Research Fellow in Integrated Concentrated Solar Power - Pyrolysis

Location:This role will primarily be based the the University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK but will involve occasional visits to Kuwait

Job Purpose

Due to the fast-economic development and urbanization, municipal solid waste (MSW) management has become a big challenge in Kuwait. Landfill sites are posing huge risks to public health and environmental issues due to released toxins, leachate and greenhouse gases. In order to protect the environment and land resources in Kuwait, sustainable processes for MSW treatment are essential.

This project brings together a team of experts in waste thermal treatment, process engineering and solar energy from the University of Birmingham, Aston University and the Kuwait Institute of Scientific Research (KISR) in Kuwait to demonstrate the benefit of using solar energy to convert MSW to products to promote sustainable waste management in Kuwait. The aim is to divert waste from landfill, and add economic value by producing energy and chemicals from the waste.

The role will involve the design of an integrated concentrated solar power (CSP) driven pyrolysis process. Process design software will be used to design and simulate the integrated process and assess the CSP configuration incorporating data from experimental work. Heat flow and other parameters will be modelled to arrive at a reactor configuration and system design while optimising the original intended use of CSP as well as achieving pyrolysis. In conjunction with the research team you will also assess the economics and LCA of the process along with the supply chain and identify suitable sites.

The candidate will be responsible for the assisting the team in the delivery of the research as summarised above and as specified in the grant proposal. Specifically the candidate will:

• Plan and conduct own and individual research
• Collect, analyse and interpret experimental and theoretical data and integrate data into appropriate simulation models
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods especially toward the simulation of a hybridconcentrated solar power-pyrolysis processes which develops new intellectual understanding
• Present research outputs to the research team, including drafting reports and publications or parts thereof.
• Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars, posters etc
• Co-organise workshops with the project team in the UK and in Kuwait and interact with stakeholders at such events.
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline
• Undertake management/administration arising from research to ensure effective and timely delivery of the research and achievement of milestones
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
• Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader
• Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding

Person Specification

• First degree in either chemical engineering, process engineering, mechanical engineering and hold or be close to achieving a PhD relevant to thermal processing and/or concentrated solar power.
• High level of process simulation experience and the use of simulation software (e.g. Aspen, Pro II, SAM).
• Experience of designing and operating experiments is also advantageous as a lab-scale hybrid unit may be developed.
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly across the project team and to external stakeholders.
• Fluency in interpreting and transferring experimental data into software models and the ability to contribute to developing new ones
• Knowledge of LCA and economics
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes especially reporting and meeting deliverable deadlines.
• Contribute to the planning and organising of the research work packages and programme
• Co-ordinate own work with other members of the project team to avoid conflict or duplication of effort
• Experience of working across multi-disciplinary teams

Closing Date: 17 Apr 2019

Additional Information

Informal enquiries can be made to Prof Gary Leeke; G.A.Leeke@bham.ac.uk