Three engineering projects received international recognitions at the 5th International Invention Innovation Competition in Canada (iCAN 2020). High Performance Solution Limited, a start-up company established by Dr Tony Feng and his team in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, awarded Gold Medal, Top 10 Best Invention Awards and the Special Award in the Competition. Dr Tony Feng, together with Dr Vivian Huang, Ms Xinya Wu, and Mr Chunlin Pang of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, invented the Direct Thermal Charging Cell (DTCC) which offers efficient conversion from low-grade heat to electricity. The new invention surpasses all existing thermoelectric and thermo-electrochemical technologies in the low-grade heat regime. It has uniqueness and advantages for practical application including a wide operation window, an isothermal and continuous charging/discharging operation, a low-cost, bendable, simple system and the ability to form stacks of cells. With the help of HKU’s Technology Transfer Office, the team has translated its startling research discovery to commercially viable products, such as HVAC, smart window and self-powered/wearable technologies.
Meanwhile, another engineering team formed by Civil Engineering Professor Tang Chuyang, Dr Hao Guo, Mr Junwei Zhang, Ms Yan Tung Lo and Mr Yulun Wu won the Special Award and was selected as one of the Top 20 Best Invention Awards with their innovation “Nano-functionalized Porous Membrane Filter for Reusable Face Masks”. It offers a highly effective filter for PM0.3, PM2.5, and PM10. More importantly, the filter is reusable by being soaked into ethanol and thus, is more sustainable with longer life expectancy.
Another project team formed by Professor Dennis Leung, Dr Yifei Wang, Dr Yu Ho Kwok and Mr Wending Pan of the Department of Mechanical Engineering received the Special Award at iCAN 2020. The team invented “Paper-based Aluminium-Air Battery” which utilizes aluminum and ambient air for electricity generation. Its major advantages include low cost, high energy density and great environmental-friendliness.