Qian Chen

Dr. Chen Qian is an Associate Professor in Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, where he has been since July 2022. He obtained his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 2014. He received his Ph.D. degree in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore (NUS) in 2018. After brief stints as a postdoctoral fellow at NUS, he worked at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology from June 2019 to June 2022, eventually as a research scientist. His research interests include low-temperature desalination, green hydrogen production from seawater, and waste water treatment. Chen Qian has made over 60 scholarly contributions, including nearly 50 peer-reviewed research papers. He is serving as Guest Editor for topical collections related to energy-water-environment nexus.

Jul. 2014-Aug. 2018, National University of Singapore, Mechanical Engineering, Ph.D.

Sep. 2010-Jun. 2014, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Mechanical Engineering, Bachelor

Jul. 2022 - present, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Associate Professor

Jul. 2022 – Jun.2025, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Assistant Professor

Jul. 2021 – Jun. 2022, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Research Scientist

Jun. 2019 – Jun. 2021, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Postdoc Research Fellow

Sep. 2018 – Jun. 2019, National University of Singapore, Postdoc Research Fellow

Technical Working Group on Nuclear Desalination, International Atomic Energy Agency

Guest editor for Frontiers in Energy Research, Frontiers in Built Environment, Energies, etc

Journal reviewer: Energy, Applied Energy, Desalination, Energy Conversion and Management, Solar Energy, Energy and Buildings, International Journal of Energy Research;

Heat Transfer, SIGS

Multipurpose Utilization of Seawater, SIGS  

Thermophysical measurement technologies, SIGS

1.  Thermal desalination driven by low-grade heat

2.  Seawater electrolysis with freshwater cogeneration

3.  Hypersaline water treatment

4.Sustainable cooling technologies

[1] Ziqiang Zhong, Yetian Ding, Youxiao Chen, Peng Liao, Chen Qian*. Improving commercial-scale alkaline water electrolysis systems for fluctuating renewable energy: Unsteady-state thermodynamic analysis and optimization. Applied Energy. 2025;395:126183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.126183 

[2] Chuanjun Yang, Zhongsheng Li, Shiting Li, Xin Cui, Chen Qian*. Sustainable evaporative cooling driven by saline water sources: opportunities, challenges and solutions. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 2025;218:115799. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2025.115799 

[3] Ziqiang Zhong, Muhammad Burhan, Kim Choon Ng, Xin Cui, Chen Qian*. Low-temperature desalination driven by waste heat of nuclear power plants: A thermo-economic analysis. Desalination. 2024;576:117325. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2024.117325 

[4] Han Cengyang, Zheng Hongfei, Chen Qian*. Transient modelling and analysis of coupled heat-mass-salt transport in capillary-driven solar still for system scalability and efficiency enhancement. Energy Conversion and Management. 2025;342:120121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2019.101812 

[5] Ziqiang Zhong, Burhan Muhammad, Yening Wang, Youxiao Chen, Ng Kim Choon, Cui Xin, Hongfei Zheng, Zhenyuan Yin, Chen Qian*. Unsteady-state modeling and analysis of a spray-assisted low-temperature desalination system. Desalination. 2024;592:118054. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2024.118054 

[6] Liu Jianlin, Sun Chuan, Chen Qian*. Experimental study of desiccant-coated heat exchangers for deep dehumidification. Energy and Buildings. 2024;319:114554. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2024.114554 

[7] Chen Qian, Faheem Hassan Akhtar, Muhammad Burhan, M Kumja, Kim Choon Ng, A novel zero-liquid discharge desalination system based on the humidification-dehumidification process: a preliminary study, Water Research, 2021, 117794, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117794

[8] Chen, Qian, Ja, M. K., Burhan, M., Akhtar, F. H., Shahzad, M. W., Ybyraiymkul, D., & Ng, K. C. (2021). A hybrid indirect evaporative cooling-mechanical vapor compression process for energy-efficient air conditioning. Energy Conversion and Management, 248, 114798, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2021.114798 

[9] Chen Qian, Burhan, M., Akhtar, F. H., Ybyraiymkul, D., Shahzad, M. W., Li, Y., & Ng, K. C. (2021). A decentralized water/electricity cogeneration system integrating concentrated photovoltaic/thermal collectors and vacuum multi-effect membrane distillation. Energy, 120852, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2021.120852 

[10] Chen, Qian, Burhan, M., Ja, M. K., Li, Y., & Ng, K. C. (2021). A spray-assisted multi-effect distillation system driven by ocean thermocline energy. Energy Conversion and Management, 245, 114570, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2021.114570 

[11] Chen Qian, Burhan Muhammad, Faheem Hassan Akhtar, Doskhan Ybyraiymkul, Wakil Shahzad Muhammad, Yong Li, and Kim Choon Ng. (2020). Thermo-economic analysis and optimization of a vacuum multi-effect membrane distillation system. Desalination, 483, 114413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2020.114413

[12] Chen Qian, Seung Jin Oh, and Muhammad Burhan. (2020). Design and optimization of a novel electrowetting-driven solar-indoor lighting system. Applied Energy, 269, 115128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115128

[13] Chen Qian, Raid Alrowais, Muhammad Burhan, Doskhan Ybyraiymkul, Muhammad Wakil Shahzad, Yong Li, and Kim Choon Ng. (2020). A self-sustainable solar desalination system using direct spray technology. Energy, 118037. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2020.118037

[14] Chen Qian, Muhammad Burhan, Muhammad Wakil Shahzad, Doskhan Ybyraiymkul, Faheem Hassan Akhtar, Yong Li, and Kim Choon Ng (2020). A zero liquid discharge system integrating multi-effect distillation and evaporative crystallization for desalination brine treatment. Desalination,502,114928, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2020.114928

[15] Chen Qian, M. Kum Ja, Yong Li, and Kian Jon Chua. (2019). Energy, exergy and economic analysis of a hybrid spray-assisted low-temperature desalination/thermal vapor compression system. Energy, 166, 871-885. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2018.10.154

[1] Chen Qian & Chua Kian Jon (2018). A spray assisted low-temperature desalination technology. In Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Desalination Handbook (pp. 255-284). Elsevier

[2] Chen Qian, Muhammad Burhan, Muhammad Wakil Shahzad, Raid Alrowais, Doskhan Ybyraiymkul, Faheem Akhtar, Li Yong & Ng Kim Choon. (2020). A Novel Low-Temperature Thermal Desalination Technology Using Direct-Contact Spray Method. In Desalination-Challenges and Opportunities. IntechOpen.

[3] Chen Qian, Muhammad Burhan, Faheem Akhtar, Doskhan Ybyraiymkul, Muhammad Wakil Shahzad, M Kum Ja & Ng Kim Choon. (2022). Adsorption Processes for Seawater Desalination. In Sustainable Separation Engineering: Materials, Techniques and Process Development. Wiley

1) Chen Qian, Raid Alrowais, Muhammad Burhan, Muhammad Wakil Shahzad, Doskhan Ybyraiymkul, Faheem Hassan Akhtar, and Kim Choon Ng，Tubeless, multi-effect distillation system and method, US12318717B2

2) Chen Qian, Muhammad Wakil Shahzad, Muhammad Burhan, Doskhan Ybyraiymkul, Faheem Hassan Akhtar, M Kumja and Kim Choon Ng，Solar-powered temperature cascading system for electricity generation and seawater desalination，US12071938

3) Chen Qian, Muhammad Wakil Shahzad, M Kumja, Faheem Hassan Akhtar, Muhammad Burhan, Doskhan Ybyraiymkul and Kim Choon Ng, Hybrid air-conditioning system for efficient cooling and dehumidification, US20240369239A1

4) Chen Qian, Muhammad Wakil Shahzad, M Kumja, Muhammad Burhan, Faheem Hassan Akhtar, Doskhan Ybyraiymkul, Raid Alrowais and Kim Choon Ng，A hybrid air-conditioning system for decoupled sensible and latent heat removal and method, US20240288185A1