Expires on: 01/10/2024
Description
Applications are invited for a PhD studentship in the Centre for Propulsion and Thermal Power Engineering, Cranfield University, in the area of gas turbine combustors.
The objective of this project is to investigate the design, performance and emissions characteristics of a novel hydrogen-fuelled, ultra-low NOx combustion system over an entire range of operating conditions. The analysis will be undertaken using multi-fidelity tools ranging from reduced order models to high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics (CFD).
During the EU Horizon 2020 ENABLEH2 project, Cranfield University conducted detailed numerical and experimental analyses on low-NOx H2 micromix combustion systems. For low NOx H2-micromix combustion systems, Cranfield University has:
- Established best practices for numerical simulations
- Assessed the impact of injector design parameters on flame interactions and NOx
- Demonstrated a hybrid manufacturing approach for intricate designs of fuel injectors
- Assessed performance and emissions in a high pressure and temperature combustion rig
- Demonstrated that low momentum flux ratio injector designs deliver the lowest NOx
- Demonstrated that they have lower risk of low frequency thermoacoustic instabilities than Jet A-1/SAF fuelled low NOx combustion systems, and that higher frequency modes may be relatively easily mitigated
- Demonstrated that altitude relight may be easier relative to Jet A-1 fuelled combustion systems
- Derived a reduced order NOx emissions prediction correlation for aircraft mission-level assessments including aircraft trajectory and engine cycle optimisation
- Estimated that LH2-fuelled aircraft may deliver 40-60% reductions in mission NOx relative to their Jet A-1/SAF counterparts.
Requirements
Applicants should have a first or second-class UK honours degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering or a relevant area. An MSc degree and/or experience in combustion, heat transfer, gas turbine performance, and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) will be an advantage.
Funding
A fully funded PhD studentship to cover both tuition fees and stipend (£1,550 per month) for three years will be available for both UK and non-UK/international candidates.