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Xiamen University - BAN Zhen Hong

BAN Zhen Hong

Associate Professor Ir. Dr.

Head of Programme, Bachelor of Chemical Engineering with Honours
Office: A4-415
Tel: +603-88006904
Email: bzhong@xmu.edu.my
Research Interests: Computational fluid dynamics (CFD), Chemical process design and safety, Artificial Intelligence, Gas dispersion, ESG

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SDGs Focus
3 Good Health and Well-being 7 Affordable and Clean Energy 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities

About Me

Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Ban possesses more than a decade of comprehensive expertise in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling across a broad spectrum of systems, with a primary emphasis on the assessment of safety measures and the identification of sources in hazardous gas dispersion. He has further advanced the field by integrating artificial intelligence into various applications within chemical engineering. Since his appointment at XMUM in 2016, he has been deeply engaged in the delivery of specialized education in chemical process safety and modeling-focused disciplines. Moreover, he has successfully led a few industrial research initiatives, contributing significantly to the advancement of industry practices and academic knowledge.

  • PhD (Chemical Engineering), Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (2016)
  • MSc (Chemical Engineering), Universiti Sains Malaysia (2011)
  • BSc (Chemical Engineering), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (2009)

  • Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM), Professional Engineer

  • The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM), Corporate Member

  • Engineering Council UK (ECUK), Chartered Engineer

  • Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), Chartered Member

  • MyCarbon Society, Member

Research Interests

With a career spanning more than ten years, Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Ban Zhen Hong is an expert in CFD modelling and industrial safety. His work focuses on the intersection of chemical process safety, environmental risk assessment, and AI-driven optimisation. He has spearheaded a few industrial research initiatives that have significantly advanced both academic knowledge and industry practices. One of his recent work is focusing on IoT-integrated fertiliser management. Breaking away from conventional IoT systems that offer only data monitoring, Dr. Ban developed a "thinking" CFD-IoT architecture capable of autonomous decision-making. This system determines the most effective control configurations through advanced modelling, representing a paradigm shift towards prescriptive intelligence in chemical and agricultural processes.

Research Project(s)

  • IOT and CFD integration for fertilizer management system setup for durian farm (RM105,000 by PPRN -Ecorys Sdn. Bhd., 2025)

     

  • CFD simulation for fertilizer management system for durian farm (RM87,150 by Ecorys Sdn. Bhd., 2023 – 2025)

     

  • CFD simulation for water and oil mixing across static mixer (RM14,000 by Enovate Sdn. Bhd., 2024)

     

  • CFD simulation for temperature distribution in data centre (2023)

     

  • Bubble formation during the formers dipping process: An investigation of the impact of different former configurations (RM73,500 by Top Glove Sdn. Bhd, 2022 - 2024)

     

  • Ammonia gas leak into the environment with installation of water spray as the mitigation plan (RM11,000 by Enovate PLT, 2022)

     

  • Hollow fiber membrane for CO2 removal from natural gas: membranes development, modelling and up-scaling study (UTP – UTM – XMUM – Enovate, 2021 – 2022)

     

  • CFD simulation for ammonia vapour leak (RM12,000 by Enovate PLT, 2021)

     

  • CFD simulation for ethanol spillage and safety evaluation (2020)

     

  • CFD simulation of airflow and heat distribution study in shooting training building. (2020)

     

  • CFD simulation for airflow and heat distribution for expansion of a water treatment plant. (2019)

     

  • HAZOP study of a methanol production via CO hydrogenation pilot plant. (2019)

     

  • CFD simulation of airflow and heat distribution for hotel diesel generator room. (2018 - 2019)

     

  • Development of Intelligent Dietitian Support Apps, iDSA (National Cancer Institute, 2017 – Current)

     

  • CFD simulation for exhaust gas dispersion from lab (2016)

     

  • CFD simulation for green building, effect of toxic gas release, heating efficiency of hot gas dispersion in a silo (2015)

     

  • CFD simulation and modelling of physical desorption unit (2011 – 2015)

     

  • CFD simulation for project - “Development of Bulk CO2 Separation System using Supersonic Gas Separation Technology” (Petronas Research Sdn. Bhd., 2012 – 2014)

     

  • Process modelling for project - “Technology Development CO2 Capture Using CVenger Solvent” (Petronas Carigali Sdn. Bhd, 2011)

     

  • CFD simulation and modelling for dynamic membrane (2009 – 2011) 

Current Courses Taught

  • CME 103 Chemical Engineering Drawing 
  • CME 215 Chemical Process Safety
  • CME 317 Modelling and Simulation of Chemical Processes
  • CME 434 Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • EGE 414 Modelling and Simulation in Energy Engineering

Local Grant(s)

  • Bubble formation during the formers dipping process: An investigation of the impact of different former configurations, 2022 – 2024, Top Glove Sdn. Bhd
  • Ammonia gas leak into the environment with installation of water spray as the mitigation plan, 2022, Enovate PLT
  • CFD simulation for ammonia vapour leak, 2021, Enovate PLT
  • CFD simulation of airflow and heat distribution for hotel diesel generator room and water treatment plant, 2018 – 2019
  • Source localization for illegal plastic burning in Malaysia via CFD-ANN approach, 2018 – 2022, XMUM

Journal 

  • Michelle Xin Yi Ng, Kai Xiang Yu, Joon Yoon Ten, Khang Wei Tan, Weng Hoong Lam, Peng Chee Tan, Thomas Shean Yaw Choong, Parthiban Siwayanan, Binghui Chen, Kek Seong Kim, Zhen Hong Ban*. Consequence analysis on the critical role of transient pool formation in cold ammonia release and gas dispersion using CFD approach. Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries, Volume 100, April 2026, 105870.

  • Wei Jian Tan, Kek Seong Kim, Parthiban Siwayanan, Thomas Shean yaw Choong, Serene Sow Mun Lock, Peng Chee Tan, Zhen Hong Ban*. Microscopic insights into ammonia-water mixture phase transitions for enhanced ammonia recovery. High temperatures - high pressures, 54.5, Jan 2026, p. 441-464.

  • Xu Zhang, Michelle Xin Yi Ng, Kai Xiang Yu, Joon Yoon Ten, Khang Wei Tan, Weng Hoong Lam, Peng Chee Tan, Thomas Shean Yaw Choong, Parthiban Siwayanan, Kek Seong Kim, and Zhen Hong Ban*. Quantitative Risk-Informed Sensor Placement Optimization for Chemical Leak Detection in a Complex Laboratory Layout Using the CFD-ANN Approach. ACS Chemical Health & Safety, 2025, 32 (6), 716-736.

  • Yiming Lang, Michelle Xin Yi Ng, Kai Xiang Yu, Binghui Chen, Peng Chee Tan, Khang Wei Tan, Weng Hoong Lam, Parthiban Siwayanan, Kek Seong Kim, Thomas Shean Yaw Choong, Joon Yoon Ten, Zhen Hong Ban*. A novel CFD-MILP-ANN approach for optimizing sensor placement, number, and source localization in large-scale gas dispersion from unknown locations. Digital Chemical Engineering, Volume 14, March 2025, 100216. 

  • Michelle Ng Xin Yi, Yu Hui Ling, Zhang Xu, Ong Kheng Chong, Lang Yiming, Ten Joon Yoon, Kim Kek Seong, Parthiban Siwayanan, Thomas Choong Shean Yaw, Ban Zhen Hong*. “Enhancing Smart City Environment using Machine Learning”, The Ingenieur, Volume 93, Jan – March 2023.

  • Wei Jian Tan, Zhen Hong Ban*, Bing-Hui Chen, Kek Seong Kim, Parthiban Siwayanan, Thomas S. Y. Choong, and Kok Keong Lau. Enhanced Mitigation of Fire and Explosion Risks due to Hydrogen Leakage Using Targeted Nitrogen Nozzle Spray Approach. ACS Chemical Health & Safety, 2022, 29 (3), 309-318. 

  • H.L.Yu, B.H.Chen, K.S.Kim, P.Siwayanan, S.Y. ThomasChoong, Z.H.Ban*. Source localization for illegal plastic burning in Malaysia via CFD-ANN approach. Digital Chemical Engineering, Volume 3, June 2022, 100029. 

  • Ban Zhen Hong, Lam Weng Hoong, Noraini Mohd, Tan Peng Chee, Ten Joon Yoon, Parthiban Siwayanan. Integrating Industry 4.0 Elements in Chemical Engineering Education, The Ingenieur, Volume 89, Jan – March 2022. 

  • Chiou Yi Ho, Zhen Hong Ban, Wai Han Ng, May Kay Neoh, Norshariza Jamhuri, Zuwariah Abd Rahman. Feasibility study of smartphone application for self-monitoring dietary intake among cancer patients. Journal of Medical Research and Innovation, 2020, vol. 4(2). 

  • Sam Kar Yen, Lee Siong Hoong, Ban Zhen Hong*. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling on effect of fume extraction. Journal of Chemical Health and Safety, 2019, vol. 26, issues 6, pages 20 – 31. 

  • Siong Hoong Lee, Thomas S. Y. Choong*, Luqman Chuah Abdullah, Mus’ab Abdul Razak & Zhen Hong Ban. Experimental and CFD Modelling: Impact of the Inlet Slug Flow on the Horizontal Gas–Liquid Separator. Energies, MDPI, 2018 vol. 12(1), pages 1-32. 

  • Z.H. Ban, K.K. Lau, and A.M. Shariff. In-line Physical Desorption Unit – Part 1: Conceptual Design, and Numerical Analysis. Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 2017, vol. 117, pp. 792 – 809. 

  • Z.H. Ban, K.K. Lau, and A.M. Shariff. In-line Physical Desorption Unit – Part 2: Optimisation Analysis. Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 2017, vol. 117, pp. 810 – 830. 

  • Z.H. Ban, K.K. Lau, and A.M. Shariff. CFD modelling of most probable bubble nucleation rate from binary mixture with estimation of components’ mole fraction in critical cluster. Continuum Mechanics and Thermodynamics, 2016, vol. 28 (3), pp. 655–668. 

  • Z.H. Ban, K.K. Lau, and A.M. Shariff. Bubble Nucleation and Growth of Dissolved Gas in Solution Flowing Across a Cavitating Nozzle. Applied Mechanics and Materials, 2015, vol. 773-774, pp. 304-308.

  • Z.H. Ban, K.K. Lau, and A.M. Shariff. Modelling of Bubble Growth in Supersaturated Solution using Computational Fluid Dynamics - Population Balance Model (CFD-PBM) Approach. Defect and Diffusion Forum, 2015, vol. 362, pp. 200 – 208.

  • Z.H. Ban, K.K. Lau, and A.M. Shariff. Prediction of the bubble nucleation rate in a quasi-stable cavitating nozzle using 2D computational fluid dynamics and enhanced classical nucleation theory. Engineering Applications of Computational Fluid Mechanics, 2015, vol. 9 (1), pp. 247-258. 

  • Z.H. Ban, K.K. Lau, and A.M. Shariff. CFD Simulation for Bubble Nucleation Rate of Dissolved Gas. Journal of Applied Sciences, 2014, vol. 14, pp. 3369-3372.

  • Z.H. Ban, K.K. Lau, and A.M. Shariff. Supersaturated Gas Bubble Formation Across an Orifice. Applied Mechanics and Materials, 2014, vol. 625, pp. 562 - 565.

  • Z.H. Ban, K.K. Lau, and A.M. Shariff. Physical Absorption of CO2: A Review. Advanced Materials Research, 2014, vol. 917, pp. 134 - 143.

  • A.L. Ahmad, Z.H. Ban, B.S. Ooi. Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling High Viscous Fluid in Rotating Corrugated Spacer: Shear Stress Effect. Journal Applied Science, 2011, vol. 11, pp. 3640-3644.

  • A.L. Ahmad, Z.H. Ban, B.S. Ooi. A three-dimensional unsteady hydrodynamic profile of a reciprocating membrane channel. Journal of Membrane Science, 2010, vol. 365,  pp. 426–437.

Current Supervision (Postgraduate only)

  • Gabriella Ivana Sugianto

    Optimizing Energy Efficiency for Indoor Thermal Management Using CFD-RSM: A Biophilic Retrofit Strategy

    2025 – Present

    Xiamen University Malaysia

  • YU Kai Xiang
    Optimisation for Fertiliser Application in Durian Farm using CFD approach
    2022 – Present
    Xiamen University Malaysia

  • Michelle NG Xin Yi (graduated)
    Integration of CFD and Neural Network in Sensor Optimization and Source Localization for Ammonia Leak 
    2021 – Present
    Xiamen University Malaysia

  • TAN Wei Jian (graduated)
    Investigation of Ammonia Water Evaporation Rate via Molecular Dynamics Simulation 
    2020 – Present
    Xiamen University Malaysia

  • First prize, 2025, CFD-AI Capacity-Building Action for All Cup - Market Regulation Service Innovation Application Competition GuangXi China., AI Optimization of solid waste pretreatment system for WtE incineration.

  • Second prize, 2025, China International College Students’ Innovation Competition. Gasphere: Gas Source Tracking Device based on the Fluid Dynamics and Big Data Analysis.

  • Sliver Prize, 2024 China International College Students’ Innovation Competition, Gas Source Tracking Device based on Fluid Dynamics and Big Data Analysis.

  • Finalist, Anugerah Inovasi Negeri Selangor (AINS), 2024.

  • Finalist, Anugerah Inovasi Negeri Selangor (AINS), 2022.

  • Second prize for Hari Inovasi Bahagian Sains Kesihatan Bersekutu 2019, Ministry of Health Malaysia.