Photo caption:泭厙ぴ勛圖 Mechanical Engineering Professor Dan Zhao has won this years UC Research Medal.泭
Te Whare Wnanga o Waitaha | 厙ぴ勛圖 (UC) researcher Professor Zhao has made an award-winning impact on mechanical and aerospace engineering. His contributions have earned him the 2024 UC Research Medal, recognising his pioneering research in carbon-free combustion and drone aerodynamics.
Professor Zhaos Mechanical Engineering research focuses on optimising wind turbines for clean energy. He is addressing the challenge of designing onshore and offshore wind turbines that can operate efficiently at lower wind speeds, aiming to increase energy output and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Wind energy is clean and renewable, but it inherently varies due to the unsteady nature of airflow, Professor Zhao says.
His research in clean combustion and renewable energy, such as ammonia- and hydrogen-combustion technologies, directly supports New Zealands goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. He is currently testing a new CO2-free, swirling ammonia-fuelled combustor, which promises to reduce emissions without compromising energy performance.
Professor Zhao acknowledges the challenges in advancing sustainable energy solutions, particularly integrating different renewable energy sources. The development of more efficient wind turbines involves overcoming the integration of wind-power generation systems with other low-cost, green-energy generation systems like harnessing tidal waves and solar power, he explains. His multidisciplinary approach seeks to enhance the synergy between renewable sources, paving the way for a more reliable and efficient green-energy network.
Professor Zhao is also conducting innovative drone research. The project I am quite excited about is drones unsteady aerodynamics performance investigations, he says.
This work focuses on understanding and predicting aerodynamic behaviour, which is crucial for the efficient use of drones in agriculture. His research not only involves the design and wind-tunnel testing of drones but also the development of numerical tools for aerodynamics performance prediction, benefiting industry partners and postgraduate students at UC.
Looking to the future, Professor Zhao envisions significant advancements in hybrid energy systems. The future of energy-efficient technologies will include the optimisation of an integrated, carbon-free, power-generation system from two or more energy sources, he says. He is particularly interested in combining AI with mechanical system design, as well as exploring satellite rocket motors and space vehicle technologies.
His career is marked by international recognition, including fellowships from prestigious organisations such as the Royal Society Te Aprangi and the European Academy of Sciences. His academic path began at the University of Manchester, where he obtained a Masters degree, followed by a PhD in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the University of Cambridge.
At UC, he leads one of the largest aerospace research programmes in the Southern Hemisphere, guiding over 20 postgraduate students in projects that push the frontiers of aerodynamics and clean energy. He also serves in editor roles for several prestigious journals, including chief editor of the International Journal of Aerospace Engineering. His prolific academic output includes over 280 journal papers, five books, and five patents, reflecting his commitment to engineering innovation.
Through his research, Professor Zhao is shaping the future of sustainable energy and aerodynamics, driving advancements that are crucial to addressing global environmental challenges.
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 - Affordable and clean energy.
