Professor Huang Xinyan 's team won the Gold Medal for the project “Smart Fire Extinguisher for Spacecraft”.
Professor Xiao Fu's team won the Gold Medal for the project "AI-empowered Digital Twin for Smart Building Management”
Professor Yan Jinyue Jerry's team won the Silver Medal for the project “ IHAC Film: Intelligent Humidity Control and Atmospheric Water Collection Film"
Professor Yang Hongxing 's team won the Gold Medal for the project “A Multi-objective Yaw-control System for Wind Farm Optimization Based on Novel 3D Wake Model”
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) continues to showcase research excellence and innovation capabilities, as Associate Professor Huang Xinyan from the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) secured a Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury at the 50th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva for his revolutionary invention “Smart Fire Extinguisher for Spacecraft”. Meanwhile, in the Department of BEEE, Professor Yang Hongxing won the Gold Medal for the project “A Multi-objective Yaw-control System for Wind Farm Optimization Based on Novel 3D Wake Model”, Professor Xiao Fu won the Gold Medal for the project "AI-empowered Digital Twin for Smart Building Management”, and Professor Yan Jinyue Jerry won the Silver Medal for the project “ IHAC Film: Intelligent Humidity Control and Atmospheric Water Collection Film".
The project, developed by Prof. Huang’s research team and his startup company, Widemount Dynamics Tech Limited, introduced a groundbreaking invention that significantly enhances fire safety in spacecraft. This spacecraft air vortex ring fire extinguishing system employs AI to autonomously detect and locate fires. It generates air vortex rings via pressure regulation for precise extinguishing, maintaining stable propagation in microgravity with stronger fire-extinguishing capabilities and better energy efficiency than traditional firefighting blowers. The compact device uses ambient air, eliminating storage needs and residue issues. Compatible with gas-based extinguishers and firefighting robots, it enhances space mission safety while its modular design extends adaptability to complex earth fire scenarios.
The digital yaw optimization system introduced by Prof. Yang is designed for large-scale wind farms. It combines an innovative 3D yaw wake model with a machine learning module to accurately calculate power and loads based on given yaw angles. The system then uses multi-objective optimization strategies to balance energy output and structural loads. This invention improves the operational efficiency and reliability of wind farms, offering significant economic and social benefits for wind power development. The innovative AI-powered digital twin management platform invented by Prof. Xiao offers a transformative approach to smart building management. It optimizes energy efficiency, reduces carbon emissions and enables predictive maintenance while ensuring optimal indoor comfort and air quality. Prof. Yan's project describes an Intelligent Humidity Control and Atmospheric Water Collection Films (IHAC films) that manage humidity and supply fresh water without using energy. They combine hydrophilic PAN/CNT nanofiber layers with water-storage hydrogels, offering exceptional water adsorption and storage. These lightweight, portable and cost-effective ($16.94/m²) films are scalable and durable in various conditions.
We wholeheartedly applaud Prof. Huang Xinyan, Prof. Yang Hongxing, Prof. Xiao Fu, and Prof. Yan Jinyue Jerry – along with their brilliant research teams – for earning these prestigious accolades. Their stellar accomplishments stand as a testament to PolyU's innovative ethos, forging new frontiers through boundary-pushing research.
