Xin Deng

My personal history, I would argue, is companied with the growing interest in engineering and mechanics. As a primary school boy, I was intrigued by the class of Nature, in which I totally immersed myself in the great joy of siphon; as a middle school youth, I was attracted by Physics among all of the curricula, through which I wandered at various amazing physical phenomena; as a college student, I was obsessed with the course of Fluid Mechanics, inspired by which I focused my research on fluid and control equation.

Being cultivated by relevant subjects on fluid mechanics, engineering thermodynamics and heat and mass transfer, I became more and more accustomed to view daily issues in a new angle. For instance, strong surface wind around tall buildings is induced by Karman Vortex Street and the discharge of water in pool indicates the vortex. Motivated by the keen interest in the field of fluid, not only did I equip myself with basic knowledge but also I participated in various practical projects to enrich my research abilities and techniques. Thus I managed to rank the first of the class, got the highest scholarship of the grade and won the first prize in scientific contest in five consecutive years. However, when I try to go further in research, I realize I am stuck in the knowledge frame and desperately need to expand achievement with innovation and significance.

Given this condition, I was astonished by an introduction from a professor in my college, who did the academic exchange in the United States. It was about the novel subject being on research by a professor there, the submarine propulsion mode imitating the way of octopus. This technology was leading the world with zero noise and advanced dynamical systems. What I am pursuing is exactly the sort of magnificent creativity, which is always engendered in the United States, even among college students. I really admire the advanced technology and innovative thinking education and hope to make a great breakthrough during my future doctoral research.

With my strong motivation, solid foundation of knowledge and validated research capacity, I am looking forward to the precious opportunity to prove my quality and excellence. On the path to be a creative scientific researcher, I will never quit. I really appreciate your favorable consideration.

Statement of Purpose
I was in great adoration of the prominent experts in fluid during Fluid Machine International Forum Aug. 24, 2012, held by our National Research Center of Pumps. Thenceforward, I have harboured the ambition to be specialized in fluid like them. For the past seven years, I was fully filled with excitement by means of having been cultivated in Jiangsu University, one of the top three universities on fluid machinery engineering and top one on pumps in China. The flow from my status quo to future achievement would be marked into four sections: field observation, laboratory simulation, theoretical analysis and numerical calculation.

Field Observation for Mastering Existing Knowledge
Though missed the opportunity to choose Fluid Machinery as my first choice for undergraduate study, gradually I have been emotionally attached to the realm of fluid by relative courses. The scenario of the curriculum of Fluid Mechanics I had has left a profound mark in my mind. It opened up a new world for me, in which the sheer aesthetic was revealed by infinite deformation of fluid under tangential force. Infatuated with this curriculum, I increasingly developed good grasp of the continuity equation and Bernoulli's equation, and enriched my awareness of fluid according to Karman Vortex Street, Boundary Layer, Finite Element, etc. After the undergraduate stage, I got access to comprehend the actual flow law through Measuring Techniques of Flow within Fluid Machinery. Another impressive opportunity of learning fluid was the course of Basic Principles, Design, VSP control and Numerical Simulation of Pumps, which was based on Hydrodynamics of Pumps and taught in English. It was my first time to be in such close contact with foreign advanced technology in the field of fluid. These intriguing courses successfully strengthened my determination of exploring fluid. Besides, the rich experience in laboratory has exposed me to the experiment skills, such as the use of Particle Image Velocimetry to measure flow rate, the use of Fluid dynamic probes to measure flow rate, the method to do Cavitation experiment in pumps, the method to get External characteristics of the pump performance curve. During these years’ indefatigable effort, I consistently ranked first among college students, which could be a proof for my strong scientific basis and I believe I have laid solid foundation for this special exploration.

Laboratory Simulation for Exploring Unresolved Bottlenecks
Relying on the accumulated foundation, I devoted myself into different types of projects. In 2011, I participated in the Typical Centrifugal Pump Key Technology Research and Project Demonstration Application. The research center, both the National Key Disciplines and National Engineering & Technological Research Center, took advantage of fluid. As the key member, I had to balance the project achievements with the center’s superiority condition. My research part was the anti-seismic analysis. Realizing the anti-seismic analysis of rotating machinery ignored the fluid exciting force, I put forward the method of concerning it in anti-seismic analysis. For the law of relative deformation between rotor and stator, I confirmed two clearances in dynamic part, which were between the trailing edge of the impeller and diffuser and between the impeller surface and wear ring. Based on it, I came to the research on the operational feasibility and structural integrity. Meanwhile, considering the complex of the deformation under the influence of fluid exciting force and seismic force, I focused on the clearance between rotor and stator to observe it at the uttermost circumstance of safety structure. Finally, I came to the conclusion of the essential of fluid exciting force in anti-seismic analysis. In the research on residual heat removal pump, we had different groups in hydraulic power, anti-seismic analysis, fluid-structure interaction, transient start-up and cavitation. For the first time, I realized how important to cooperate with members in a team. To build the 3D model of residual heat removal pump, we, who were in charge of groups, completed the parts in terms of absolute coordinates by clear division. For my study part, it inferred the fluid-structure interaction and transient start-up in my part. I well collaborated with the other groups, shared the results with each other and adopted optimum select together. We successfully created innovative anti-seismic analysis method including fluid exciting force and transient start-up. I am proud to say that this precious and valuable project prompted me to tap my research potential.

In 2013, I took another challenge to explore in the field by means of signing up for the 7th National Student Social Practice & Science Contest on Energy & Emission Reduction. The theme was Key Technical Research on High-efficiency Residual Heat Removal Pump Applied to Nuclear Power, which was a great chance to test the innovative achievement we did in last project. I independently contacted the key technologies of structure stability to prove that the hydraulic model of residual heat removal pump could realize energy saving and emission reduction. How to make the project stand out with great innovation? It was the exact point I was trying to achieve. The traditional design is limited single working condition. On the contrary, the residual heat removal pump was to optimize the performance parameter in three working conditions through orthogonal design. I yearned to develop the idea of multi-condition design and grasped the core concept of it was to analyze the influence relation between geometrical parameter and performance parameter. And the numerical simulation method we used in this contest improved the operating efficiency of residual heat removal pump applied to nuclear power. I have confidence this optimum design method possesses strong feasibility and can be widely used. Our tremendous research achievement was entirely paid off by winning the first prize in the contest. I am deeply aware that the reason I could get accomplishment in fluid because I regard it unparalled and always be ready to plunge into it.

Theoretical Analysis and Numerical Calculation for Challenging Promise Based on Harvest
Nevertheless, I still feel discontented and hope to achieve more breakthroughs in research. Just as Dale Carnegie said: To strive for a specific aim is the “ideal”, to get something done with one vigorous effort is the “willpower”, the combination of the two is “ambition”. I would like to commit my involvement in rotating flows and Turbo-machinery related to Fluid Dynamics as a research faculty in a university. Mechanical Engineering in University of Virginia is one of the most reputable ones, and there are some research areas such as fluid control, flows in liquid centrifuges, flow in centrifugal pumps and turbomachinery flows are fit me well with my research experience and research interests. Especially, I am interested in Dynamics of rotating flows, cascades, heat pumps and Turbo-machinery of Professor Houston Wood. I hope to do some contributions to the gaps in our existed knowledge in dynamics of rotating flows. Thus I sincerely believe your prestigious university can really help me to achieve my career goal. And right now, I am a PhD student of Mechanical Engineering in University of Virginia.

Movie
Music
Painting