Self-powered monitoring system for energy sector using energy harvester

Applications are invited for a fully-funded three-year PhD to commence in October 2022.

The PhD will be based in the School of Energy and Electronic Engineering and will be supervised by Dr Mojtaba Ghodsi.

Candidates applying for this project may be eligible to compete for one of a small number of bursaries available; these cover tuition fees for three years and a stipend in line with the UKRI rate (£16,062 for 2022/2023). Bursary recipients will also receive £1,500 p.a. for project costs/consumables/travel.  

The work on this project could involve:

• Smart materials, Nonlinear vibration analysis, numerical simulation, experimental verification  
• Manufacturing, interfacing and data acquisition, Microcontrollers (e.g., PIC), Energy storage system
• Coding (i.e. MATLAB/Simulink, LabView, Linux)

Project description

Batteries can be used to power the majority of wireless sensing devices but their need for replacement or recharging can be costly. This cost becomes increasingly unacceptable as the number of sensors employed in the engineering system grows.

Energy harvesting, i.e. converting the available environmental energy to electricity can be utilised to address this problem. The critical issue in designing every energy harvester is the mismatch between the energy generated by the harvester and the energy demanded by the device. The ambient environmental energy is limited and the wireless sensor systems are always power-hungry.

The proposed research project aims to investigate this problem via the development of a self-powered monitoring system for the energy sector. The PhD student will focus on the development of a vibration-based energy harvester to energize the array of low power sensors including temperature, humidity, light, and similar sensing devices. As a case study to be investigated in this project, a self-powered system aimed at monitoring and controlling energy consumed by a building will be considered.

Applicants should have an interest in low-power sensors technology as well as detailed knowledge of electronics, manufacturing, and smart materials. The successful applicant will receive comprehensive training in various aspects of the project, including theoretical and experimental skills, sensor development, project management, etc. This will enhance the future employability prospects of the PhD student in the fields of sensors, energy harvesting and advanced electronics.

General admissions criteria

You'll need a good first degree from an internationally recognised university or a Master’s degree in an appropriate subject. In exceptional cases, we may consider equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications. English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.

Specific candidate requirements

Knowledge of mechatronics, nonlinear vibration analysis, energy harvesting, low-power sensing electronics and data acquisition.

How to Apply

We encourage you to contact Dr Mojtaba Ghodsi ([Email Address Removed]) to discuss your interest before you apply, quoting the project code below.

When you are ready to apply, you can use our online application form. Make sure you submit a personal statement, proof of your degrees and grades, details of two referees, proof of your English language proficiency and an up-to-date CV. Our ‘How to Apply’ page offers further guidance on the PhD application process. 

If you want to be considered for this funded PhD opportunity you must quote project code SENE6930522 when applying.