معرفی
Dr. Lexuan Zhong serves as a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering within the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Alberta, where she founded and directs the Built Environment Technology Lab (BETLab). She teaches core courses including MEC E 463 (Thermo-Fluids Systems Design), MEC E 466 (Building Systems Design), and MEC E 641 (Environmental Technologies in Buildings), with upcoming instruction scheduled through Winter 2026.
Education:
- Ph.D., Concordia University (Distinction), Montreal, Canada
- M.Sc., Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- B.Sc., Tongji University, Shanghai, China
Research Focus: Dr. Zhong's work integrates experimental, computational, and field methodologies to advance indoor air quality science, advanced HVAC system design, and renewable energy integration in buildings. Her expertise spans air purification technologies (particularly UV germicidal irradiation and photocatalytic oxidation), building resilience against wildfires and pandemics, green building certification, and health exposure assessment in built environments. She emphasizes practical applications for cold-climate zones and urban decarbonization.
Publication Trends: Analysis of her 2021-2025 publications reveals three dominant trajectories: (1) UV-based disinfection systems for bioaerosol and VOC control, (2) green hydrogen integration for net-zero urban energy systems, and (3) climate-responsive building technologies including wildfire-resilient ventilation and smart solar shading. Her work consistently bridges fundamental fluid dynamics with real-world pandemic and climate adaptation challenges.
Research Leadership: Dr. Zhong actively mentors undergraduate researchers and recruits Master's/Doctoral candidates for BETLab projects in HVAC&R, indoor air quality, and green buildings. Her lab operates through industry partnerships and likely government grants (implied by ongoing publications and PhD positions), though specific funding sources aren't detailed. Current projects include particle pollution control strategies and wildfire-resilient ventilation systems for Western Canadian homes.
Laboratory Operations: As BETLab founder, she oversees experimental facilities for building material characterization, air cleaning technology development, and field validation of advanced HVAC systems, with recent work focusing on in-duct UVGI applications and hydrogen energy storage integration.
