On the morning of December 3, the 2024 Equipment Manufacturing Forum (EMF2024) and the award ceremony for the 2024 China Machinery Industry Science and Technology Awards were held in Chongqing. The project "Theory and Key Technologies of High-Performance Mixed-Flow Pumps and Their Applications in Advanced Equipment," led by Professor Li Wei from the Fluid Center, was honored with the First Prize in the China Machinery Industry Science and Technology Progress Awards.

Supported by the National Science and Technology Support Program and the National Natural Science Foundation of China, this project involved a 15-year collaborative effort among academia, industry, and research institutions. The participating units included Nantong University, the Kunming Division of the No. 705 Research Institute of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, Shanghai Electric KSB Nuclear Pumps & Valves Co., Ltd., Nanfang Pump Industry Co., Ltd., Jiangsu Aerospace Hydraulic Equipment Co., Ltd., LEO Group Zhejiang Pump Industry Co., Ltd., Sanlian Pump Group Co., Ltd., Shanghai KSB Pump Co., Ltd., and Hitachi Pump Manufacturing (Wuxi) Co., Ltd.

The research comprehensively and systematically addressed the theory, key technologies, and high-end products of high-performance mixed-flow pumps. It overcame global challenges such as low efficiency in wide operational ranges, severe cavitation, and strong vibrations. The key performance indicators have reached internationally leading levels. This project successfully broke the foreign monopoly and technological blockade on mixed-flow pumps used in major projects such as the South-to-North Water Diversion Project and Underwater Weapon Launch Project. The outcomes have been widely applied in defense, military, nuclear power, and water conservancy fields, significantly advancing the localization of high-end mixed-flow pump products in China. The project has played a crucial role in driving industry development, advancing technological progress, ensuring energy security, and promoting energy conservation.

The China Machinery Industry Science and Technology Awards, approved by the state, is the only national-level award in the machinery industry and represents the highest recognition for scientific and technological achievements in the field. This year's awards included 4 Special Prizes, 28 First Prizes, 180 Second Prizes, and 184 Third Prizes.

The accolade this time highlights the Fluid Center's outstanding contributions to achieving technological breakthroughs in the industry and establishing an innovative ecosystem that deeply integrates academia, industry, and research.