PhD Studentship: Computational fluid dynamics modelling of a chemical looping system for CO2 utilisation

Supervisory Team: Dr Xi Yu, Dr Syed Zaheer Abbas

PhD Supervisor: Xi Yu

Project description:

The reduction of CO₂ emissions is urgent and challenging to ease global warming. The chemical looping (CL) process is a promising next-generation technology for carbon dioxide capture and utilisation, offering significant potential for achieving negative CO₂ emissions while producing valuable products such as fuels and chemicals. Reliable and accurate simulation of the particle–fluid hydrodynamics, thermal characteristics, and reaction efficiency of the CL system is an important milestone to design, control and optimise CL system.

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a powerful tool for designing CL processes by providing a virtual platform for simulation, monitoring, optimisation, and decision support. CFD will save the high cost of experimental studies of packed bed CL systems. Additionally, CFD will reveal more detailed information, which is difficult to obtain with experiments may be also limited, for instance, hard to acquire full-field based data using a limited number of sensors such as thermocouples, concentration probes.

This PhD position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative solutions for mitigating climate change by developing computer aided design and optimisation of efficient, low-emission technologies for carbon capture and utilisation. The PhD candidate will focus on developing and optimising CFD models to simulate the fluid dynamics, reaction kinetics, and mass transfer processes within CL systems. This work will contribute to a better understanding of how these systems can be designed and operated to enhance their performance and scalability.

In this project you will apply a novel combination of advanced CFD with cutting-edge experimental techniques to design and optimize CL. You will spend 3½ years working at the University of Southampton, where you will learn how computer modelling is applied to the CL process. At the University of Southampton you will be supervised by Dr Xi Yu and Dr Syed Zaheer Abbas, with expertise in the development and application of numerical and experimental methodology to CL process and energy sector.

You will have a first or upper second-class degree in Chemical Engineering or related disciplines. You will have a keen interest in working outside a single discipline, possess good communication and organisational skills, and be highly self-motivated and proactive.

Entry Requirements

You will have a very good undergraduate degree (at least a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent) in Chemical Engineering or related disciplines. You will have a keen interest in working outside a single discipline, possess good communication and organisational skills, and be highly self-motivated and proactive.

Closing date: 31 January 2025. 

Funding: We offer a range of funding opportunities for both UK and international students, including Bursaries and Scholarships.  For more information please visit PhD Scholarships | Doctoral College | University of Southampton  Funding will be awarded on a rolling basis, so apply early for the best opportunity to be considered.

How To Apply

Apply online by clicking the 'Apply' button, above.

Select programme type (Research), 2025/26, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, next page select “PhD Chemistry (Full time)”.

In Section 2 of the application form you should insert the name of the supervisor Xi Yu

Applications should include:

• Research Proposal
• Curriculum Vitae
• Two reference letters
• Degree Transcripts/Certificates to date

For further information please contact: feps-pgr-apply@soton.ac.uk

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