Developing a Novel High Frequency Resonator Rheometer

This project will primarily be based at: The University of Leeds

Summary

The retrieval of nuclear waste from legacy facilities and its transfer to long-term storage is a top priority for the UK nuclear industry. Much of the waste is a suspension formed from corroding fuel and fuel cladding. To design a reliable and safe retrieval process requires knowledge of the suspension rheology, a property that describes the flow of a material. Being able to measure the suspension rheology in its storage environment is desirable as it provides a more reliable measurement and eliminates the effect of sample history and handling. Such measurements are currently difficult to make using traditional rheometer techniques, therefore, the current study will explore the development of a new compact rheometer which excites the microstructure of the suspension using high frequency resonance. Using rapid prototyping techniques, the study will involve the development of a new torsional resonator for deployment and measurement of the viscoelasticity and yield strength of nuclear test materials in realistic industry environments.

Eligibility

We are looking for an enthusiastic graduate with 1st class honours or 2:1 in an Engineering discipline to join the Nuclear Engineering Group in the School of Chemical and Process Engineering at The University of Leeds. The chosen candidate will be part of the GREEN CDT, will have access to world leading research facilities in the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences and will have the opportunity to undertake a research placement with Sellafield Ltd.

About GREEN

The GREEN Centre for Doctoral Training (GREEN CDT) is a a consortium of five universities: The University of Manchester, Lancaster University, The University of Leeds, The University of Liverpool and The University of Sheffield, which aims to train the next generation of expert nuclear scientists and engineers.

Students within the GREEN CDT are invited to undertake a four-year PhD programme. Students will attend taught courses (Year 1) in various subject of nuclear technology followed by subject specific training (Year 1) leading to research activities (Year 2-Year 4).