Pneumatic transport of wet granular wastes under vacuum

Summary

As the UK prepares to invest in new nuclear power plants, industry and research organisations are also looking towards developing the next generation of effluent and waste treatment processes. Overcoming challenges to the decommissioning of legacy nuclear facilities is critical to building confidence in the long-term future of nuclear as a low-carbon energy source in the UK. On sites, such as Sellafield in the UK, there are a variety of waste sludges and granular materials that require safe, reliable transportation to treatment plants. While current operations use liquid pumps to transfer as dilute suspensions, these in turn generate significant volumes of additional liquid effluent that requires treatment. Therefore, as an alternative, this project seeks to investigate pneumatic conveying techniques for rapid and waste-free transport of hazardous wet solids.

For this PhD, you will work alongside some of the UK’s leading nuclear researchers at Leeds, as part of the Nuclear Engineering Group, and industry experts at Sellafield Ltd, to develop pneumatic transfers for a variety saturated wet granular and sludge wastes. Specifically, the project will investigate technology transfer from the pharmaceuticals industry on lean powder transportation, and the role of liquid capillary bridges in cohesion and caking. The project will also undertake machine learning (ML) optimised computer dynamics simulations (CFD) of the same systems to allow full prediction of operational envelopes. We will work with plant specialists that are currently designing the new Site Ion Exchange Effluent Plant (SIXEP), where the viability of these advanced pneumatic transfer methods will be considered for integration into current and future process plants.

CDT information

This project is part of the Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in SATURN (Skills And Training Underpinning a Renaissance in Nuclear). It is led from the University of Manchester and includes leading nuclear research universities in the North of England and Scottland (University of Leeds, University of Sheffield, Lancaster University, University of Liverpool, University of Strathclyde). We aim to deliver the next generation of nuclear researchers to help the UK achieve its Net Zero targets and beyond, in a collegial cohort environment. The CDT will also include technical training in the nuclear fuel cycle to ensure all candidates are familiar with the nuclear sector, and specialist research skills training.

SATURN_Nuclear_CDT

Candidates will have, or be due to obtain, a Master’s Degree or equivalent from a reputable university in an appropriate field of Engineering. Exceptional candidates with a First Class Bachelor’s Degree in an appropriate field will also be considered. Applicants are advised to check with the relevant School prior to making an application.

The minimum English language entry requirement for research postgraduate research study is an IELTS of 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid. Some schools and faculties have a higher requirement.