A collaboration between two world leading groups the Process Intensification Group (Newcastle University) and the Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence (University of York), will work with over 25 industrial partners on more than 55 PhD projects. Every project will be co-created with industrial partners to address the challenges they face in their transition to Net Zero.
Students will receive intensive training throughout their PhDs to become the Net Zero-enabled engineers and chemists that future process industries need. Based on their research and training, our graduates will become architects and leaders in the transition to Net Zero for process industries in the UK.
The vision of the CDT is to produce the next generation of internationally renowned researchers who are anticipated to go on to a wide variety of careers, including within industry, academia and government.
The researchers will help the process industries transition to more sustainable practices: this includes the pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, chemicals, and utilities sectors.
The recent energy crisis is placing strain on the waste-water sector to treat sewage in a cost-effective, energy-efficient manner. In addition to this, increasingly stringent environmental legislation relating to total nitrogen content will impose an additional thermal energy burden on the treatment of sludge in the coming years. As a result, Northumbrian Water Ltd are investing significant sums on the development of novel processes to reduce the energy burden on-site.
A potential “untapped” resource is (very) low grade waste heat which is available on site throughout the waste water sector. The amount of energy is vast, but the challenges of recovery are many, for example: the available temperature (< 100 °C, often < 50 °C), the distances between heat sources and potential sinks, and dated infrastructure which was designed without recovery in mind.
This project will investigate the feasibility of recovering low-grade waste heat in the waste-water sector via a comprehensive modelling and optimisation study. Key milestones will include: (1) comprehensive auditing to ascertain the amount and grade of waste heat available, and potential uses, (2) modelling and optimisation of suitable recovery strategies, including the consideration of novel means of heat upgrade, (3) extrapolation of results to the wider waste-water sector, developing a framework for waste heat recovery and management across the UK, (4) the potential to design “real” systems which will be installed at Northumbrian Water Ltd sites, possibly within the timeframe of this PhD.
This project is partially funded by Northumbrian Water Ltd, and the initial focus of the study will be on two local case studies: Howdon and Bran Sands sewage works. The student will have full access to the sites for the purposes of energy auditing, data collection and discussions with water industry experts. Supervisors will be appointed at both Newcastle University (Dr Law, Prof Harvey) and at Northumbrian Water Ltd.
The candidate will be part of the PINZ CDT which aims to train the next generation of process and chemical engineers, and chemists, to develop the new processes, process technologies and green chemistries required for the process industries transition to Net Zero. As such, the candidate will be part of a wider cohort who will be given significant additional training.
You must have, or expect to gain, a minimum 2:1 Honours degree or international equivalent in a subject relevant to the proposed PhD project (usually chemical or mechanical engineering, or a related area). Enthusiasm for research, the ability to think and work independently, excellent analytical skills and strong verbal and written communication skills are also essential requirements.
Home and international applicants (inc. EU) are welcome to apply and if successful will receive a full studentship. Applicants whose first language is not English require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all sub-skills.
The studentship provides 100% fees (Home & international), a minimum tax-free annual living allowance of £19,237 (2024/25 UKRI rate), and a research training support grant of £20,000.
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