The research team is focusing on fundamental theoretical and applied technological research in complex heat transfer and fluid flow, the goal is to advance the scientific development and the economical, efficient, and safe application of new energy and renewable energy. We are committed to solving key scientific and technical problems related to thermal-fluid processes in these applications.

Research directions include: efficient development and utilization of geothermal energy, electrochemical energy and power systems (including advanced batteries and fuel cells), etc.

The research team emphasizes the interdisciplinary application of thermal-fluid science in new energy systems, with a strong focus on bridging fundamental theory and engineering applications. It is particularly well-suited to solving complex multi-physics problems in new energy development, such as thermal management, flow heat transfer, and system integration.

The deep geothermal development technology based on super-long gravity heat pipes was first proposed by the research team in 2016 and has undergone continuous iteration and innovation.

In 2020, the team achieved the world’s first 3,000-meter gravity heat pipe extraction of hot dry rock geothermal energy, marking a groundbreaking technical breakthrough from “0” to “1”. In 2022, we realized megawatt-level heat extraction from a single well using an improved gravity heat pipe. In the same year, the team completed the first super-long gravity heat pipe heating demonstration project. In 2023, we successfully achieved the world’s first direct power generation driven by steam produced from a super-long gravity heat pipe. In 2024, the team completed the super-long gravity heat pipe heating demonstration project in the Fenwei Rift Valley region and pioneered an integrated super-long gravity heat pipe–heat pump coupled heating system. To date, a total of 9 super-long gravity heat pipe field tests or demonstration projects have been completed.

The team led the National Key R&D Program project titled “Key Technology Research on Efficient Development of Hot Dry Rock Geothermal Energy Using Super-long Gravity Heat Pipes.”We undertook one National 863 Program project on hot dry rock geothermal energy development, one Class A Strategic Priority Research Program project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and participated in two additional National Key R&D Program projects on geothermal energy.

The team has published more than 200 papers in prestigious energy journals such as Energy & Environmental Science, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, and Energy. We have been granted 46 invention patents (including 6 PCT patents authorized in the United States, Europe, and other countries) and registered 27 software copyrights.

The research team currently has 17 full-time researchers, of whom 15 hold doctoral degrees. Their professional backgrounds are primarily in energy and chemistry-related fields. Among them, there are 3 professors and 5 associate professors. In addition, there are 4 part-time foreign experts. The team also has 19 students, including 8 PhD students and 11 master's students.

Key Research Areas

· Geothermal energy exploitation technologies

· Fuel cell and battery science and technology

· Micro/nano-scale heat transfer and fluid flow

· CFD from micro- to macro- scale

Core Researchers

·JIANG Fangming, Team Leader

· HUANG Wenbo

· HE Yufang

· CHEN Juanwen

·QIU Yishu

Key Research Platforms & Facilities

·Pilot Base for Super-long Gravity Heat Pipe Geothermal Development Technology

· Integrated Simulation Experimental System for Underground Thermal Processes in Enhanced Geothermal Systems

· Battery Electrochemical Performance Testing System and Electrical & Thermal Performance Testing System

· Fuel Cell Assembly and Testing Platform

·High-Performance Computing Platform

Signature Achievements

·Achieved the world's first 'pumpless' extraction of medium-to-deep geothermal resources using a 'heat-only, water-free' approach. This represents a major breakthrough in geothermal development technology, pioneering new paradigms and pathways for the utilization of geothermal energy.

· The research team proposed a geothermal power generation scheme featuring direct-drive power generation via super-long gravity heat pipe vapor. We pioneered a geothermal power unit directly driven by ammonia vapor produced by heat pipes, integrated seamlessly with a super-long gravity heat pipe-based geothermal extraction system.

· Pioneered an integrated coupled heating system utilizing super-long gravity heat pipes and heat pumps; developed a direct heat exchange unit for ammonia and heat pump working fluids, specifically designed to interface with super-long gravity heat pipe systems.

· Developed a 100kW/500kWh liquid-cooled energy storage prototype for the hybrid second-life utilization of multi-type retired power batteries. The system is integrated with a proprietary Thermal-Safety Management System (TSMS) to enable online safety status identification and hierarchical thermal and safety control

·Developed a non-isothermal numerical model for PEMFC cold start, which has been adopted by world-renowned automakers (including Toyota, Honda, GM, Nissan, and SAIC) for the research and development of fuel cell vehicles.

International Collaboration

·The research team has established a close and in-depth collaborative relationship with Professor Chao-Yang Wang’s team at Pennsylvania State University, and has carried out joint research in the fields of lithium-ion batteries and fuel cells.

·Leveraging the research team, Professor Antonio C. M. Sousa from the University of New Brunswick, Canada, Professor Kamel Hooman from the University of Queensland, Australia, Professor Jafar Kermani from Iran University of Science and Technology, and Professor Hamid Naderan Tahan from Amirkabir University of Technology, Iran, were respectively selected into the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) International Talent Program (PIFI).

Contact Name：JIANG Fangming

Contact Number：+86-20-87057656

Contact Email：jiangfm@ms.giec.ac.cn