Excellence in Research - Faculty of Construction and Environment

Selected Current PhD Students
Department of of Building Services and Real Engineering Estate
LIU Xiaoping
WANG Yuanhao
ent of Building Services Engineering
Supervisor
Prof. NIU Jianlei
Project title
Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Air
Cross-Contamination around Typical High-Rise
Residential Building in Hong Kong
“After working at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC)
as a Lecturer, I registered for fulltime PhD study at the Department of
Building Services Engineering (BSE) in PolyU in 2007. My research interest
includes airflow and pollutant dispersion in the urban environment near
building complexes and the possibility of contamination of residential
buildings. During these years of studies, BSE/FCE provided an excellent
learning environment and gave me a great opportunity to carry out more indepth
research to extend my research interests. I appreciated and strongly
benefited from the high-quality seminars and the international conference
for academic exchange. I’m full of gratitude to my chief supervisor Prof.
Jianlei Niu for his patient encouragement, invaluable guidance throughout
the study, and the chance to conduct experimental work on the CLP Power
Wind Tunnel in collaboration with The Hong Kong University of Science and
Technology (HKUST). This postgraduate study period in BSE/PolyU will be
one of the most memorable periods of my life.”
Supervisor
Prof. YANG Hongxing
Project title
Novel-structure Dye-sensitized Solar Cells based on
Highly Ordered Titania Nanotube Arrays
“I obtained my BSc in Chemistry Department from Tsinghua University in
2007, and then joined the Renewable Energy Research Group (RERG) in
the Department of Building Services Engineering as a PhD student under
the supervision of Prof. Hongxing Yang and Dr Lin Lu. I am interested in
the field of Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells and my research topic is
Novel-structure dye-sensitized solar cells based on highly ordered titania
nanotube arrays. During my work, I have developed 3 new structures of
solar cells combined with one dimensional nanomaterial. My research
output not only lower the fabrication cost of solar cells, but also increase
the use of sunlight. I have also authored or co-authored 10 international
journals and applied for 3 patents.”
MAN Yi
ZHANG Shuo
Supervisor
Prof. YANG Hongxing
Project title
Study on the Hybrid Ground Coupled Heat Pump
Systems with Borehole and Foundation Pile Ground
Heat Exchangers for Cooling Load Dominated Buildings
“I am a PhD research student instructed by Professor Yang Hongxing. I
specialize in the research of hybrid ground coupled heat pump (HGCHP)
systems for air conditioning in cooling load dominated buildings. During
my PhD study in the BSE department, I systematically research on HGCHP
systems. I established the analytical heat transfer models for novel pile
foundation ground heat exchanger and novel nocturnal cooling radiator,
which separately served as a ground heat exchanger and supplemental
heat rejecter of novel HGCHP systems. I also developed a short time step
calculation programme based on these analytical models to simulate
the operation parameters of the HGCHP system. The accuracy of these
analytical models and simulation program has been verified by detailed
experimental studies. According to my study, several conclusions and useful
design essentials of HGCHP systems for cooling load dominated buildings
have been obtained. Publications arising from my PhD study include four
journal papers and five conference papers.”
Supervisor
Prof. NIU Jianlei
Project title
Experimental and Numerical Investigation of
Integration of Cooled-ceiling, Nocturnal Radiative
Cooling and MPCM Slurry Thermal Storage
“I joined the Department of Building Services Engineering of The Hong
Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) as a Research Assistant in Jan.
2007, and then became a Research Post-Graduate student under the
supervision of Prof. Jianlei Niu for the MPhil and PhD degrees from Sep.
2007 and Sep. 2008 respectively. My research topics are mainly related
to the investigation of the characteristics of phase change materials and
integrated thermal storage system. Some of the research results have
been published in one journal paper and five conference papers. Another
journal paper is also under preparation. I am encouraged that the project
I joined, “Micro-Encapsulated Phase Change Material (MPCM) Thermal
Storage System”, was awarded the Gold Medal with Jury’s Commendation
at the 38th International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva, Switzerland
(April 2010). I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to my supervisor,
Professor Jianlei Niu. His bright and sharp academic sense, invaluable
guidance and continuous support have helped me advance in my study. I
am also thankful to the faculty and the department for providing precious
academic resources, an open academic atmosphere and opportunities for
international communication.”
47