By turning blast furnace slag into something useful, Zhu managed to solve a worldwide problem.

Being both practical and ambitious,

Zhu's team is the first in the world to study micro fuel cells.

Zhu and her husband are widely praised "academic couples".

They teach students by precept and example and treat them as their own children.

Chongqing Biography had a dialogue with the National Woman Pace-setter 2021

Zhu Xun, the "Most Beautiful Teacher" of Chongqing.

Ms. Zhu Xun is famously difficult to interview. As a professor of the School of Energy and Power Engineering, Zhu is also serving as Vice President of Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and directors of a number of national key R&D projects. Her calendar is filled with teaching and scientific research.

Tian Yuan, Chongqing TV Station

What's the last project you have just finished?

Zhu Xun, a National Woman Pace-setter 2021 and a professor from the School of Energy and Power Engineering:

We are currently preparing the final report for a micro fuel cell project, which is a micro energy power supply device.

Zhu Xun: People are familiar with hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell, as the state government is strongly encouraging its use, and in the future, hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell is expected to be used as the driving energy of cars. But I'm not engaged in this area. I'm doing research of a kind of micro power supply, which is not fueled hydrogen, but a number of different fuels, including methyl alcohol, formic acid and sodium formate. One of its characteristics is that it has rich reaction systems and high energy density. Besides, its working condition is moderate, and it is able to work at the ambient temperature. Moreover, it is highly integrated, and can be used as power supply for some small-sized devices. It can even be used for test and power supply at the same time if it is made into a small-sized chip-type micro power supply.

Zhu Xun: We have made tremendous efforts in the basic research of this area, including the building of its theoretical model and its physical mechanism. We have also conducted the visualized experiment to figure out its characteristics and laws, and we are now going further with the research to find some ways to improve its performance, as its power at present is not high enough. There is still some way to go before it is put into practical use. Now our goal is to bring forward measures and methods to improve its performance based on the findings of our basic research.

Keeping in line with world frontier in theoretical research, targeting at bottlenecking problems with energy conservation and emission reduction in practical use.

Zhu Xun: The key R&D program we are currently undertaking is part of our efforts. It is about the blast furnace for ironmaking in iron and steel plant, which discharges molten-state slag with a temperature of 1,500°C. To treat the slag, the water quenching method is now used worldwide. For example, cold water is used to cool down the slag or the slag is directly discharged into water. In this process, the heat of the 1,500°C slag is dissipated, and a great amount of water is wasted. China is a steel power in the world, and the steel output in China accounts for 50% of the global total. As such, the quantity of blast furnace slag discharged is enormous, resulting in considerable energy waste. However, there is no technology in the world to recycle the heat of slag. This is the only segment in the steel and iron field in which heat recycling has not been realized yet. Since 2011, we have started research in this area.

Zhu Xun: The technology we are currently developing is called "centrifugal granulation waste heat recovery technology", in which water quenching is not used. Instead, air and dividing wall type water are used, which means the water and slag are not in direct contact. The water used is clean water, and it generates vapor that can in turn be used to generate electric power. This way, the waste heat is recycled. A big challenge in doing this is that it is not enough to recycle only heat, we should also recycle blast furnace slag, which is actually useful. If you do not use it, it leads to pollution and waste of land used for its storage. It can be used to make cement. Therefore we have to guarantee the quality of slag. At present many steel and iron enterprises show great interest in this. But a problem we are facing is: Who has the guts to be the first mover? The investment is heavy. But when it is brought into use, it saves energy, reduces consumption of coal, emission of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitric oxide, powder and dust.

Tian Yuan: Are you still giving lectures to undergraduate students frequently now?

Zhu Xun: I'm going to give lectures to undergraduate students this afternoon. One is to juniors and the other is to freshmen.

Tian Yuan: Do you think giving lectures to undergraduate students distracts you from scientific research?

Zhu Xun: No, I don't think so. Giving lectures is part of my job. Sometimes I talk about this with my doctoral students that intend to serve as teachers at a university. I would tell them that teaching is part of their job duty, and that they should always put education before scientific research.

Zhu Xun has a special feeling for teaching. Her parents are both teachers of Chongqing University. Zhu met and fell in love with her husband Liao Qiang in the university. Now they are both professors of the School of Energy and Power Engineering. After her supervisor retired, Zhu became person in charge of the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Now the Institute has developed from a team of several members to one with more than 170 members, and was selected as an innovative research group of the National Natural Science Foundation, which is currently the most popular talent plan program with the greatest academic influence in China.

Tian Yuan: Many students said that you made the 2-credit course worth 8 credits. Where do the extra 6 credits come from?

Zhu Xun: A 2-credit course is worth 8 credits. That must be a great pressure on students. This might be attributable to the extra-curricular knowledge I taught them in class. After they learned a knowledge point, I would ask them as question: How would you handle this problem on site if you were an engineer? How would you apply the knowledge? I guess this is how the extra 6 credits come from.

Tian Yuan: What are the things do you think a good university teacher should teach to the students?

Zhu Xun: In the first place, they have to hold correct three views. They have to be patriotic. Teachers have the future of a country on their shoulders. Young people are the future of the country. What will happen to the country if they are not well-educated? Moreover, we should give them a broader mental outlook. What mental outlook? In my opinion, mental outlook lies in two things. The first one is the bottom line. As a high-level intellectual, you need to know what the bottom line is. The second one is the top line. What is a top line? You need to know what excellence is. When you get to know what excellence is, you will find intrinsic motives within yourself and become a better self.

Tian Yuan: What are Mr. Liao and Ms. Zhu for you?

Peng Qin, a student: They are like the Condor Heroes. They love each other and are doing a great job in academic research. I really admire them.

Wu Junjun, a student and colleague: We are sometimes wondering how they get along with each other when they are both among the most successful ones in the industry. We found that despite their close relation, they would never hesitate to argue over academic issues. I learned from them that people in love or in marriage should be sometimes rational and sometimes sentimental.

Zhu Xun: One of the bright sides is that we can discuss and try to solve an issue at any time. Not only that, we understand each other easily. I know what he is doing and he knows what I am doing. There are a number of couples like me and Mr. Liao in our research team. They are all my students, and now they've already got married and have kids. I feel satisfied and happy when I think of this.

Tian Yuan: Will you get tire of seeing each other as you work and live together?

Liao Qiang, husband of Zhu Xun: No. We somehow managed to keep a feeling of freshness. For example, we like to discuss new scientific problems. We almost have no spare time. We go to Shapingba once or twice every year. Most of the time we are on a business trip. We may need to go to Beijing 10 to 20 times a year.

Tian Yuan: The influence you have on your students does not only lie in academic guide but also in the unconscious influence on their attitude towards life.

Zhu Xun: You are right. Our devotion to the family is posing a great influence on our team members. They really care for each other. Many of my students started to work for other colleges and universities after graduation. Some of the teachers we know told us that my students were loyal to their teams.

Tian Yuan: What is your plan to train talents for the future?

Zhu Xun: Our scientific research must serve the national strategy and respond to the national needs. Besides they have to be both ambitious and practical. To respond to the national needs, you have to be practical in technological research and development. Being ambitious means you have to try to keep up with the world frontier. This is what we call "grasping two key links at the same time" and is what we expect from young researchers.

Source: Diyiyan News