Hydrogen-Ammonia combustion enhances Ammonia's relatively poor combustion performance, allowing for faster burning, more stable flames, without carbon emissions associated with hydrocarbon fuels. As a carrier, NH3, mitigates against potential risk associated with H2 storage. However, H2/NH3 combustion produces pollutants (e.g., NOx, unburned NH3), requiring careful tuning of mixture ratios and operating conditions to optimise fuel-economy/emissions.
This research will analyse, through Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS), behaviour of turbulent premixed H2/NH3-air flames under swirl conditions (used in gas turbine engines for stabilising flames). This will contribute to the development of lower-emission, higher-efficiency technologies across propulsion and power-generation sectors. Pollution regulations have increased the need for low-emission combustion. In premixed-combustion, the maximum flame temperature can be determined from the composition and temperature of the homogeneous mixture which directly affects the flame thermochemistry and resultant temperature field. Therefore, pollutants can be controlled by determining an optimal reactant mixture composition.
This project will generate a DNS database of H2/NH3-air premixed flames for different flow conditions and reactant mixtures. The DNS database will be analysed, through data-driven approaches including Machine-Learning and AI, to gain insight into turbulent H2/NH3-air premixed flames under swirl conditions. These insights will be used to develop Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models for H2/NH3-air premixed flames that will be implemented into an open-source CFD solver which can be used in design and optimisation of future energy-generation devices.
Applicant Eligibility
Candidates will have, or be due to obtain, a master’s degree or equivalent from a reputable university in a relevant subject OR a First in a relevant bachelor’s degree.
Important Application Process
Candidates wishing to apply should email n0mescdt@ljmu.ac.uk, to request the N0MES CDT expression of interest form to be returned with:
- degree certificates and transcripts
- an up-to-date CV
- two academic references together with their contact information
- a supporting statement [one page of A4] detailing what inspired you to apply for this project, how your skill set matches this specific project, up to 3 examples showing your commitment to science, an example of science that excites you and any further information that you think will support your application
Once your application will be assessed successful candidates will be formally invited to apply.
Please use the following as the email subject title: PhD Studentship at the N0MES CDT. Good luck!
Funding Notes
Studentships pay a maintenance grant for 4 years, starting at the UKRI minimum of £20,780 per annum for 2025-2026 and cover full home UK tuition fees (plus EU , EAA settled *see note below). The studentship also comes with access to additional funding in the form of a research training support grant which is available to fund conference attendance, fieldwork, internships etc.
References
LJMU Co-Ordinator, Dr Tasos Georgoulas A.Georgoulas@ljmu.ac.uk Applications nomescdt@ljmu.av.uk
