Dr. Hanbang Zou

Originally, from Tianjin, China, I obtained my Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering (Honours) from Monash University and Central South University (joint program) in March 2017. I completed my PhD at Monash University in February 2021, with my thesis titled, "Microfluidic Platforms For Analysing The Development Of Miscibility". 

I am interested in microfluidic chemical analysis and am currently focused on applying it on enhanced oil recovery. At the moment, the world is facing energy problems. However, in the immediate future, it is not very likely that fossil fuel energy will be totally replaced by renewable energy. Although many oil fields on earth are depleted, there are still large amounts of oil trapped in these areas that people cannot recover yet. Carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery (CO2 EOR), an established and effective technique for improving oil production has been widely applied to many mature oil fields around the world. For effective recovery, the injected gas and reservoir oil must develop miscibility. Microfluidics provides excellent visual access via transparent models to study phase behaviour and miscibility development with minimal (required) fluid volumes for oil field problems. In LMS, I will be looking at rapid characterization of multiple contact miscibility (slim tube on a chip), miscible displacement and rapid measurement of MMP.
Besides my passion for research, I am a very dedicated surfer in Melbourne as well as a jazz music lover. I also play the saxophone in my spare time. In the past, I spent a lot of time in different bands (orchestra/ big band), apart of a soccer club, competing in surf competitions and surfing in the mornings. ​​

Publications