Research

Current studentships

Understanding heat integration of nuclear power with solid oxide steam electrolysis using hardware-in-the-loop testing

Deadline: 22/11/2024 5:00PM
Studentship code: RDS
Staff name: Professor Kumar Patchigolla
Research centre: Centre for Sustainable Engineering
Start date: Successful applicants will be expected to start December 2024 or March 2025.

An exciting research opportunity has arisen for a motivated graduate to join our Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre (NZIIC). The Centre is at the heart of the East Coast Cluster and the UK's Cluster Sequencing decarbonisation process. The Centre has fully equipped laboratories for CCUS, H2 innovation, Smart Energy Integration and Modelling, and Circular Economy. As a result of this initiative, NZIIC and Teesside University has initiated a £11m project; 'Growing Teesside’s Hydrogen Economy and Catalysing a Just Transition to Net Zero' funding by Research England.

Nuclear power is undergoing a renewed interest due the need to generate low carbon energy to meet net zero topics. Within the proposed applications of nuclear, there is consideration as to how nuclear energy could be applied to co-generate alternative energy vectors, such as synthetic hydrocarbons or hydrogen together with electricity.

There is a challenge to understand and model the dynamics of heat within a high temperature nuclear system where we have multiple coupled heat applications including electrical energy generation via a steam turbine, hydrogen generation via a high temperature steam electrolysis process, chemical synthesis using Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, district heating or heat storage.

This specific project will develop a scaled physical mock-up of a high temperature heat loop to understand and demonstrate control in this system. The PhD will develop approaches to demonstrate and control heat dynamics in a coupled system where demands fluctuate based on varying end user requirements.

You will be responsible for modelling studies (thermodynamic based) to achieve these benefits applied nuclear to heat application, as well as attractive for high temperature gas cooled reactors. This will involve:

• Understanding heat integration of nuclear power with solid oxide steam electrolysis using hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Exploring integration of nuclear energy with solid oxide electrolysis for hydrogen production.
• Developing thermodynamic process models of the proposed schemes to allow the analysis and their integration into existing plant designs and to provide the basis for a technology readiness assessment of the concepts and their ease of deployment and operability in service.
• Building small scale test rig to explore options including power ramps, shutdown and startup, failure modes etc.

This project will involve collaboration with NNL. You will work closely with collaborators at NNL. During this PhD programme, you will be supported to present the research outcomes at review meetings, disseminate the results at international conferences and publish peer-reviewed journal papers.

Funding eligibility

This fully-funded PhD studentship covers tuition fees for the period of a full-time PhD Registration of up to four years and provide an annual tax-free stipend of £19,237 for three years, subject to satisfactory progress.

Applications are welcome from UK or international students.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold or expect to obtain a good honours degree (2:1 or above) in a relevant discipline, such as Chemical/Process/Mechanical Engineering or Renewable/Industrial Engineering. The ideal candidate should have some understanding in nuclear power generation, solid oxide electrolysis, hydrogen generation and power plant thermodynamics. The candidate should be self-motivated, have good communication skills for regular interaction with academic community and other stakeholders and have and strong interest for industrial research. International students will be subject to the standard entry criteria relating to English language ability, ATAS clearance and, when relevant, UK visa requirements and procedures.

How to apply

Applicants should apply online for this opportunity using the Online Application (Funded PHD) application form. When asked to specify funding select “other” and enter ‘RDS’ and the title of the PhD project that you are applying for. You should ensure that you clearly indicate that you are applying for a Funded Studentship and the title of the topic or project on the proposal that you will need to upload when applying. To apply for more than one project, you need to complete a further application form and specify the relevant title for each application to a topic or project.

Applications for studentships that do not clearly indicate that the application is for a Funded Studentship and state the title of the project applied for on the proposal may mean that your application may not be considered for the appropriate funding.

Apply now

View our frequently asked questions

Selection process

All applications received by the closing date will be considered. Successful applicants at the application stage will be shortlisted and contacted to arrange an interview. All interviews will be held online. Unsuccessful applicants will be contacted to confirm that the application will not be progressed. After interview, all interviewed applicants will be contacted to inform them of the outcome. Successful applicants progressing to an offer of a place, to commence in December 2024 or March 2025.

About Teesside

We are committed to providing a safe, welcoming and inclusive campus and to supporting all members of our University community to thrive whatever their age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, marital status, nationality or any other characteristic.
More about our Inclusive campus

As a Teesside University research student, you will join a growing and dynamic research community, allowing you to share your experiences, insight and inspiration with fellow researchers. You will benefit from our academic expertise and be supported through a strong programme of research training. You will be offered opportunities and support at each stage of your research degree. Our research is designed to have impact, and to influence policy and practice within our region, the UK and beyond. We work with external organisations to anticipate and respond to research needs, and to put our research into practice in sectors as diverse as the arts, engineering, healthcare and computing. PhD students are encouraged to work with their supervisors to explore the potential impact of their work.

The successful candidate will be expected to participate fully in research group and centre activities, including training sessions and workshops, and will become a member of the University’s wider postgraduate research community. Mentoring and support will be provided for the development of a strong academic and professional CV during the PhD.

Academic enquiries

For academic enquiries, please contact k.patchigolla@tees.ac.uk.

For administrative enquiries before or when making your application, contact research.enquiries@tees.ac.uk.

After an application has been made, please contact research.admissions@tees.ac.uk.

Key dates

Deadline: 22/11/2024 5:00PM
Interview date: We envisage that interviews will take place in December 2024.
Start date: Successful applicants will be expected to start December 2024 or March 2025.