Numerical Modelling of Hydrogen Explosions in semi-Confined Spaces

The Centre for Doctoral Training in Fluid Dynamics is now recruiting to this fantastic PhD opportunity in partnership with Sellafield Ltd.

As a student on the CDT you will participate in a four year programme that combines an integrated MSc (completed over the first two years) paired with a three year PhD-level research programme. This gives you a combination of bespoke taught modules and inter-disciplinary research training.

You will be part of a supportive cohort of research students with different academic backgrounds, all focusing on different aspects of Fluid Dynamics. During the taught aspects of your course you will receive a range of tailored seminars, lectures and practical laboratories to cover the computational, experimental and analytical aspects of Fluid Dynamics. This provides you with a strong background to the fundamentals of Fluid Dynamics. In addition, you will have access to a wide range of personal development activities. Further information on the CDT is available here: fluid-dynamics.leeds.ac.uk  

The PhD project: Numerical Modelling of Hydrogen Explosions in semi-Confined Spaces

Due to radiation and wide use of reactive metals, the nuclear industry has always to be mindful of the generation of flammable gases, principally hydrogen. Hydrogen explosions can lead to deflagration and transition to detonation (DDT) with destructive effects. The decommissioning and long term storage of wastes from these sites will bring new challenges in managing hydrogen. A better understanding of the consequences can reduce conservatisms and better inform safety cases. This can reduce cost and accelerate timescales for decommissioning of Sellafield, Dounreay and Magnox sites.

Computational Fluid Dynamics is widely used to simulate large scale fire hazards. This technique offers a convenient means of studying hydrogen deflagration and detonation in confined spaces with complex geometries and turbulence inducing obstacles. This enables a wider range of configurations to be studied quantitatively than experimental work.

This project aims to develop the current methods for assessing the consequences of explosions. This may include whether hydrogen deflagration to detonation transient (DDT) can be ruled out, and subsequently what local pressures would be seen if DDT does or doesn’t occur. The outcomes of the proposed project may provide significant improvements to safety case development for nuclear decommissioning and beyond. This project will lead to a start-of-the-art CFD tool for investigating hydrogen explosion safety within nuclear facilities. It may also generate new simplified hand calculation methods for estimating localised overpressures.

The project supervisors at Leeds are Dr. Junfeng Yang and Dr. Tim Hunter

How to apply: Complete online application form naming the PhD project on the form: https://fluid-dynamics.leeds.ac.uk/programme/

Application deadline for September 2025 entry: 28^th February 2025.

Funding: Full standard studentship. Further details and eligibility: https://fluid-dynamics.leeds.ac.uk/programme/

Entry requirements: A degree equivalent to a UK first class honours, or a high upper second class, in an engineering, mathematics or science discipline. Queries: Please contact us on fluid-dynamics@leeds.ac.uk

EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Future Fluid Dynamics