Dr. Zhifa Sun

Senior Lecturer

A native of China , Zhifa studied chemical engineering at the Beijing Institute of Chemical Technology, completing his ME in 1982. From there he went on to do a PhD at Tianjin University in 1988. He has worked in the Physics Department, Otago University , since he was first appointed as a Postdoctoral Fellow in 1989. He has worked on several research contracts first with the NZ Electricity Corporation in the early 1990s, and latterly with the NZ Foundation for Research Science and Technology.

He is currently a senior lecturer, teaching EMAN 401 – Simulation and Control, EMAN301 Fluids and Heat Transfer, EMAN 308 - Thermoprocesses 2, and continuing the work of the Energy Studies Programme's ongoing research into the development, design and implementation of energy efficient industrial drying technologies and other projects.

Zhifa's research interests and areas of expertise include:

• Chemical engineering
• Applied science and technology
• Separation processes
• Chemical and biochemical reactors
• Energy technology and management
• Integration of energy technology with end-use processes
• Mass and heat transfer
• Renewable energy
• Drying processes
• Process modelling, simulation, and optimisation

Contact details

Tel +64 3 479 7812
Email zhifa@physics.otago.ac.nz

Selected publications

• Sun, Z. F. Influence of nonlinear concentration profiles on flow patterns of solutal Rayleigh-Bénard-Marangoni convection. Journal of Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics, Vol.32, No.3 (2007).
• Sun, Z. F. Onset of Rayleigh-Benard-Marangoni convection in gas-liquid mass transfer with two-phase flow: comparison of measured results with theoretical results. ACS: Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 45 (18), 6325 -6329, (2006).
• Sun, Z. F. and Fahmy, M. Location of onset of Rayleigh-Bénard-Marangoni convection in gas-liquid mass transfer with two-phase flow. CHEMECA 2006, Auckland , New Zealand , [ISBN 0-86869-110-0], 17-20 September (2006).
• Sun, Z. F. and Yu, K. T. Rayleigh-Benard-Marangoni cellular convection: expressions for heat and mass transfer rates. Trans . IChemE : Chemical Engineering Research and Design, Vol.84 (A3), pp185-191 (2006).
• Sun, Z. F. and Fahmy, M. Onset of Rayleigh-Benard-Marangoni convection in gas-liquid mass transfer with two-phase flow: theory. ACS: Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, Vol.45, 3293-3302 (2006).
• Petrich, C., Langhorne, P. J. and Sun Z. F. Modelling the interrelationships between permeability, effective porosity and total porosity in sea ice. Cold Regions Science and Technology, Vol. 44, pp131-144 (2006).
• Van der Pal, M. , Scharpf, E., Sun, Z. F., Carrington, C. G. Performance of an industrial dehumidifier timber dryer. The Third Nordic Drying Conference (NDC'05), Karlstad , Sweden , [ISBN 82-594-2873-3], June 15 to 17, (2005).
• Sun, Z. F. , Carrington, C. G., Anderson , J. A., Sun, Q. Air flow patterns in dehumidifier wood drying kilns. Trans . IChemE : Chemical Engineering Research and Design, Vol.82 (A10), pp1344-1352 (2004).
• Petrich, C., Langhorne, P. J. , Sun Z. F. Numerical simulation of sea ice growth and desalination. Proceedings of International Association of Hydraulic Engineering and Research: 17th International Symposium on Ice Saint Petersburg , Russia , 21-25 June, 2004. Vol.3, pp68-75.
• Sun, Z. F. Correlations for mass transfer coefficients over blunt boards based on modified boundary layer theories. Chemical Engineering Science, Vol.57, No.11, 2029-2033 (2002).
• Sun, Z. F. , Yu, K. T., Wang, S. Y., Miao, Y. Z. Absorption and desorption of carbon dioxide into and from organic solvents: effects of Rayleigh and Marangoni instability. ACS: Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, Vol.41, 1905-1913 (2002).
• Davis, C. P., Carrington, C. G., and Sun Z. F. Influence of compression wood on the drying curves of pinus radiata dried at dehumidifier conditions. Journal of Drying Technology, 20:2005–2026 (2002).
• Sun, Z. F. Numerical simulation of flow in an array of in-line blunt boards: mass transfer and flow patterns. Chemical Engineering Science, Vol.56/5, 1883-1896 (2001).
• Sun, Z. F. , Carrington, C. G. and Bannister, P. Dynamic modelling of the wood stack in a wood drying kiln. Trans . IChemE : Chemical Engineering Research and Design, Vol.78, Part A, January, 107-117 (2000)
• Carrington, C. G. , Sun Z. F., Sun, Q, Bannister, P. and Chen, G. Optimising efficiency and productivity of a dehumidifier batch dryer. Part 1-Capacity and airflow. International Journal of Energy Research. 24: 187-204 (2000).
• Sun Z. F. and Carrington, C. G., Effect of stack configuration on wood drying processes. Proceedings 6th IUFRO International Wood Drying Conference, Stellenbosch, Sth. Africa, University of Stellenbosch, (1999) 89-98.
• Sun, Z. F. and Carrington, C. G. Validation of a dynamic model for a dehumidifier wood drying kiln. Drying Technology, Vol.17, No.4 & 5, 731-743 (1999).
• Sun, Z. F. and Carrington, C. G. Dynamic modelling of a dehumidifier wood drying kiln. Drying Technology, Vol.17, No.4 & 5, 711-729 (1999).
• Sun, Z. F. and Carrington, C. G. Simulation and second law analysis of a miniature Stirling cycle cryocooler. Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Vol 41, 1551–1560 (1995).
• Sun, Z. F. and Carrington, C. G. Oscillating flow modelling of a Stirling cycle cryocooler. Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Vol.41, 1543–1550, (1995).
• Sun Z. F. and Carrington, C. G. Exergy balance for flows in complex configurations. ECOS'92, ASME, New York . [ISBN 0-7918-0631-6] (1992) 529–535.
• Sun Z. F. and Carrington, C. G. Exergy balance in turbulent flows. ECOS'92, ASME, New York. [ISBN 0-7918-0631-6] (1992) 521–528.
• Carrington, C. G. and Sun, Z. F. Second law analysis of combined heat and mass transfer in internal and external flows. International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow, 13:65–70 (1992).
• Carrington, C. G. and Sun, Z. F. Second law analysis of combined heat and mass transfer phenomena. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. 34:2767–2773 (1991).
• Sun, Z. F. and Carrington, C. G. Applications of non–equilibrium thermodynamics in second law analysis. ASME: Journal of Energy Resources Technology, 113:33–39 (1991).