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Dr. Zhu develops next-generation heat pump technologies for sustainable heating and industrial decarbonization. Her research focuses on thermodynamic matching for efficient heat upgrading, integrating advanced refrigerants, heat and mass transfer, and system-level design. Applications include district heating, industrial heat recovery, data centers, and renewable energy systems.
Previously, she was a Marie SkĹodowska-Curie Fellow (H.C. Ărsted COFUND) at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), where she advanced research on zeotropic refrigerant mixtures and established a multifunctional heat pump testing platform. Her expertise spans thermodynamics, heat and mass transfer, and thermal energy systems.
Sustainable Heat Pump and Refrigeration Technologies  (SuperHP )Advancing thermodynamic matching and heat upgrading for sustainable thermal energy systems. Â
Expertise Engineering Heat Pump Thermodynamic Efficiency Numerical Analysis District Heating System Thermal System Heat Pipe Thermal Energy Storage System Exergetic Efficiency Organisations Dr. Zhuâs research develops next-generation heat pump technologies for sustainable heating, cooling, and industrial decarbonization. Her work focuses on thermodynamic matching for efficient heat upgrading, enabling the transformation of low-grade heat into valuable thermal energy. By integrating advanced working fluids, heat transfer and phase-change processes, and system-level optimization, she aims to improve the efficiency, flexibility, and scalability of future thermal energy systems.
⢠Thermodynamic Matching and Heat Upgrading: Developing thermodynamically optimized heat pump systems that match heat sources and heat demands, minimizing exergy losses and enabling efficient heat upgrading across a wide range of temperature levels.
⢠Advanced Working Fluids and Zeotropic Mixtures: Investigating sustainable refrigerants, particularly natural refrigerantâbased zeotropic mixtures, to enhance heat pump performance through temperature-glide matching, improved efficiency, and reduced environmental impact.
⢠Heat Transfer and Phase Change Processes: Understanding and enhancing evaporation, condensation, and frost-related phenomena to improve heat exchanger performance, operational reliability, and overall system efficiency.
⢠Integrated Heat Pump Systems: Advancing the integration of heat pumps into district heating networks, industrial heat recovery, data centers, and renewable energy systems to support low-carbon and flexible energy infrastructures.
Publications Jump to: 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023
Numerical study and structural optimization of horizontal buried-pipe systems for geothermal energy recovery in deep mines (2026) Applied thermal engineering, 302 (Part 2). Article 131885 (E-pub ahead of print/First online). Chen, C., Chang, Y., Huan, C., Liu, L., Diao, Y., Zhou, J., Wang, J., Zhou, G., Zhang, B. & Zhu, T. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2026.131885 Solidification performance of metal-foam-enhanced phase change composites in thermal energy storage systems for underground mines (2026) Journal of Energy Storage, 161 . Article 121947. Chen, C., Liu, L., Diao, Y., Wang, Y., Huan, C., Wang, M., Chang, Y. & Zhu, T. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2026.121947 Solar-centered integrated multi-energy systems: A review of technologies and applications (2026) Renewable & sustainable energy reviews, 239 . Article 117116 (E-pub ahead of print/First online). Zhang, R., Wu, Y., Li, X., Du, Y., Zhu, T. & Wang, R.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2026.117116 Melting performance analysis of heat transfer in metal foam-fin enhanced phase change cold storage (2026) Applied thermal engineering, 302 (Part 1). Article 131650 (E-pub ahead of print/First online). Chen, C., Liu, L., Diao, Y., Huan, C., Chang, Y., Zhou, J., Wang, M. & Zhu, T. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2026.131650 Thermodynamic performance of booster heat pumps using low-GWP zeotropic mixtures (2026) [Contribution to conference › Abstract] 15th IEA Heat Pump Conference, HPC 2026 . Zhu, T. , Liang, J., Du, Y., Thorsen, J. E. & Kjær Jensen, J. Hydrogen solubility in aqueous solutions: A thermodynamic modeling approach using electrolyte equation of state (2026) International journal of hydrogen energy, 217 . Article 153964. Sun, L., Zhu, T. & Liang, J.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2026.153964 Zeotropic Mixture Refrigerants for Next-Generation Sustainable Heat Pump Systems (2025) [Contribution to conference › Poster] 2nd UT Climate Event 2025 . Zhu, T. Optimization research to minimize fuel consumption/ NOx emission of a two-stroke low speed marine diesel engine (2025) International Journal of Engine Research, 26 (11), 1726-1741. Shen, Z., Pan, Y., Zhou, H., Zhang, D. & Zhu, T. https://doi.org/10.1177/14680874251331307 Micro-CT investigation of urea crystal structures for frost analysis (2025) International journal of thermal sciences, 214 . Article 109893. Labuschagne, A., Zhu, T. & Rohlfs, W.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2025.109893 A comprehensive review of key technologies for the development of oil-free single screw compressors (2025) Applied thermal engineering, 269 (Part A). Article 126003. Ma, X., Du, Y., Li, B., Wu, Y., Zhang, C. & Zhu, T. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2025.126003 Materials and flow fields of bipolar plates in polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis: A review (2025) Energy Reviews, 4 (2). Article 100132. Wang, Y., Wang, Z., Qiao, J., Li, H., Wang, X., Cao, B., Zhu, T. , Zhang, B. & Wang, M.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enrev.2025.100132 Heat transfer characteristics of flat-plate micro heat pipes with integrated copper foam for aerospace thermal management (2025) Applied thermal engineering, 263 . Article 125319. Wang, G., Chen, Y., Yu, W., Hu, T., Su, H. & Zhu, T. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2024.125319 Parametric Study and Optimization of a New Type of Solar Air Collector Employing Flat Micro Heat Pipe Arrays (2025) Journal of thermal science and engineering applications, 17 (3). Article 031009. Wang, X., Diao, Y., Wang, Z., Pan, Y., Zhao, Y., Li, Y., Wang, T. & Zhu, T. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4067633 Design and Validation of a Micro-Wind Tunnel for In-Situ Frost Formation Imaging in a Micro-CT Scanner (2025) In THMT-25 Turbulence, Heat and Mass Transfer 11, 21-25 July 2025, Tokyo, Japan (Proceedings of the International Symposium on Turbulence, Heat and Mass Transfer). Begell House Inc.. Labuschagne, A., Zhu, T. & Rohlfs, W. https://doi.org/10.1615/THMT-25.500 Advancing gasoline vapor recovery in oil depots: Integrating cooling and adsorption technologies (2024) Energy, 313 . Article 133823. Liang, J., Sun, L., Cheng, C., Wang, K., Zhu, T. & Li, T.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2024.133823 Booster heat pump with drop-in zeotropic mixtures applied in ultra-low temperature district heating system (2024) Energy, 305 . Article 132292. Zhu, T. , Vieren, E., Liang, J., Thorsen, J. E., De Paepe, M., Lecompte, S. & Elmegaard, B.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2024.132292 A comprehensive review of compression high-temperature heat pump steam system: Status and trend (2024) International journal of refrigeration, 164 , 218-242. Ma, X., Du, Y., Zhao, T., Zhu, T. , Lei, B. & Wu, Y.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2024.04.024 Allocation optimization of two-stage compression-absorption heat exchanger (2024) International journal of heat and fluid flow, 107 . Article 109396. Hua, J., Wang, J. & Zhu, T. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatfluidflow.2024.109396 Numerical analysis on thermal behavior of cascaded thermal storage units using multichannel flat tubes (2024) Journal of Energy Storage, 92 . Article 112142. Pan, Y., Diao, Y., Liu, Y., Chen, C., Wang, X., Sun, C., Zhao, Y., Wang, T. & Zhu, T. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2024.112142 Performance investigation of a novel flat-plate solar air collector with L-shaped dual micro heat pipe arrays (2024) Applied thermal engineering, 243 . Article 122566. Wang, X., Diao, Y., Wang, Z., Zhao, Y., Pan, Y., Zhang, D. & Zhu, T. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2024.122566 Performance of boilers equipped with vapor-pump (BEVP) system equipped with a novel air-flue gas total heat exchanger (2024) International journal of heat and fluid flow, 106 . Article 109316. Hua, J., Wang, J. & Zhu, T. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatfluidflow.2024.109316 Performance evaluation of air-source heat pump based on a pressure drop embedded model (2024) Heliyon, 10 (4). Article e24634. Koopman, T., Zhu, T. & Rohlfs, W.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24634 An experimental investigation on the heat transfer characteristics of cascaded thermal storage units based on multichannel flat tubes (2024) Journal of Energy Storage, 78 . Article 110012. Pan, Y., Diao, Y., Liu, Y., Chen, C., Zhao, Y., Wang, X., Zhang, D. & Zhu, T. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2023.110012 Integration of booster heat pumps in ultra-low temperature district heating network: Prototype demonstration and refrigerant charge investigation (2023) Energy and buildings, 298 . Article 113516. Zhu, T. , Du, Y., Liang, J., Rohlfs, W., Eric Thorsen, J. & Elmegaard, B.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2023.113516 A Numerical Study of VaporâLiquid Equilibrium in Binary Refrigerant Mixtures Based on 2,3,3,3-Tetrafluoroprop-1-ene (2023) Sustainability (Switzerland), 15 (19). Article 14482. Sun, L., Liang, J. & Zhu, T. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151914482 Thermal performance of cold thermal energy storage system with fin and finâfoam structures (2023) Applied thermal engineering, 228 , 1-11. Article 120459. Chen, C., Diao, Y., Zhao, Y., Wang, Z., Han, Y., Wang, Z., Liu, Y., Fang, D. & Zhu, T. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2023.120459 A heat pump system for simultaneous comfort floor cooling and domestic hot water (2023) In 14th IEA Heat Pump Conference 2023 . Zhu, T. , Liang, J., Thorsen, J. E., Gudmundsson, O., Rohlfs, W. & Elmegaard, B. Characteristic analysis and energy efficiency of an oil-free dual-piston linear compressor for household refrigeration with various conditions (2023) Energy, 270 . Article 126931. Li , C., Sun, J., Zou, H., Cai, J. & Zhu, T. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2023.126931 Experimental investigation of preheating performance of lithium-ion battery modules in electric vehicles enhanced by bending flat micro heat pipe array (2023) Applied energy, 337 . Article 120896. Liang, L., Zhao, Y., Diao, Y., Ren, R., Zhu, T. & Li, Y.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2023.120896 Experimental Analysis of the Discharge Valve Movement of the Oil-Free Linear Compressor in the Refrigeration System (2023) Sustainability (Switzerland), 15 (7). Article 5853. Li, C., Sun, J., Zou, H., Cai, J. & Zhu, T. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15075853 Melting performance of a cold energy storage device filled with metal foamâcomposite phase-change materials (2023) Journal of Energy Storage, 60 . Article 106567. Chen, C., Diao, Y., Zhao, Y., Wang, Z., Liu, Y., Han, Y., Zhu, T. , Fang, D. & Li, J.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2022.106567 Development of a Zero-Dimensional Model for a Low-Speed Two-Stroke Marine Diesel Engine with Exhaust Gas Bypass and Performance Evaluation (2023) Processes, 11 (3). Article 936. Zhang, D., Shen, Z., Xu, N., Zhu, T. , Chang, L. & Song, H.https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11030936 Performance prediction of a finâmetal foamâcold thermal energy storage device: Solidification (2023) International journal of heat and mass transfer, 202 . Article 123672. Chen, C., Diao, Y., Zhao, Y., Zhu, T. , Wang, Z., Han, Y. & Liu, Y.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2022.123672 Thermodynamic Performance Comparisons of Ideal Brayton Cycles Integrated with High Temperature Fuel Cells as Power Sources on Aircraft (2023) Sustainability and Climate Change, 15 (3). Article 2805. Ji, Z., Guo, F., Zhu, T. , Cheng, K., Zhang, S., Qin, J. & Dong, P.https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032805 Research profiles Affiliated study programs Courses academic year 2026/2027 Courses in the current academic year are added at the moment they are finalised in the Osiris system. Therefore it is possible that the list is not yet complete for the whole academic year.
Courses academic year 2025/2026 Courses academic year 2024/2025 
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