Software simulator of a Boiling Water Nuclear Reactor: (Multi-phase flow and thermal hydraulics).

Institution: Bangor University, Co-led by Imperial College London,
Industrial Partner: Amec Foster Wheeler
Lead supervisor: Prof Paul Spencer: [Email Address Removed]
Co-Supervisors: Dr Andrew Buchan [Email Address Removed], Prof. C. Pain [Email Address Removed], Dr Brendan Tollit [Email Address Removed]

This KESS 2 funded PhD project will develop a world leading multi-phase flow thermal-hydraulics modelling capability for the simulation of coolants within nuclear reactor cores. The project will focus on the simulation of Light Water Reactors (LWRs) and in particular Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs) which are likely to be built within the UK during the forthcoming era of new build. A revolutionary new method will be developed to generate hi-fidelity, fast running thermal-hydraulic models for use in coupled neutronic core calculations. High fidelity simulations will be applied to study important aspects of core thermal-hydraulic behaviours, such as the effect of grid spacers on fluid flow and heat transfer and reduced order modeling (ROM) will then be applied to produce pseudo 1D models for coupling to core neutronics simulations.

The research will develop novel and world leading mathematical and numerical methods for the simulation of reactor core thermal hydraulics. This will involve developing stable and accurate finite element formulations with self-adaptive resolution and parallel solvers to efficiently resolve the multi-phase flows of reactor coolants and subsequently reducing the dimensionality of the simulation using ROM. The position will be based at Bangor University and will involve close collaboration with industrial partner Amec Foster Wheeler and academics within the Applied Modelling and Computation Group (AMCG) at Imperial College London.

Applicants are expected to have gained a degree (1st or 2.1) and/or Masters degree with a strong emphasis in mathematics, engineering or physics. The position is fully funded for eligible candidates through the KESS 2 programme, https://www.bangor.ac.uk/doctoral-school/kess/index.php.en , which provides both stipend and tuition fees. For more information on project details please contact supervisors Prof. Paul Spencer and Dr Andrew Buchan.

For any queries relating to the KESS 2 funding contact Dr Penny Dowdney : [Email Address Removed]

To apply please send a CV and covering letter in the first instance to both [Email Address Removed] and [Email Address Removed] by September 16th. 2016.

Start date will be October 1st. 2016 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships (KESS) is a pan-Wales higher level skills initiative led by Bangor University on behalf of the HE sector in Wales. It is part funded by the Welsh Government’s European Social Fund (ESF) convergence programme for West Wales and the Valleys.