【History of Haichuan Chemical】The furnace fire reflects a loyal heart; its spirit endures through the ages — Mr. Fan Congzhen, the father of boilers in China

I. Born in His Hometown, a Youth Forms Ambitions (1911–1936) In 1911, Fan Congzhen was born in Ningjin, Hebei, on the banks of the Fuyang River, in this fertile land. At that time, China had fragmented lands and a devastated populace; its industrial infrastructure was virtually non-existent. The idea that \"being backward means suffering attacks\" was deeply ingrained in the minds of the Chinese people. The simple folk customs and tradition of valuing education in Ningjin nurtured his calm, resolute personality, as well as his diligence in learning and tendency to think deeply. The young Fan Congzhen, witnessing the decline of industry and the weakening of the nation, resolved to revive the country through industry and save it through technology. He studied hard and achieved excellent results, graduating from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Tsinghua University in 1936 with outstanding grades. The rigorous academic atmosphere and scientific spirit at Tsinghua University laid a solid foundation for his future work in the industrial field. In the same year, driven by the belief of \"learning from the West’s advanced technologies to overcome them,\" he went to Babcock & Wilcox Boiler Company in the UK to pursue further studies, focusing on boiler design and manufacturing techniques. During his three years in Britain, he spent time in workshops and laboratories, working on practical tasks during the day and studying theory at night, dedicating himself to mastering the world’s most advanced boiler technologies of that time, paying attention to every detail and not ignoring any challenges. He was well aware that boilers are the mother of industry and the core of energy; mastering boiler technology meant holding the key to industrial development. During his time abroad, he lived frugally and focused on his studies, always keeping his homeland in mind, hoping to return after completing his education to contribute to the development of China’s industry. II. Returning Home Amidst War Efforts to Build a Prosperous Nation (1939–1949) In 1939, with the war of resistance in full swing, Fan Congzhen resolutely gave up the favorable conditions available in Britain, overcame numerous obstacles, and made his way back to his home country. At that time, the motherland was engulfed in war, and its industrial system was on the verge of collapse; as a rear base, Chongqing became the core area for industrial recovery. He was appointed to take on the challenge of becoming the director of the Chongqing Machinery Factory. Running an industry in times of chaos is as difficult as climbing to the sky. There is a lack of equipment, materials, skilled workers, and even more so, a stable production environment. Fan Congzhen faced the challenges head-on: during the day he worked hard to secure supplies and restore order in the factory, while at night he drew blueprints and worked on solving technical problems. He led the workers to overcome numerous difficulties and obstacles, repairing old equipment and improving production processes, thereby ensuring the production of military and civilian boilers as well as mechanical components. He played a crucial role in keeping the industry in the rear areas functioning during the war, putting his commitment to \"saving the nation through industry\" into practice through hard work. In 1941, due to his profound academic achievements and extensive practical experience, Fan Congzhen was appointed as a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at National Central University as well as the director of a mechanical factory. From then on, he held the dual roles of an industrialist and an educator, focusing on industrial production while also teaching and guiding others. In a campus amidst the flames of war, with inadequate teaching facilities, he remained at his lectern, sharing his knowledge of advanced foreign boiler technology and mechanical engineering skills. He encouraged his students to study hard and serve their country, thereby helping to cultivate a group of rare industrial technology experts for China during those turbulent times.

III. Deepening efforts in science and education to lay the foundation for disciplines (1949–1980): With the founding of the People’s Republic of China, many tasks needed to be undertaken, and industrial development entered a golden age; the energy sector in particular required significant breakthroughs. After 1949, Fan Congzhen successively served as a professor at Nanjing University, head of the Department of Power Engineering at Nanjing Institute of Technology (now Southeast University), and director of the Institute of Thermal Energy Engineering. He remained rooted in universities, dedicating decades to the field of boilers and thermal engineering. Through his pioneering efforts, he established the discipline of internal combustion processes in China, becoming a pioneer in the field of boiler technology there. (1) Establishing a specialized field and building a system: In 1952, during the nationwide reorganization of universities and colleges, Fan Congzhen took the lead in establishing the Department of Power Engineering at Nanjing Institute of Technology, as well as the major in Thermal Power Engineering for power plants. This is the first systematic program in boiler and thermal energy engineering in the country; he was personally involved in every aspect of it, from curriculum design and textbook compilation to laboratory construction and the development of training programs. By drawing on advanced foreign experiences and combining them with the realities of China’s industrial sector, he developed a specialized boiler education system tailored to China’s national conditions. This system served as a model for similar programs in universities across the country, enabling the training of boiler professionals in China to move beyond a fragmented and disorganized approach and enter a new era of systematicness and professionalism. (II) Editing textbooks to pass on knowledge: In the early years of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, there were no textbooks available in the field of boilers in China; there were no books to refer to or guidelines to follow. Fan Congzhen is well aware that textbooks are the foundation of a discipline and the medium through which education is delivered. Overcoming difficulties such as a lack of materials and a heavy workload, he spent several years working on it, and in 1961 he completed editing \"Boiler Equipment\" (in two volumes). This textbook systematically covers the basic theories of boilers, design principles, manufacturing processes, as well as operation and maintenance techniques. It combines scientific rigor, practicality, and comprehensiveness, filling a gap in domestic literature. Designated by the Ministry of Education as a standard textbook for universities across the country, it has been in use for decades and has influenced several generations of professionals in the boiler industry. In addition, he took the lead in translating the Soviet classic work \"Internal Processes in Boilers,\" introducing advanced international theories on boiler internal processes to China. This provided an important reference for domestic research and teaching, and helped bring Chinese research on boiler theory in line with international standards. (III) Devoted to educating students, bringing forth many talented ones; on the podium, he is a strict teacher, but also an excellent one. During his lectures, he is logical and able to explain complex boiler principles in simple terms, making them easy to understand ； In scientific research, he approaches his work with rigor and a commitment to excellence, demanding that his students be down-to-earth and pragmatic, allowing no room for impatience or falsehood. He often said to his students, “In boiler engineering, there is no room for carelessness; a single error in data or a flaw in the design can lead to serious consequences.” ； In both academic work and personal conduct, one must be down-to-earth, meticulous, and responsible. ” Over several decades of teaching, he trained hundreds of experts and professionals in the fields of boilers and energy, as well as key technical personnel, who are now working in universities, research institutions, and industrial enterprises across the country. Among them, some are dedicated to the frontiers of academic research, some work on the industrial front lines, and others are involved in major energy projects. All take the gentleman as an example, fulfilling their mission of contributing to the country through science and education as well as through industrial development, thereby ensuring that the field of boilers in China continues to have successors and thrives. IV. Commitment to Scientific Research for the Benefit of the Country (1980–1998) In his later years, despite his advanced age, Fan Congzhen remained true to his original aspirations and continued to work diligently. He kept a close eye on the needs of energy development, focused on scientific research, overcame technical challenges, and helped propel China’s boiler technology from one based on importing and adapting existing technologies to one driven by independent innovation. In the 1980s, China faced problems such as backward coal-fired technology, low energy utilization efficiency, and severe environmental pollution; therefore, efficient and clean coal-fired technology became a key area that needed to be addressed urgently. Fan Congzhen keenly identified the pain points in the industry and led the research project on \"coal-fired pressurized fluidized bed combustion\". At that time, research in this field in China was virtually non-existent; there were no precedents to follow and no experience to draw upon, making scientific research extremely difficult. He led the research team, braving difficulties and working day and night to conduct repeated experiments and continuous improvements; after years of hard work, they built China’s first pressurized combustion fluidized bed test rig. This breakthrough fills the gap in high-efficiency, clean coal-fired technology in China, providing core technical support for energy savings and pollution reduction in coal-fired boilers across the country. It helps advance boiler technology in China toward higher efficiency, cleaner operation, and greater autonomy, making significant contributions to **energy security and sustainable development**. In addition to research and teaching, Fan Congzhen also served as an advisor to the Ministry of Electric Power and the Ministry of Labor, as well as the first president of the Jiangsu Energy Society. He actively participates in technical consulting and standard-setting work in the fields of electricity and labor, offering suggestions for the establishment of safety regulations and technical standards in the boiler industry; he promotes the standardized development of this industry in order to ensure the safety of industrial production. In his later years, he continued to be concerned about the development of his field and the training of talent; he often visited laboratories and classrooms to interact with young teachers and students, sharing his academic experiences and life insights. He encouraged the younger generation to be innovative and bold in making breakthroughs, so as to contribute to the development of China’s energy sector. In 1998, Mr. Fan Congzhen passed away at the age of 87. His life was one of patriotism, scholarship, education, and dedication; he devoted his entire life to laying the foundations for China’s boiler industry, and through his noble character he demonstrated his sincere commitment to serving the country through science and education.

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