Waste Hydrogen Explosion Management in Decommissioning Nuclear Facilities

The long-term storage of spent fuel, raw waste, final products and decommissioning provide scenarios across the NDA estate where hydrogen is a significant concern. There are many instances where hydrogen generated from nuclear waste (via radiolysis or chemical reaction) are collected in silos, vessels, containers or pipes at NDA estate sites. Mixed with air, these have the potential to ignite and result in damaging overpressures via deflagration or detonation. Hydrogen explosions generally start as a deflagration but can transition to detonation (DDT) with destructive effects. In decommissioning and storage scenarios it is hard to justify a complete absence of ignition sources. It is therefore necessary to evaluate ignitability of non-standard hydrogen-air mixtures. Further, if the ignition consequences can be justified to be low or can be mitigated it can lead to effective decommissioning strategies. As NDA estate goes into decommissioning and long term storage new challenges in managing hydrogen are being met where being able to underpin the reduction in conservatisms can lead to better informed safety cases which will reduce complexity, cost and timescales at Sellafield, Dounreay and Magnox sites. Therefore, hydrogen management becomes of paramount importance to spent fuel storage, raw waste storage and decommissioning scenarios. The proposed work aims to evaluate ignitability of a range of hydrogen-air mixtures, and obtain a greater understanding of Deflagration-to-Detonation mechanism of these mixtures. This is urgently needed for UK nuclear waste disposal sites, e.g. Sellafield Ltd., where hydrogen explosion is a significant safety concern in the decommissioning and storage scenarios. <br /> <br /> We are looking for an enthusiastic graduate with 1st class honours or a 2:1 in an Engineering, Materials Science or related discipline, for a 4-year funded joint PhD, as part of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Skills And Training Underpinning a Renaissance in Nuclear (SATURN). You will join the the School of Mechanical Engineering. As part of one of the most prominent nuclear research groups in the UK, you will have access to world leading research facilities in the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, as well as the opportunity to undertake an industrial research placement with the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL).<br />

<p><a href="https://eps.leeds.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering">School of Mechanical Engineering</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.saturn-nuclear-cdt.manchester.ac.uk/">EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Skills And Training Underpinning a Renaissance in Nuclear (SATURN) </a></p> <p> </p>

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Formal applications for research degree study should be made online through the University's website. Please state clearly in the Planned Course of Study section that you are applying for <em><strong>EPSRC CDT SATURN – Nuclear Science and Engineering,</strong></em> in the research information section that the research degree you wish to be considered for is <em><strong>Sequestration of metals from legacy ponds using artificial corals </strong></em>as well as <a href="https://eps.leeds.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/staff/1325/dr-junfeng-yang">Dr  Junfeng Yang</a> and <a href="https://eps.leeds.ac.uk/chemical-engineering/staff/51/dr-herodotos-phylaktou">Dr Herodotos Phylaktou</a> as your proposed supervisor and <em><strong>in the finance section, please state clearly that the funding source you are applying for is EPSRC CDT SATURN</strong></em>.</p> <p>If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements (below).</p> <p><em>As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education. Across all Faculties we are dedicated to diversifying our community and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community, people who identify as LGBT+ and people with disabilities. Applicants will always be selected based on merit and ability.</em></p> <p>Applications will be considered after the closing date.  Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the supervisors for an informal discussion before making a formal application.  We also advise that you apply at the earliest opportunity as the application and selection process may close early, should we receive a sufficient number of applications or that a suitable candidate is appointed.</p> <p>Please note that you must provide the following documents in support of your application by the closing date of Friday 28 February 2025:</p> <ul> <li>Full Transcripts of all degree study or if in final year of study, full transcripts to date</li> <li>Personal Statement outlining your interest in the project</li> <li>CV</li> </ul>

Applicants to research degree programmes should normally have at least a first class or an upper second class British Bachelors Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline. The criteria for entry for some research degrees may be higher, for example, several faculties, also require a Masters degree. Applicants are advised to check with the relevant School prior to making an application. Applicants who are uncertain about the requirements for a particular research degree are advised to contact the School or Graduate School prior to making an application.

The minimum English language entry requirement for research postgraduate research study is an IELTS of 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid. Some schools and faculties have a higher requirement.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A highly competitive <a href="https://www.saturn-nuclear-cdt.manchester.ac.uk/">EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Skills And Training Underpinning a Renaissance in Nuclear (SATURN) </a>studentship, providing full academic fees, together with a tax-free maintenance grant at the standard UKRI rate (£19,237 in academic session 2024/25) per year for 4 years.  Training and support will also be provided.<br /> <br /> This opportunity is open to UK applicants only. All candidates will be placed into the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in SATURN Studentship Competition and selection is based on academic merit.</p> <p>Please refer to the <a href="https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/">UKCISA</a> website for information regarding Fee Status for Non-UK Nationals.</p>

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">For further information about this project, please contact Dr Junfeng Yang by email to <a href="mailto:J.Yang@leeds.ac.uk">J.Yang@leeds.ac.uk</a></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">For further information about your application, please contact PGR Admissions by email to <a href="mailto:phd@engineering.leeds.ac.uk">phd@engineering.leeds.ac.uk</a></p>