Enhancing mixing and reaction in porous media with viscoelastic instabilities

Many industrial processes involve the mixing and reaction of non-Newtonian fluids in complex geometrical configurations. Often in such settings, the geometric confinement or high fluid viscosities suppresses inertial turbulence, and the mixing it promotes. For efficient reactions and good selectivity, good mixing at the molecular level is essential. To enable this, efficient macro-scale mixing is crucial, allowing molecular diffusion at reasonable timescales. However, for viscoelastic fluids (a subset of non-Newtonian fluids), new instabilities can occur, which promote mixing, and recent experimental work has shown the benefits of such instabilities for reaction progress [1], but much of the complex interplay between viscoelastic instabilities, mixing and reactions is as yet unknown. The use of elastic instabilities to enhance transport properties has enormous potential across various fields, including chemical engineering (e.g., reactive mixing in catalytic reactors), environmental engineering (e.g., groundwater remediation), and biomedical engineering (e.g., drug delivery systems). The broad aim of this project is therefore to study numerically the mixing and dynamics of reacting flows of viscoelastic fluids in complex geometries.

In this project you will develop novel numerical techniques to allow simulations of mixtures of viscoelastic reacting flows in complex geometries. These techniques will be used to conduct simulations in the canonical setting of cylinder arrays as a representative porous geometry. This will allow fundamental investigations into the complex dynamics of reacting viscoelastic flows, and the effects of these dynamics on mixing efficiency, and reaction yield and selectivity.

From this project, you will gain proficiency in Theoretical and Computational Fluid Dynamics, scientific programming, and High-Performance Computing. These skills are highly valued across a wide range of industries. Recent data reveals that Fluid Dynamics generates £14 billion worth of output from over 2,200 firms and employs 45,000 people in the UK [2].

Eligibility

Applications should have either:

a) a First class honours degree, or

b) an undergraduate degree at 2:1 or above, and a Masters award at Merit or above

in a discipline directly relevant to the PhD, or equivalent international qualifications.

Funding

We are pleased to offer a full 4 year studentship in support of this PhD that will pay Home tuition fees and provide a tax-free stipend at the standard UKRI rate (£18,622 in 2023/24) to cover living costs. European nationals who hold settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement and are eligible for Home fee status are very welcome to apply. We are also happy to consider International applicants who hold additional funding to cover the balance of fees to the higher International fee rate.

The advert will be withdrawn once the position has been filled so we recommend that you apply early. 

Before you apply

We strongly recommend that you contact the supervisors for this project before you apply.

How to apply

 You will need to submit an online application through our website here: https://uom.link/pgr-apply

When you apply, you will be asked to upload the following supporting documents: 

• Final Transcript and certificates of all awarded university level qualifications

• Interim Transcript of any university level qualifications in progress

• CV

• You will be asked to supply contact details for two referees on the application form (please make sure that the contact email you provide is an official university/ work email address as we may need to verify the reference)

• Supporting statement: A one or two page statement outlining your motivation to pursue postgraduate research and why you want to undertake postgraduate research at Manchester, any relevant research or work experience, the key findings of your previous research experience, and techniques and skills you’ve developed. (This is mandatory for all applicants and the application will be put on hold without it.

• English Language certificate (if applicable). If you require an English qualification to study in the UK, you can apply now and send this in at a later date. 

If you have any questions about making an application, please contact our admissions team by emailing FSE.doctoralacademy.admissions@manchester.ac.uk.

Equality, diversity and inclusion is fundamental to the success of The University of Manchester, and is at the heart of all of our activities. We know that diversity strengthens our research community, leading to enhanced research creativity, productivity and quality, and societal and economic impact.

We actively encourage applicants from diverse career paths and backgrounds and from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation and transgender status. 

We also support applications from those returning from a career break or other roles. We consider offering flexible study arrangements (including part-time: 50%, 60% or 80%, depending on the project/funder).