Zero-emission and eco-friendly heating and cooling technologies
ZEco Thermal Lab
Dr. Jingyuan Xu, Head of “ZEco Thermal Lab”
Welcome
…to the homepage of ZEco Thermal Lab led by Dr. Jingyuan Xu. At our lab, we are dedicated to advancing zero-emission and eco-friendly heating and cooling technologies for energy transition. Feel free to reach out to us — we welcome discussions, collaboration, partnerships, and inquiries. Together, let's pave the way for a greener, more sustainable future.
Research
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Shape Memory AlloysShape Memory Alloys (SMA) exhibit remarkable features, including the ability to return to a predetermined shape upon heating (shape memory effect) and extensive reversible deformation and thermal changes with stress (superelastic effect). Our focus is on characterizing the mechanical, thermal, and microstructural behaviors of SMAs |
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Elastocaloric Cooling and HeatingElastocaloric cooling is an emerging cooling technology based on stress-induced thermal changes in shape memory alloys. This approach exhibits no environmental impact associated with leakage of the solid refrigerant, and is highly efficient. Our lab focuses on research, design, development, and prototyping of high-performance elastocaloric cooling devices. |
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Solar Heating and CoolingOur lab conducts techno-economic analyses for solar-based systems for heating, power generation, and/or cooling applications, with a focus on evaluating photovoltaic, photovoltaic-thermal, and solar thermal technologies. |
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Thermoacoustic TechnologyThermoacoustic technology harnesses the interaction between temperature variations and acoustic waves to achieve energy conversion. Our research covers thermoacoustic heat pumps, refrigerators and power generators, as well as multi-mode systems. |
Open Positions
Open Positions
We are actively searching for talented individuals to join our team and explore various positions aligned with our research interests. We offer opportunities in the following categories:
- Ph.D. thesis
- Postdoc
- Bachelor/Master thesis
- Visiting students/ researchers
If you are interested, please an email at jingyuan.xu∂kit.edu with a brief introduction about yourself. We highly appreciate the inclusion of your CV, transcript of records, and a list of recommendations.
Fellowships:
We encourage talented postdocs and PhD students to apply for a fellowship in our group. Besides internal funding, we will assist in their application for an external grant. This includes
- Humboldt Research Fellowship
- Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship
- Georg Forster Research Fellowship
- Helmholtz-OPOC Fellowship
- CSC Scholarship
- DAAD Scholarship
On the momentous occasion of KIT’s 200th anniversary, Jingyuan had the honor of representing in the official press conference, together with the president, Prof. Hesthaven. Jingyuan is proud to have been part of this historic celebration and looks forward to contributing to KIT’s ongoing journey of excellence and impact.
The ZEco Thermal Lab hosted a hands-on workshop for 100 high school graduates from around the world participating in the Carl Benz Summer School. Students explored cutting-edge heating and cooling technologies through hands-on engagement with advanced prototypes, gaining insights into innovative solutions for sustainable energy systems.
The ZEco Thermal Lab recently organized a two-day group retreat in the beautiful Black Forest, with the picturesque town of Bad Herrenalb serving as the perfect destination. The retreat provided an opportunity for team bonding, relaxation, and inspiration amidst nature's tranquility.
Jingyuan has been honored with the Fraunhofer UMSICHT-Wissenschaftspreis, recognizing her contributions to research and innovation in the field of sustainable energy technologies. As part of this recognition, Jingyuan has been invited to deliver a lecture at Fraunhofer UMSICHT (Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology UMSICHT).
We are delighted to announce that Ali Ghotbi Varzaneh, our postdoctoral researcher, has been awarded the prestigious Georg Forster Research Fellowship funded by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. He will focus on the project "Solid-State Multicaloric Cooling in All-d-Metal Alloys: Toward an Innovative Cooling Technology." Congratulations, Ali!
On Friday, June 7, 2024, Dr. Jingyuan Xu had the honor of presenting her research on sustainable cooling and heating technologies at the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Heidelberg. During the event, she was also selected to join the Young Academy of the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities.
Jingyuan had the honor of presenting her research on sustainable cooling technology at the Leopoldina (German National Academy of Sciences) on Monday, March 18, 2024, in Halle (Saale). Her lecture was a highlight of the award ceremony for the Leopoldina Prize for Young Scientists, recognizing Jingyuan's research in the fields of thermodynamics and energy technology.
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Cong Liu is a visiting Ph.D student from Northeastern University (China) supported by CSC scholar, focusing on the martensitic transformation and relevant functional properties of shape memory alloys. With rich experience on material characterization and fabrication, he will work on the exploration of miniature scale cooling using shape memory smart materials in IMT.
Jingyuan Xu, is one of the panelists at the International Women's Day Forum - Women in STEM at the International Departments of KIT. It was an incredible experience to celebrate and honor the strength, diversity and resilience of women. We believe women can achieve great things when they stand up for each other!
Kun Wang earned his Ph.D. degree from the Technical University of Denmark, focusing on developing the novel 3D-printed soft elastocaloric regenerators for cooling and heat pumps. Dr. Wang's expertise lies in developing cutting-edge caloric cooling systems, particularly focusing on fluidic cooling/heat-pumping mechanisms and numerical modelling of elastocaloric regenerators. He joins the team as a Postdoc and works on heat-driven elastocaloric cooling, conducting essential experiments to validate its potential.
The National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina is honoring the engineer for thermodynamics and energy technology Jingyuan Xu for her research achievements in the field of climate-friendly cooling using elastocaloric technologies with the Leopoldina Prize for Young Scientists 2023. The award ceremony will take place on Monday, March 18, 2024, in Halle (Saale). Dr. Xu will present her research in a lecture.
More (in German)
As part of the CZS Nexus program, she will head young investigator group and receive around 1.5 million euros for a period of five years. Dr. Xu is investigating the development of CO₂-neutral elastocaloric cooling devices that are powered by heat and represent an electricity-free alternative. The focus is on cooling in the miniature range, for example, electronic chips or temperature control of bioanalytical chips. At the same time, Dr. Xu would like to lay a foundation for future climate-neutral cooling devices in the macro sector.
More (in German)
Research
Publications
Team