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Lei Zhang

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PhD student (2023 - )

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Research Centre for Fire Safety Engineering

Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering

Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong

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Email: lei23.zhang@connect.polyu.hk

Office: ZN 808

Biography

Mr. Lei Zhang is currently a PhD student at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He received his B.Eng. degree in Civil Engineering from Jiangnan University in 2021. He received his M.Sc. degree in General Structural Engineering from Imperial College London in 2022. His research focuses on thermal runaway of lithium batteries, thermal runaway suppression, and thermal runaway warning. His work ranges from small-scale fire experiments in the laboratory to full-scale battery pack and storage tank experiments. He also conducts research on coupled multi-physics field simulations, and the use of artificial intelligence tools to process and provide predictions for multi-dimensional sensing signals. Through these efforts, his goal is to help better understand the thermal hazards of batteries and seek safer, more efficient, and cleaner lithium battery technologies.

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Background of Education

  • 2023 - Present, Ph.D., Dept. of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

  • 2021 - 2022, M.Sc., Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London.

  • 2017 - 2021, B.Eng., School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Jiangnan University.

 

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Research Areas

Battery structural failure, Cooling method, Signal prediction.

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Journal Publications （EN)​

  1. L. Zhang, F. Guan, Y. Zhang, Y. Chen, Y. Liu, C. Ye, S. Liu, X. Huang*, Post-venting immersion cooling of over-heated battery: Effect of thermal runaway risk, cell scale, and quenching strategy, Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 210 (2026): 108730. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2026.108730

  2. L. Zhang, Y. Su, Y. Zhang, P. Sun, C. Ye, Y. Liu, X. Huang*, Early emergency cooling for mitigating the onset of battery thermal runaway, Journal of Energy Storage, 132 (2025): 117820. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2025.117820

  3. P. Sun, Y. Liu, L. Zhang, X. Huang*, Y. Nakamura, Multiphase modelling of bubbling in phase change material for battery thermal safety management, Thermal Science and Engineering Progress, 67 (2025): 104187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsep.2025.104187

  4. Y. Su, L. Zhang*, Y.Zhou, M. Geng, S. Liu, L. Chen, X. Huang*, Thermal management performance of flat heat pipe in prismatic battery module, Applied Thermal Engineering, (2025): 127747. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2025.127747

  5. Y. Chen, L. Zhang*, Y. Zhang, Y. Zhou, Z. Zhang, S. Lin, W. Wei, X. Huang*, Underground fires induced by disposed Li-ion battery in peatland and landfill, Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 199 (2025): 107235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2025.107235

  6. L. Zhang, Y. Liu, X. Huang, X. Huang*,  Intra-cell thermal runaway propagation within a cylindrical battery induced by nail penetration. International Journal of Thermal Sciences, 210 (2025): 109633. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2024.109633

  7. L. Zhang, Y. Liu*, X. Huang*, Dynamic thermal runaway evolution of Li-ion battery during nail penetration, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 233 (2024): 126020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.

  8. Y.Liu, L. Zhang, Y. Ding, X. Huang, X.Huang*, Effect of thermal impact on the onset and propagation of thermal runaway over cylindrical Li-ion batteries, Renewable Energy, 222 (2024): 119910. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2023.119910.

  9. Y.Liu, L. Zhang, X. Huang, M. Hao, X. Huang*, Laser-induced thermal runaway dynamics of cylindrical lithium-ion battery, Journal of Energy Storage, 86 (2024): 111337. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2024.111337.​​

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Journal Publications （CN)

  1. ​张磊, 刘彦辉, 叶从亮, 周钰鑫, and 黄鑫炎. "针刺诱发电池热失控的研究进展综述." 消防科学与技术 43, no. 5 (2024): 597.

  2. 周钰鑫, 刘彦辉, 唐亮, 叶从亮, 张磊, 郝梦龙, and 黄鑫炎. "锂离子电池热失控阻隔材料研究进展与展望." 消防科学与技术 43, no. 5 (2024): 613.

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Conference Communications

  1. L. Zhang, Y. Su, Y. Zhang, P. Sun, C. Ye, Y. Liu, and X. Huang. Early emergency cooling for mitigating the onset of battery thermal runaway, 4th International Symposium on Lithium Battery Fire Safety (ISLBFS), Hong Kong, China, Oct 31 – Nov 2, 2025. [Oral]

  2. L. Zhang, Y. Liu, C. Ye, Y. Zhou, Y. Su, X. Huang*, Quantitative investigation of immersion cooling agents for thermal runaway suppression, 11th International Seminar on Fire and Explosion Hazards (ISFEH 2025), Rome, Italy, June 15-19, 2025. [Oral]

  3. L. Zhang, J. Xie, Y. Zhou, Exploring Efficient Liquid Cooling Technologies for Energy Storage Applications, 2nd Zero-Carbon Solution, Ningde, China, May 12-15, 2025. [Oral]

  4. L. Zhang, Y. Zhou, Y. Liu, C. Ye, X. Huang Computational Modelling of Fire Hazard Propagation Driven by Thermal Runaway Following Nail Penetration, 4th European Symposium on Fire Safety Science (ESFSS 2024), Barcelona, Spain, Oct. 7–11, 2024. [Poster]

  5. L. Zhang, Y. Liu, X. Huang, Modelling the thermal runaway propagation induced by nail penetration, Fire Asia 2024, Hong Kong, Jul. 10–12, 2024. [Poster]

  6. L. Zhang, Y. Liu, X. Huang, Exploring the Limiting Cooling to prevent battery thermal runaway, The 5th National Meeting on Lithium-Ion Battery Safety, Beijing, China, Mar. 29-31, 2024. [Oral]

  7. Y.Liu, L. Zhang, Y. Ding, X. Huang, X.Huang, Effect of thermal impact on the onset and propagation of thermal runaway over cylindrical Li-ion batteries, 14th International Symposium on Fire Safety Science (IAFSS 2023), Tsukuba, Japan, Oct. 22-27, 2023. [Poster]

  8. Y. Liu, L. Zhang, X. Huang, Thermal Runaway Criticality of the Li-ion Battery induced by Laser irradiation, 14th International Symposium on Fire Safety Science (IAFSS 2023), Tsukuba, Japan, Oct 21-27, 2023. [Poster]

  9. L. Zhang, Y. Liu, X. Huang, Thermal runaway evolution of a single cylindrical Li-ion battery induced by nail penetration, 3rd International Symposium on Lithium Battery Fire Safety (ISLBFS 2023), Qingdao, China, Aug 25–28, 2023. [Oral]

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Patents （Pending）

  • X. Huang, Y. Chen, L. Zhang, Waste Battery Recycling Equipment and Methods, Invention Patent [CN], CN121732457A

  • X. Huang, L. Zhang, Y. Zhou, Y. Zhang, C. Ye, Battery cooling assemblies, battery modules, electric vehicles, and battery cooling methods, Invention Patent [CN], CN121416676A

  • X. Huang, J. Xie, L. Zhang，A battery thermal management system, method and carrier, Invention Patent [CN], CN121035438A

  • X. Huang, Y. Zhou, L. Zhang, M. Geng, Y. Su, A method and apparatus for assessing thermal runaway of cathode materials. Invention Patent [CN], CN120847323A

  • X. Huang, L. Zhang, Y. Liu, C. Ye, Y. Zhou, Methods, apparatus, terminal equipment and storage medium for directional heating of batteries. Invention Patent [CN], CN121709767A

  • X. Huang, L. Zhang, C. Ye, Y. Liu, Y. Zhou, A cooling device for suppressing the occurrence of thermal runaway of a battery. Invention Patent [CN], CN118630383A

  • X. Huang, Y. Liu, L. Zhang, A test apparatus and method for inducing thermal runaway of a battery using a fibre-guided laser beam. Invention Patent [CN], CN118625134A

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Awards

  • 2025.11, Best paper, 4th International Symposium on Lithium Battery Fire Safety

  • 2025.7, PolyU International Collaborative Research Fellowship 2025/2026

  • 2025.7, PolyU Research Student Attachment Program Funding 2025/2026

  • 2025.6, Best student presenter paper, The 11th International Seminar on Fire and Explosion

  • 2025.6, Grand Award, BEEE 2025 Industry Day

  • 2025.5, Incentive Award, CATL Zero Carbon Solution

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​（Last updated on 13/05/2025)

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©2026 by PolyU X Fire Lab. 

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