PhD student wins David Hinde Award

 

Thanks to his promising research potential and accomplishments in natural refrigerant technology, doctoral candidate Jiange Xiao was presented with this year's David Hinde Award.

 

This award is given in memory of David Hinde, an alumnus of MechSE and former Research and Development Director of HillPhoenix. It is presented to a mechanical engineering student working with refrigeration research. 

 

Xiao is in his third year at MechSE following two years of undergraduate studies at Purdue University, and earning a bachelor’s degree from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Xiao began his PhD work after completing his master’s degree in mechanical engineering in December. His master’s thesis was on two-phase flow, with emphasis on the in-tube condensation from superheated vapor. 

 

He joined Professor Predrag Hrnjak’s research group in the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Center (ACRC) and is currently working on the modeling and characterization of condensation with new refrigerants and microchannels.

 

“I am working on a mathematic model to accurately predict the heat transfer coefficient and pressure job inside the tube,” Xiao said. 

 

Xiao said he was not aware of this award, or that Hrnjak had nominated him. When he received the email notifying him that he won, he was pleasantly surprised and grateful that he had been given this opportunity and recognition. 

 

“I am excited! I am really grateful that my advisor would do this for me,” he said. 

 

As for his career, Xiao said this recognition could have a positive impact. At the moment, he said he is still weighing his options between going into academia or industry. 

 

Xiao will formally receive the award at the MechSE Awards Banquet on April 22.