Hydrogen as a replacement for fossil fuels is seen as a mainstay of UK and European decarbonisation planning.
It can be expected that on many industrial scales, domestic and off-road applications (above small passenger car size) will be dominated by hydrogen combustion (rather than fuel cells), which will emerge as the most appealing technological solution.
A key advantage of (lean) hydrogen combustion is the primary emissions are water vapour and a small amount of NOx. Compared to conventional fuels, hydrogen has a much lower ignition temperature and as result light-back, preignition and/or autoignition can be common problems for manifold induction and low-pressure ignition systems.
Like many diesel engines, high pressure direct hydrogen fuel injection late in the compression stroke is attractive however, diesel injector needle valves have the advantage of the inherent lubricity of diesel to mitigate impact wear. In the case of hydrogen fuel injectors, the lubricity of diesel is removed and hydrogen embrittlement is potentially introduced, resulting in reduced durability. As a result, there is an urgent need for impact resistant barrier coatings capable of preventing hydrogen embrittlement promoted impact wear.
This PhD research aims to advance hydrogen energy infrastructure through creating the surfaces that enable high pressure hydrogen injection.
Objective 1: Create a bench top experimental facility capable of reproducing impact related failure modes in a hydrogen environment.
Objective 2: Determine, through the use of surface metrology, XPS and dual beam SEM, the underlying physical phenomena resulting in the surface degradation.
Objective 3: Trial advanced laser structured and hardened surfaces and coatings capable of acting as a barrier to hydrogen diffusion, in addition to providing a wear resistant layer to the dynamic element(s) during impact.
The key areas of novelty of this work are:
- New design of laboratory Needle Impact wear rig in a hydrogen environment including impact dynamics measurement.
- Identification of failure mode and physical mechanics of impact wear occurring a hydrogen environment.
- Introduction of novel surfaces to mitigate unwanted surface and surface failure modes.
The Wolfson School provides a prestigious and inclusive environment for research, with a thriving doctoral community. Renowned for impactful research with global benefits, we rank 62nd worldwide in Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering (QS, 2023).
PhD students at Wolfson receive generous additional funds to support individual development, including travel, attending conferences, and training programs.
The School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering has seen 100% of its research impact rated as 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent' (REF, 2021).
Supervisors
Primary supervisor: Paul King
Secondary supervisor: Nick Morris
Entry requirements for United Kingdom
Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:1 honours degree (or equivalent) in mechanical engineering, materials engineering, or a related subject.
A relevant master’s degree and/or experience in one or more of the following will be an advantage: mechanical engineering, materials engineering, or automotive engineering.
How to apply
All applications should be made online. Under programme name Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering. Please quote the advertised reference number: SA24-PK in your application.
Competition for funded entry is high, so please ensure that you submit a CV and the minimum supporting documents. Failure to do so will mean that your application cannot be taken forward for consideration.
The following selection criteria will be used by academic schools to help them make a decision on your application.
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