Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Modelling & Experimental Validation of Intrusion-Extrusion & LAES-CAE

Position Details

Department: Chemical Engineering

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £30,942 to £40,322, with potential progression once in post to £42,792

Grade 7

Full Time

Fixed term contract for up to 24 months

Job Description

There are two major aspects for the role:

• To simulate (mechanical + thermal)-to-electrical energy conversion via nanotriboelectrification during a non-wetting liquid intrusion-extrusion process with an appropriate software package; to experimentally validate the modelling in collaboration with the project team; and to assist the project team and relevant collaborators to experimentally demonstrate this process at both device and system levels under lab and real application conditions.
• To develop integrated thermal and air-based energy storage systems; to simulate and optimise the systems for an enhanced efficiency and a reduced cost while minimising carbon emission; to work with project team and relevant collaborators to design, construct and test the optimised systems, and to validate the modelling.

This is a post with approximately 70% of effort on modelling and 30% on experimental validation. It is for 2 years funded by the EU H2020 under a FET Proactive programme and an industrial project.

Main Duties

The main responsibilities will include:

Technical responsibilities:

• To simulate (mechanical + thermal)-to-electrical energy conversion via nanotriboelectrification during a non-wetting liquid intrusion-extrusion process with an appropriate software package; to collaborate with the project team to experimentally validate the modelling; and to work with project team and relevant collaborators to experimentally demonstrate this process at both device and system levels under lab and real application conditions.
• To develop integrated thermal and air-based energy storage systems; to simulate and optimise the systems for an enhanced efficiency and a reduced cost while minimising carbon emission; to work with project team and relevant collaborators to design, construct and test the optimised systems, and to validate the modelling.

Other responsibilities:

• To interact with both academic and industrial collaborators in the project teams, and build internal & external contacts and networks;
• To help with training graduate students and other group members who are working on similar areas;
• To write grant proposals and journal and conference publications;
• To organise review meetings, seminars and conferences;
• To supervise students' projects at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels;
• To assist supervisors to train researchers and students new to the laboratories and to ensure the laboratories meet health and safety requirements.

Person Specification

• A first degree in relevant science/engineering discipline, and a PhD (or near to completion) or equivalent experiences in areas related to the main research responsibilities outlined above (Essential)
• A high-level understanding of energy system integration and optimisation, particularly with thermal and air-based energy storage (Essential);
• A high-level understanding of thermodynamics and transport phenomena in thermal-mechanical-electrical conversion, and thermal and air-based energy storage (Essential)
• Demonstrable hands-on experiences in multiscale CFD modelling involving thermal-mechanical-electrical conversion, and thermal and air-based energy storage at both device and system levels (Essential);
• Experiences in design, construction, and operation of thermal and air-based energy storage systems (Desirable)
• A good level of understanding of electrical engineering (Desirable)
• A good level understanding of compressors, expanders, pumps, heat exchangers, and air purification and separation devices (Desirable)
• A good level understanding of process monitoring and control (Desirable)
• An ability to communicate complex information clearly (Essential);
• An ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively (Desirable)

Experiences in electrical energy system, electrical vehicle CAN bus control system, automotive shock-absorbers, and thermal energy storage materials and devices would be an advantage.

Informal enquires to Yulong Ding - y.ding@bham.ac.uk

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