Conference Agenda

Samuel Langley, as a natural scientist, attempted to solve flight problems based on natural science theories. In 1886, he designed a spiral arm tower for aerodynamic testing, powered by a steam engine. He quantitatively studied the laws of lift and drag generated by the movement of bird wings and plates in the air, and drew scientific conclusions and formulas. In 1891, he published the conclusions drawn from the experiment in the book "Aerodynamic Experiments". Langley began the design work of the aircraft while conducting theoretical research. In 1903 when he conducted the flight test of "Air Traveler" aircraft, designed by himself, however, both the two tests failed due to launch device accidents.

Almost simultaneously, the Wright brothers, who had previously run a bicycle repair company and had low levels of education, drew on the research and experimental results of their predecessors (including Langley) and devoted to the design and manufacturing of aircraft. Between 1900 and 1903, the Wright brothers conducted

multiple experiments in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, USA. Their early attempts mainly focused on the design and flight testing of gliders. Through in-depth research on aerodynamics, the two brothers gradually mastered the basic principles of flight. After multiple adjustments and improvements, they finally achieved the first controllable powered flight in human history on December 17, 1903. In the following years, the Wright brothers continued to improve and experiment with aircraft. They gradually mastered key technologies such as flight control, wing design, and power systems, and successfully manufactured various models of aircraft.

This fact is surprising because from the perspective of 'engineering is applied science', Langley should have been the first to succeed. This article compares and analyzes the educational backgrounds, professional careers, flight test methods, flight test processes, and the dispute over invention rights of the two individuals, attempting to answer this confusion and extend a basic understanding of the complex connections between natural sciences, engineering sciences, and engineering practice. The author indicates that the success of the first manned aircraft, although inspired by aerodynamic research, was mainly the result of accumulated experience and repeated trial and error; Over a decade after the birth of the first aircraft, almost all progress in aircraft development was made when aerodynamic theory lagged far behind aviation practice. Of course, we know that with the great development of aviation engineering, aerodynamics has indeed become increasingly mature, and in turn, has become a powerful guide for the "rationalization" and "refinement" of aviation engineering practice. This means that we cannot logically derive engineering science from natural science and then rely on engineering science to ensure the success of innovative engineering practices. In any groundbreaking engineering practice, one can only summarize experience and achieve success through repeated exploration and experimentation, while developing engineering science theories.

Cryogenic engineering is essential for the advancement of frontier scientific research, including particle physics and the development of space technology. It was through the dedicated study of cryogenic technology that superconductivity and quantum physics were unexpectedly discovered. A distinctive feature of the evolution of cryogenic technology is that practical applications often precede theoretical research.

The core technologies of cryogenic engineering exhibit remarkable philosophical characteristics, reflecting the ingenious integration of seemingly disparate principles. For instance, the development of a new type of screw compressor demonstrates the fusion of rotary motion with piston motion, highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of cryogenic engineering. This creativity is reminiscent of ancient observations of natural phenomena, such as the changes in the heavens and earth, which led to the creation of blowing equipment with a breathing function. These early innovations laid the groundwork for the industrial revolution’s steam engines, illustrating how technological advancements often emerge from addressing practical engineering challenges.

The development of cryogenic technology is deeply rooted in experimental practices, where achieving low temperatures involves a series of progressive precooling steps. This process necessitates a multidisciplinary approach, integrating physics, chemistry, materials science, and mechanical engineering. The discovery of superconductivity and superfluidity, two macroscopic quantum effects, significantly challenged classical physics, pushing the boundaries of what was thought possible. These groundbreaking discoveries were triggered by the liquefaction of helium and advancements in temperature measurement, underscoring the critical role of foundational research in driving technological progress.

The history of cryogenic engineering provides valuable insights into the process of innovation in scientific and technological fields. It reveals that technological breakthroughs often arise from solving practical problems, and that innovation is not always a purposeful endeavor. The iterative cycle of experimentation, theory, and application that characterizes cryogenic development serves as a model for other scientific and technological fields. This approach emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, the value of empirical discovery, and the foundational role of foundationalresearch in driving technological advancement.

The DaqingGulong continental shale oil national demonstration zone is in the northern part of the Songliao Basin, China.The strategic breakthrough of the Gulong shale oil marks one of the most significant oil and gas discoveries in China in the 21st century. The ability to develop shale oil at a large scale is vital for ensuring national energy security and seizing the high ground in land-based shale oil technology. However, due to its unique geological characteristics, existing theories and technologies face significant challenges. These include geological uncertainties, engineering difficulties, and management inefficiencies in oil development.

Guided by engineering philosophy, we have been systematically summarizing engineering implementation experiences through the cycle of "practice, understanding, re-practice, re-understanding." This iterative process has been crucial in refining our approach and addressing the complexities inherent in shale oil extraction. By applying the "law of unity of opposites," we have identified and addressed four key dialectical relationships in Gulong shale oil development:"whole and part," "universality and particularity," "major and minor contradictions," and "inheritance and innovation."

This approach has successfully promoted technological innovation and continuous improvement. For instance, we have developed advanced drilling and completion techniques, enhanced recovery methods, and integrated digital technologies to improve efficiency and reduce costs. Our goal is to achieve a production capacity of one million tons by 2025, reach a three-million-ton production scale by 2030, and construct a key production base of five million tons by 2035.These targets are not only aimed at ensuring the high-quality and sustainable development of the Daqing Oilfield but also at contributing to China's shale revolution. By achieving these milestones, we can further provide valuable references for global resource development projects, particularly those in complex and challenging geological environments.

The achievement in Gulongis not only a key technological breakthrough in shale oil exploration and development, but also represents a theoretical breakthrough from terrestrial shale oil generation to terrestrial shale oil production. To further strengthen research on terrestrial shale oil in China, the "National Key Laboratory for Green Extraction of Terrestrial Shale Oil with Multi-Resource Synergy" has been established in Daqing.This clearly demonstrates that engineering demands are a significant driving force behind the development of engineering science, and engineering philosophy can play a crucial role in engineering innovation and the advancement of engineering science.

Trans-critical and Supercritical fluid engineering has become one key technology in energy and power aspect, such as solar, nuclear, coal-fire and other sectors. The innovation and transition from conventional water-based Rankine cycle to supercritical CO2 based new system then poses challenges as the engineering scaling up from small scale concept design to real engineering applications. The Engineering Philosophy of such systematic transitions involve the management logic of engineering team, the technological innovation chain, and also the scaling challenges in demonstration of new technologies. Such engineering progress would be dependent on the new organization form of technological innovation, the incorporation of AI-assisted design and analysis platform, and also the application demonstration of commercial scale supercritical CO2 systems.

The current study extends the fundamental experimental quantifications on supercritical region fluid dynamics under representative geometries, which considers the unique thermophysical properties of such fluid states. A supercritical fluid can be special due to its large variations of thermal and transport properties that differ from normal fluid or two-phase fluid states as working media in energy systems and/or chemical reaction environment. The critical point set aside different fluid regions while the density parameter shows continuous variations and large gradient in the near-critical region and the specific heat show narrowed steep region across the near-critical gas-liquid region as well as the supercritical region. Such property trends give special advantages of near-critical compressing and heat transfer enhancement (and also possible deterioration) for power systems like Brayton cycle for energy conversions (coal fire, solar, geothermal, etc). However, those changes in detailed chamber/channel/compressing/expanding flow situations will cause stability and efficiency problems under sudden changes of transport mechanisms. To understand such basic case trends and general fluid-machinery problems, the current study proposes the application of pixelated interferometry to field-based quantifications on boundary heat transfer flows of supercritical fluid, so as to give new possibilities in correlation upgrading and mechanism understanding for real designs and applications.

The engineering execution and experiences in the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, will be introduced and discussed in this study. As the development of supercritical CO2 power and energy systems worldwide are becoming highly technological-competitive, new technological innovation routes are urgently needed for implementation of such systems in the coming era of carbon neutrality.

Today, major countries around the world are increasing their investments in deep space exploration, which is accompanied by intensified training for astronauts. This training is not only aimed at pushing the physiological limits of humans but also serves as a trial in exploring the profound mysteries of the universe under extreme conditions. Deep space exploration demands that astronauts survive for long periods in isolated environments characterized by extremely low temperatures and high radiation. This environment not only tests their physical endurance but also poses severe challenges to their psychological resilience and the ontology of their existence as carbon-based life forms. In this context, the use of intimate technologies—such as physiological monitoring, psychological state assessment, and emotional support from Earth and artificial intelligence—enables astronauts to maintain inner stability and positivity when facing the unknown and challenges.

From a philosophical perspective, the introduction of intimate technology prompts us to reevaluate human existence. In the face of the vastness and loneliness of the universe, technologies such as space centers on Earth and video calls with loved ones help bridge the gap between humanity and the cosmos. Technology is not merely a tool; it becomes an extension of the astronauts' power in the universe. Auxiliary devices such as robotic arm training, safety toilets, body cleansing tools, and more comfortable space suits assist astronauts in overcoming physiological and psychological limitations, thereby affirming their subjectivity and dignity as Earthlings. The changes in the physiological state of astronauts during their return from space reflect a deepening of humanistic care: from previously walking directly from a lying position to now being assisted by professional medical personnel during egress, this change is not only about physiological adaptation but also a redefinition of human dignity and care.

However, the scientific and technological experiments involved in deep space exploration also raise profound ethical and responsibility issues. In long-term space travel, how to balance reliance on artificial intelligence with respect for the autonomy of astronauts has become an urgent philosophical question. For instance, how can we ensure that astronauts' privacy rights are not violated? How might potential rebellious behaviors of artificial intelligence affect human decision-making? Additionally, in cases of reproduction in space, whether the resulting humans still belong to the category of "human" raises questions about the re-examination of human identity.

In summary, the application of intimate technology in the intensive training of astronauts not only helps them adapt to the challenges of deep space exploration but also urges us to reflect on the significance of human existence in cosmic exploration. In this process, we should maintain a reflection on and respect for humanity itself, contemplating how to safeguard human dignity and values while exploring the unknown. In the dialogue between humanity and the cosmos, technology becomes our partner, while philosophy guides us in contemplating the profound impacts of this journey.