Dr Yuan Tian

Dr Yuan Tian is a VC2020 Senior Lecturer at De Montfort University since 2018, supported by the Vice-Chancellor’s 2020 programme. Previously he was Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering and Design at Aston University (2017-2018), Diamond Jubilee Lecturer and Module Leader in Mechanical Engineering at University of Hertfordshire (2013-2017), Research Associate (2012-2013) and PhD student (2008-2013) at Warwick University.

His research interest includes thermal energy storage, energy-efficient buildings, waste heat recovery, smart grid energy storage, battery thermal management, thermoelectric generators, computational fluid dynamics and heat transfer in metal foam and Phase Change Materials (PCM). He authored/co-authored 40 research papers and book chapters (>6000 citations), including one paper which was awarded the Most Downloaded Article of the Year by Applied Energy in 2014. As a keen collaborator, he has travelled internationally with over 50 invited talks on various topics.

He is a Member of the Science Board of the UK's Energy Storage Research Hub, Member of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Energy Storage Experts Panel, Associate Editor for Academic Journal of Applied Engineering, and editorial board member/reviewer for over 60 international journals. He is a full Member of the highly selective Peer Review College with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC, UK) and ranked among their Top 5% Grants Reviewer in 2017-18, and is a regular grants reviewer for Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC, UK), Medical Research Council (MRC) and other International Research Councils: Chilean National Science and Technology Commission (CONICYT, Chile), etc.

Accredited to Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) in 2014, he teaches fluid mechanics, heat transfer, thermodynamics and renewable energy. In 2018-19, he led a DMU team to have successfully accreditated the University's Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics Engineering courses.

Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development (IESD)  

• Thermal energy storage: phase-change and thermochemical.
• Energy-efficient buildings.
• Multiphysics in porous materials: reaction flow and heat transfer.
• Industrial waste heat recovery.
• Thermal management for high-energy battery, hydrogen storage and thermoelectrics.
• Energy storage for smart grid.
• Computational fluid dynamics, heat and mass transfer.

• Fluid Mechanics
• Heat Transfer
• Thermodynamics
• Sustainable Energy

• PhD (Warwick)
• PgCert (Herts) for Teaching in the UK Higher Education Sector
• BEng (Distinction, XJTU)

BSc, BEng (Hons), MSc, MEng (Hons) in Mechanical/Automotive/Aerospace Engineering.

• 2017 – 2020: Guest Professorship, Yan’an University, China
• 2009 – 2012: EPSRC PhD Scholarship, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), UK
• 2012: Henry Lester Scholarship, the Henry Lester Trust Ltd, UK
• 2012: Outstanding PhD Completion Award, the University of Warwick, UK
• 2012: Great Britain–China Scholarship, the Great Britain–China Educational Trust, UK
• 2012: Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-financed Students Abroad

Y. Qu, S. Wang, Y. Tian, “A Review of Thermal Performance in Multiple Evaporators Loop Heat Pipe”, Applied Thermal Engineering 143, 2018, pp. 209–224, doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2018.07.070.

S. Wang, K. Li, Y. Tian, J. Wang, Y. Wu, S. Ji,  “Infrared  Imaging  Investigation of Temperature Fluctuation and Spatial Distribution for a Large Laminated Lithium–ion Power Battery”, Applied Thermal Engineering, 152, 2019, pp. 204–214, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2019.02.096.

S. Wang, K. Li, Y. Tian, J. Wang, Y. Wu, S. Ji, “Improved Thermal Performance of a Large Laminated Lithium-ion Power Battery by Reciprocating Air Flow”, Applied Thermal Engineering 152, 2019, pp. 445–454, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2019.02.061.

S. Wang, K. Li, Y. Tian, J. Wang, Y. Wu, S. Ji, “An Experimental and Numerical Examination on the Thermal Inertia of a Cylindrical Lithium-ion Power Battery”, Applied Thermal Engineering 154, 2019, pp. 676–685, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2019.03.141.

D. Zhou, Y. Tian, Y. Qu, Y.K. Chen, “Thermal Analysis of Phase Change Material Board (PCMB) under Weather Conditions in the Summer”, Applied Thermal Engineering 99, 2016, pp. 690–702, doi:10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.01.121.

Y. Qu, K. Zhou, K.F. Zhang, Y. Tian, “Effects of Multiple Sintering Parameters on the Thermal Performance of Bi-porous Nickel Wicks in Loop Heat Pipes”, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 99, 2016, pp. 638–646, doi:10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2016.04.005.

P. Ying, Y.K. Chen, Y. Xu, Y. Tian, “Computational and Experimental Investigations of an Omni-Flow Wind Turbine”, Applied Energy 146, 2015, pp. 74–83, doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.01.067.

D. Zhou, G.S.F. Shire, Y. Tian, “Parametric Analysis of Influencing Factors in Phase Change Material Wallboard (PCMW)”, Applied Energy 119, 2014, pp. 33–42, doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2013.12.059.

Y. Tian, C.Y. Zhao, “Thermal and Exergetic Analysis of Metal Foam-enhanced Cascaded Thermal Energy storage (MF-CTES)”, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 58(1), 2013, pp. 86–96

Y. Tian, C.Y. Zhao, “A Review of Solar Collectors and Thermal Energy Storage in Solar Thermal Applications”, Applied Energy 104, 2013, pp. 538–553

X.X. Han, Y. Tian, C.Y. Zhao, “An Effectiveness Study of Enhanced Heat Transfer in Phase Change Materials (PCMs)”, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 60, 2013, pp. 459–468

Y.P. Du, C.Y. Zhao, Y. Tian, Z.G. Qu, “Analytical considerations of flow boiling heat transfer in metal-foam filled tubes”, Heat and Mass Transfer 48(1), 2012, pp. 165–173

D. Zhou, C.Y. Zhao, Y. Tian, “Review on thermal energy storage with phase change materials (PCMs) in building applications”, Applied Energy 92, 2012, pp. 593–605, doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2011.08.025.

Y. Tian, C.Y. Zhao, “Natural Convection Investigations in Porous Phase Change Materials”, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Letters 3(6), 2011, pp. 769–772

Y. Tian, C.Y. Zhao, “A Numerical Investigation of Heat Transfer in Phase Change Materials (PCMs) Embedded in Porous Metals”, Energy 36(9), 2011, pp. 5539–5546

Y. Tian, C.Y. Zhao, Z.Y. Li, Z.G. Qu, “Flow and Heat Transfer in Metal Foam Filled Pipes under Two Extended Darcy Models”, Journal of Engineering Thermophysics 29(8), 2008, pp. 1380–1382 (EI accession number: 20083311459656, full paper in Chinese, with English Abstract).

C.Y. Zhao, W. Lu, Y. Tian, “Heat transfer enhancement for thermal energy storage using metal foams embedded within phase change materials (PCMs)”, Solar Energy 84(8), 2010, pp. 1402–1412, doi:10.1016/j.solener.2010.04.022.

Y. Tian, D. Zhou, “Thermal Analysis and Optimisation of a Latent Heat Storage System with Parallel Pipes as Heat Exchangers”, [paper number: 25099], 14th International Heat Transfer Conference – IHTC-16, Beijing, 10th – 15th October 2018.

Y. Tian, D. Zhou, “Multiphysics Modelling of Thermochemical Materials in Energy-efficient Buildings”, the 10^th International Conference on Applied Energy, 22^nd – 25^th, August 2018.

Y. Tian, “Heat Transfer Enhancement in Thermal Energy Storage by Using Porous Carbon Materials and Metal Foams”, International Energy Agency (IEA) Task 4229 Experts Meeting, the National Institute of Applied Sciences (INSA),Lyon, France, 28^th – 30^th April 2014,

Y. Tian, C.Y. Zhao, A. Lapkin, “Exergy Optimisation for Cascaded Thermal Storage”, Proceedings of 12^th International Conference on Energy Storage – Innostock 2012, University of Lleida, Spain, 16^th – 18^th May 2012.

Y. Tian, C.Y. Zhao, “Using Porous metals to Enhance Heat Transfer in Phase Change Materials (PCMs)”, Proceedings of 2011 Heat and Mass Transfer Conference, Chinese Society of Engineering Thermophysics (CSET), Xi’an, China, 14^th – 16^th October 2011, pp. 208–212 (full paper in Chinese, with English Abstract).

Y. Tian, C.Y. Zhao, “Thermal Analysis in Phase Change Materials (PCMs) Embedded with Metal Foams”, ASME Conference Proceedings: 14^th International Heat Transfer Conference – IHTC-14, Washington D.C., U.S.A., 8^th – 13^th August 2010, Volume 7, pp. 425–434

Y. Tian, C.Y. Zhao, “Numerical investigations of heat transfer in phase change materials using non-equilibrium model”, 11^th UK National Heat Transfer Conference (UKHTC-11), Queen Mary College, University of London, UK, 6^th – 8^th September 2009.

Y. Tian, C.Y. Zhao, “Heat Transfer Analysis for Phase Change Materials (PCMs)”, 11^th International Conference on Energy Storage (Effstock 2009), Stockholm, Sweden, 14^th – 17^th June 2009.

Y.K. Chen, P. Ying, Y. Xu, Y. Tian, “On the Turbulent Flow Models in Modelling of Omni-Flow Wind Turbine”, The International Conference on Next Generation Wind Energy (ICNGWE2014), the Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain, 7^th – 10^th October 2014.

X.X. Han, Y. Tian, C.Y. Zhao, “A Phase Field Model for Heat Transfer in a Metal Foam-embedded Latent Thermal Energy Storage (LTES) System”, Proceedings of 8^th International symposium on Heat Transfer – ISHT-8, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, 21^st – 24^th October 2012.

Y. Tian, “Heat Transfer Enhancement in Phase Change Materials (PCMs) by Metal Foams and Cascaded Thermal Energy Storage”, PhD Thesis, School of Engineering, University of Warwick, 2013.

Y. Tian, “Phase Change Convective Heat Transfer in High Porosity Cellular Metal Foams”, In Book: Focus on Porous Media Research, Changying Zhao (Ed.), Nova Science Publishers Inc., New York, 2013 (ISBN: 978-1-62618-668-2).

Heat transfer and fluid flow investigation of a building fire spreading system with Building Research Establishment – BRE.

Talented Home/EU/Oversea students are welcome to apply for a full-time PhD (scholarship may be available) or a part-time exchange student, in any of the research areas above. Please contact Dr Yuan Tian.

Associate Editor/Editorial Board

• Academic Journal of Applied Engineering.
• Insights of Scientific and Biomedical Research Journal.

Journal Reviewer:

• Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry.
• Applied Energy.
• Applied Sciences.
• Applied Thermal Engineering.
• Building Simulation.
• Climate.
• Cryogenics.
• Energies.
• Energy.
• Energy and Building.
• Energy Conversion and Management.
• Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science.
• Heat and Mass Transfer.
• IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion.
• International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer.
• International Journal of Energy Research.
• International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer.
• International Journal of Hydrogen Energy.
• International Journal of Thermal Sciences.
• Journal of Energy Storage.
• Journal of Engineering.
• Journal of Heat Transfer – Transactions of the ASME.
• Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering.
• Journal of Power Sources.
• Materials.
• Materials for Renewable and Sustainable Energy.
• Renewable Energy.
• Physics of Fluids.
• Solar Energy.
• Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells.
• Sciences of the Total Environment.
• Sustainability.
• Sustainable Cities and Society.
• Thermochimica Acta.