PhD Scholarship at Cranfield University’s Centre for Energy and Resource Technology

Overview

This three year research project, based at Cranfield University’s Centre for Energy and Resource Technology, will investigate common issues affecting the life of power generation plants through the Supergen (Plant Life Extension) project. The successful candidate will be involved in collaboration with industrial and academic partners as they tackle issues relating to high temperature material degradation. These partners include:

Doosan Power Systems
E.ON Engineering Ltd
Rolls-Royce plc
Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery Ltd
University of Bristol
Loughborough University
University of Nottingham

Energy efficient power generation is a main industry driver, with providers striving to cut CO2 emission and maintain competitive pricing. One of the routes to this increased efficiency requires higher operating temperatures, which in turn increases the oxidation and corrosion of power station materials. More specifically, this PhD will focus on understanding the similarities in corrosion mechanisms and corrosion microstructures between two currently distinct branches of industrial corrosion: hot corrosion of nickel-based alloys in gas turbines; and fireside corrosion of heat exchanger materials in boilers.

Currently fireside corrosion and high temperature corrosion are studied independently from one another. Recently however, this mindset has been challenged as operating conditions for heat exchangers become increasingly extreme, requiring the use of Ni-based materials. The successful applicant will explore the corrosion mechanism for both groups of materials, using the Centre’s range of corrosion test and analysis facilities to investigate damage experienced by a wide range of state-of-the-art alloys. Through these tests, they will develop their mechanistic understanding of both corrosion fields, aiming to understand points of commonality. Working alongside other researchers, the successful candidate will use this understanding to determine key corrosion process drivers to both the hot corrosion and fireside corrosion mechanisms, with the aim of bridging these two industrially significant fields.

Doctoral Training Centres

This higher research degree is associated with one of our Doctoral Training Centre, which is funded in part by the Research Councils and industry. A generic core skills training programme is provided for all research students. This is structured as a series of half day or full day events and acts as a social and networking forum to foster and develop Cranfield’s research student community.

Entry Requirements

Applicants should have a first or upper second class UK Honours degree (or equivalent) in materials science, physics, engineering or a related discipline. A Masters degree relating to power generation, corrosion and/or metallurgy, is also desirable, but not essential. Applicants should also be motivated and enthusiastic, with the ability to work alone while also able to collaborate when situations require.

Funding

*Supported by an EPSRC bursary and Supergen PLE this studentship will cover the tuition fees at the UK/EU rate only and provide a bursary of up to £16,590 p.a. for three years. To be eligible for this funding applicants must have:

no restrictions on how long you can stay in the UK, i.e. no visa restrictions or have ‘settled status’, and
have been ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK for 3 years prior to the start of the grant and
not been residing in the UK wholly or mainly for the purpose of full-time education. (This does not apply to UK or EU nationals).

All EU nationals are eligible to receive a fees-only award if they do not have ‘settled status’ in the UK.

All non-EU nationals are very unlikely to be eligible for this funding under the Education (Fees and Awards) Regulations 1997.

For full details about eligibility please visit: http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/PostgraduateTrai...

How to apply

If you are eligible to apply for this research studentship, please complete the Application Form, or you can request that we post one to you. Please ensure you place “Supergen PLE" in the “Study Details – Research Interest” box on the application form. Alternatively you may wish to apply online. For further information contact us today:

School of Applied Sciences
T: +44 (0)1234 754086
E: appliedsciences@cranfield.ac.uk

Please note that we are unable to consider submissions for specific research studentships that fall outside of the stated eligibility criteria.

http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/sas/postgraduatestudy/researchopportunities/page53569.html

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