PhD Studentship - Development of Reliable Low-cost Numerical Modelling Approaches for Effective Passive Cooling Prediction of Generation IV Nuclear Reactors

Research theme: Nuclear thermal-hydraulics

How many applications: 1

How to apply: uom.link/pgr-apply-2425

This project is co-funded by EDF R&D UK and the University of Manchester. Funding covers tuition fees and provides a stipend at the UKRI rate (£20,780 for 2025/26) for 3.5 years and is available only to applicants who qualify for UK Home student status. 

Natural circulation loops (NCL) will be an essential component in the safe and reliable operation of Generation III+ and IV nuclear reactor designs, including High Temperature Gas-Cooled reactors (HTGR), Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR), Lead-Cooled Fast Reactors (LFR) and Molten-Salt Reactors (MSR). Despite conceptual simplicity, NCLs are highly susceptible to instabilities, producing a wide and complex range of flow behaviours. Current numerical modelling of NCLs within industry employs System Codes, which rely heavily on empirical and scale-dependent correlations obtained via experimentation.

Unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) approaches, along with Large Eddy Simulation, have demonstrated maturity in the prediction of many buoyancy-driven flows but require extensive validation. Two- and three-dimensional Computational Fluids Dynamics (CFD) studies conducted at the University of Manchester (Wilsimon et al. 2023, Wilson et al. 2024, Katsamis et al. 2022) highlighted the unsteady, complex and varied flow behaviours present, and the lack of CFD-grade experimental data for reliable validation of numerical methods. In parallel to the CFD research, the Thermo-Fluids group at the University of Manchester is developing a novel modular experimental facility to generate this much needed, high-quality, validation data.

The proposed PhD project will start by using data generated by the new experimental NCL facility to validate a wide range of Unsteady RANS approaches, with special emphasis placed on the modelling of near-wall turbulence. The project will also aim to identify areas for additional model development and propose further experimental or numerical investigations to support this development.

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s (or international equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering related discipline.

The project is suitable for Engineering or Physics graduates, with a strong background in Fluid Mechanics, Heat Transfer and preferably with experience in computational modelling. It will involve the use of open-source computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes, turbulence modelling and the application of different near-wall treatments. It will also require the development of good programming skills (ideally C/C++ and Python/MATLAB or similar), good communication skills, the ability to work independently and a willingness to engage with industrial partners.

To apply, please contact the supervisor Dr Dean Wilson - dean.wilson@manchester.ac.uk. Please include details of your current level of study, academic background and any relevant experience and include a paragraph about your motivation to study this PhD project.

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