Research Fellow in Cryogenic Heat Transfer

Job Purpose

Applications are invited for a research fellow position to undertake a specified range of activities within the area of cryogenic heat transfer and experimental thermal science. The focus of the research is on the use of coating technology to enhance heat transfer in cryogenic heat exchangers. The fellow will therefore undertake collaborative research aiming to perform, validate and analyze fluid flow and heat transfer experiments using liquid nitrogen/liquid air as heat transfer fluid into coated/uncoated channels.

The successful candidate will be based at University of Birmingham, within the Birmingham Centre for Energy Storage (BCES) – a multidisciplinary centre involving researchers from material science, engineering, computational physics and economics.
The project is funded by Innovate UK and will be carried out in close collaboration with Oxford Nanosystems Ltd – an innovative UK company leader in nanocoatings for heat transfer and energy applications. Therefore, the fellow will have the opportunity to work closely with both international academics and the industrial partner.

Candidates should have a strong background in fluid flow and heat transfer, experimental methods for thermal measurements, cryogenic heat transfer, heat transfer enhancement. Therefore, candidates with track record and research interest in the following research areas are encouraged to apply:

• Experimental fluid flow & heat transfer
• Data analysis
• Cryogenic engineering
• Test rig set up and development

The post holder should have: a degree in relevant engineering/science disciplines and demonstrable expertise within the areas related to the main research duties; a strong background fluid flow and heat transfer and experience in cryogenic engineering. Experience in computational fluid dynamics would be advantageous.

 

Person Specification

1. Degree in mechanical engineering/chemical engineering/energy engineering or science discipline closely related to the main duties Essential
2. Strong background in heat transfer, mass transfer, fluid flow Essential
3. A strong capability in experimental heat transfer, mass transfer, fluid flow Essential
4. Demonstrable track record in the areas closely related to the main research duties Essential
5. Ability to communicate and present complex information Essential
7. Ability to use computational packages such as, for example, Fluent. Desirable
9. Basic knowledge of liquid air energy storage systems Desirable