González-Pino, J Song, G Yu, E Luo*, C N Markides*. Techno-economic analysis of a combined heat and power system integrating hybrid photovoltaic-thermal collectors, a Stirling engine and energy storage. Energy Conversion and Management, 2023, 284: 116968.

[14] S Zhu, T Wang, C Jiang, Z Wu*, G Yu, J Hu, C N Markides, E Luo*. Numerical and experimental study on a liquid metal magnetohydrodynamic generator for thermoacoustic power generation. Applied Energy 2023, 348: 121453. ( this paper is featured by ‘Advances in Engineering’ (Canada)).

[13] C Jiang, T Wang, S Zhu*, G Yu, Z Wu, E Luo*. A method to optimize the external magnetic field to suppress the end current in liquid metal magnetohydrodynamic generators. Energy, 2023, 282: 128251.

[12] L Xiao, Z Wu, Q Zhu, Z Jia, D Zhao, J Hu, S Zhu, E Luo. Dynamic response of a dual-opposed free-piston Stirling generator. Energy, 2023,284:129253.


Year 2022：


[11] S Zhu, G Yu*, C Jiang, T Wang, L Zhang, Z Wu, J Hu, C N Markides, E Luo*. A novel thermoacoustically-driven liquid metal magnetohydrodynamic generator for future space power applications. Energy Conversion and Management, 2022, 258: 115503.

[10] C Jiang, S Zhu*, G Yu, E Luo*, K Li. Numerical and experimental investigations on a regenerative static thermomagnetic generator for low-grade thermal energy recovery. Applied Energy, 2022, 311: 118585.

[9] Z Jiang, G Yu*, S Zhu*, W Dai, E Luo. Advances on a free-piston Stirling engine-based micro-combined heat and power system. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2022;217:119187.

[8] F Ahmed, S Zhu, G Yu, E Luo*. A potent numerical model coupled with multi-objective NSGA-II algorithm for the optimal design of Stirling engine. Energy, 2022, 247: 123468.

Year 2021：


[7] S Zhu, G Yu*, K Liang, W Dai, E Luo*. A review of Stirling-engine-based combined heat and power technology. Applied Energy, 2021, 294: 116965.

[6] S Zhu, G Yu*, W Tang, J Hu, E Luo*. Thermoacoustically driven liquid-metal-based triboelectric nanogenerator: A thermal power generator without solid moving parts. Applied Physics Letters. 2021;118(11):113902. (this paper was selected as Featured Article and highlighted by scientific media such as ‘CAS News’, ‘EurekAlert’, ‘PhysOrg’)


Before the year 2020：


[5] S Zhu, G Yu*, X Li, W Dai, E Luo. Parametric study of a free-piston Stirling cryocooler capable of providing 350 W cooling power at 80 K. Applied Thermal Engineering.2020,174: 115101.

[4] S Zhu, G Yu*, Y Ma, Y Cheng, Y Wang, S Yu, Z Wu, W Dai, E Luo*. A free-piston Stirling generator integrated with a parabolic trough collector for thermal to electric conversion of solar energy. Applied Energy, 2019, 242: 1248-1258.

[3] S Zhu, G Yu*, X Li, M Ying, C Yan, W Dai, E Luo. Acoustic field characteristics of a free-piston Stirling cryocooler with large cooling capacity at liquid nitrogen temperature. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2019,147: 324-335.

[2] S Zhu, J M O, G Yu*, T Xu, Z Wu, W Dai, E Luo. Modelling and experimental investigation of a free-piston Stirling engine-based micro-combined heat and power system. Applied Energy, 2018, 226: 522-533.

[1] S Zhu, A Yu, G Yu*, Y Liu, J Zhai, W Dai, E Luo*. Thermoacoustically-driven Triboelectric Nanogenerator: Combining Thermoacoustics and Nanoscience. Applied Physics Letters, 2017, 111(15):153901.