PhD Studentship: Aeroelastic Analysis of Multi-rotor Wind Turbines

The project:

The focus of this project is on the novel and exciting concept of multi-rotor wind turbines; a new design paradigm for wind energy, that is attracting an increasing amount of attention, as one can note by the recent interest in twin-rotor turbines (https://www.offshorewind.biz/2024/07/15/mingyang-launches-twin-rotor-v-shaped-floating-wind-turbine-platform/), and the funding awarded to wind catching system for the development of a 40 MW multi-rotor wind turbines, made of 40x1MW rotors (Link https://www.offshorewind.biz/2025/01/28/norway-grants-eur-100-million-to-deploy-multi-turbine-windcatcher-tech/ , https://www.windcatching.com/ ).

Multi-rotor (MR) wind turbines house multiple rotors on a single support platform, which is believed to provide a wide range of techno-economic benefits over conventional single-rotor designs. However, MR technology is still in its infancy, and hence many interesting research and engineering questions remain to be answered to demonstrate the true potential of this technology. This is exactly what this PhD project is about. Depending on your interests and skills, you will be working on one or more of the following research challenges:

• Using fluid structure interaction methods and/or wind tunnel experiments to understand and quantify the aerodynamic and aeroelastic effects caused by rotors operating in close proximity to each other’s.
• Understand what the new concept of MR technology means for the production, operation, and maintenance of wind turbines, and how this will translate in changes in Capital and Operational Expenditure (CAPEX & OPEX) --- key economical aspect to the technology.
• Study the techno-economic trade-offs of MR technology by designing and performing aero-servo-elastic analysis of MR wind turbines with various number of rotors and power rating. Culminating with the design of an open source benchmark MR wind turbines.

How to apply:

Please make an online application for this project at http://www.bris.ac.uk/pg-howtoapply. Please select <programme title> on the Programme Choice page. You will be prompted to enter details of the studentship in the Funding and Research Details sections of the form.

Candidate requirements:  Applicants must hold/achieve a minimum of a merit at master’s degree level (or international equivalent) in a science, mathematics or engineering discipline. Applicants without a master's qualification may be considered on an exceptional basis, provided they hold a first-class undergraduate degree. Please note, acceptance will also depend on evidence of readiness to pursue a research degree.

If English is not your first language, you need to meet this profile level: Profile E. Further information about English language requirements and profile levels.

Additionally, applicants should, at minimum, be able to demonstrate proficiency in three of the items in the following list:

-         Fluent programmer (e.g., python or other)

-         Fundamental of finite element analysis and experience with FEA software

-         Fundamental of computational fluid dynamics, and experience with CFD software

-         Methods for design & optimisation

-         Computer assisted design and prototyping,

-         Experience with experimental structural / aerodynamic testing

-         Experience with wind turbine analysis and modelling methods

Funding: 3.5 year Scholarship - minimum tax-free stipend at the current UKRI rate (for 2025/26 standard stipend is £20,780, RTSG £7,000, full Tuition Fee covered) / 4 year University Scholarship - Minimum tax-free stipend at the current UKRI rate (for 2025/26 standard stipend is £20,780, RTSG £8,400, full Tuition Fee covered).

Contacts: Dr Macquart - terence.macquart@bristol.ac.uk 

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