Geothermal energy is clean and renewable, derived from the heat stored within accessible depths of the Earth’s crust. The adoption of a single-well system for medium-deep and deep geothermal energy extraction has attracted significant interest from the scientific and industrial communities because it effectively circumvents issues such as downhole inter-well connections and induced seismicity. However, the low heat transfer capacity in geothermal formations limits the heat extraction performance of single-well systems and hinders their commercial deployment. This review covers various enhancement concepts for optimizing the heat transfer within single-well systems, emphasizing critical parameters such as heat transfer area, heat transfer coefficient, and temperature difference. Additionally, it presents the thermo-economic evaluation of different configurations of single-well borehole heat exchangers and superlong gravity heat pipes (SLGHPs). The SLHGP, utilizing phase-change heat transfer, is recognized as a highly effective and continuously productive technology, capable of extracting over 1 MW of heat. Its pumpless operation and ease of installation in abandoned wells make it cost-effective, offering a promising economic advantage over traditional geothermal systems. It also highlights the challenges and potential research opportunities that can help identify gaps in research to enhance the performance of single-well geothermal systems.

A study published in Frontiers in Energy by researchers from Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen University, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, and Nanyang Technological University addresses these challenges. They developed a multi-physical model to analyze and optimize the operation of large-area SOFCs.

In a study published in Frontiers in Energy, Frederik Wiesmann and collaborators from TU Wien, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg introduced a refined oxidation mechanism for OME_1-6. The new SJTU mechanism modifies key reaction rates in the Niu mechanism based on sensitivity analysis and validation against jet-stirred reactor (JSR) experiments and shock tube IDT data from the literature. This mechanism improves the prediction of intermediate species and ignition behavior while maintaining compatibility with CFD frameworks.

A research paper by scientists at Tsinghua University investigates the regional variations in mechanical properties of porcine leptomeninges.

A review paper by scientists at Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication presented  a thorough review of the existing research landscape, encapsulating the notable progress in swiftly expanding field.

A research paper by scientists at Beijing Friendship Hospital develop a systematic approach for automated ossicular-chain segmentation and measurement using ultra-high-resolution computed tomography (U-HRCT).

A review paper by scientists at Imperial College London explores groundbreaking techniques that integrate interpersonal interactions within therapy and healthcare, focusing on multiplayer games that strengthen real-time social connections, alongside social robots and virtual agents designed to simulate human-like affective interactions.