PhD Studentship: Multiphase and Reactive Flows in Natural Materials: Applications in Geosciences

Fluids moving through materials like sandstone can dissolve or precipitate solids as they travel, with an ease that depends on the size and connectivity of its pores. In natural porous materials, like sandstone, salts and other minerals can react to clog or dissolve pores. This process of “reactive transport” is controlled by the feedback between fluid flow and the alteration of transport properties. It is relevant to subsurface flows of sequestered CO2, storage of H2, as well as biofouling of filters, flows in bioreactors, and the movement and precipitation of salts in built structures. In all these applications, while alteration happens at the scale of micron-sized pores, its impact is felt at scales of metres and above, and involves the interplay of trillions of pores.

Specifically, the alteration and damage caused by this type of reactive flow are behind several urgent and seemingly disparate challenges: subsurface storage of carbon, and the weathering of historic buildings. However, the overarching difficulty is the same in each case: upscaling predictions from the lab to the application scale.

This project takes a physically-grounded approach to develop a modelling platform. This platform, based on a computationally-efficient pore-network approach, aiming to accurately perform this upscaling, will be trained and validated by laboratory mock-ups and in-situ measurements. Beyond CCS, the expected findings from this project will advance other applications in which multiphase and reactive flows are key, including geothermal energy, and underground radioactive waste and hydrogen storage.

We seek a highly-talented, motivated, and open-minded candidate, with background in geosciences, fluid physics, or a related discipline. Experience with computer simulations as well as experiments is highly desirable. This studentship is linked with an EPSRC-funded project involving the British Geological Survey, IDAEA-CSIC and University of Barcelona.

Please contact Dr. Holtzman to discuss further details and apply.

Entry criteria for applicants to PhD 

• A bachelor’s (honours) degree in a relevant discipline/subject area with a minimum classification of 2:1 and a minimum mark of 60% in the project element (or equivalent), or an equivalent award from an overseas institution.
  PLUS 
• the potential to engage in innovative research and to complete the PhD within 3.5 years
• An adequate proficiency in English must be demonstrated by applicants whose first language is not English. The general requirement is a minimum overall IELTS Academic score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each of the four sections, or the TOEFL iBT test with a minimum overall score of 95 with a minimum of 21 in each of the four sections

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