Deposition prevention for future power stations – an international collaboration with US

The concern over the environment impact of burning fossil fuels for power generation and fluctuations in the fuel price have led to the power plants increasingly using variable fuels and biomass. Some of these fuels often have very different chemical compositions and can cause severe deposition inside the combustion furnace and this can potentially lead to a substantial reduction in the efficiency of the boiler and unscheduled boiler shutdown. This has become a significant operational constraint for existing power stations to expand their range of fuel diet. Thus predicting deposition and slagging propensity is of vital importance to power plants running new fuels.

This PhD studentship will support the research on particulate behaviours of new fuels and develop novel predictive models for slagging and fouling in industrial furnaces. The project will be built on existing research, which has previously been carried out for many years by the Sheffield team, with the measurement data from the national PACT facilities and in collaboration with Electric Power Research Insatiate in the US.

Potential applicants should have, or are expecting to obtain in the near future, a first class honours degree in engineering, mathematics, or science. The studentship is open to UK/EU candidates only and therefore the successful candidates should fulfil the eligibility criteria for EPSRC funding through UK nationality and/or residency status.

The research work will be based in the Energy 2050 initiative, the Department of Mechanical Engineering, to develop world-leading activity in energy research. The student will be working within an exciting and dynamic group with approximately 40 PhD researchers and over 12 postdoctoral research fellows undertaking a broad area of energy research with strong links to industry.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering has been a major discipline in the University since its foundation in 1905. The Research Excellence Framework (REF, December 2014) placed the Department within the Top 5 for Mechanical Engineering in the UK.

For further information please contact Professor Derek Ingham ([Email Address Removed])