Experimental investigation of passive natural circulation cooling for Generation IV nuclear reactors

Natural circulation loops (NCL) will be an essential component in the safe and reliable operation of Generation III+ and IV nuclear reactor designs, including High Temperature Gas-Cooled reactors (HTGR), Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR), Lead-Cooled Fast Reactors (LFR) and Molten-Salt Reactors (MSR). Despite conceptual simplicity, NCLs are highly susceptible to instabilities, producing a wide and complex range of flow behaviours. This challenges the design and substantiation of such systems. A new and versatile experimental facility has been developed by the Thermo-Fluids group at the University of Manchester, which, for the first time, can produce detailed, instantaneous mass flow, thermal, pressure and flow field data over a range of aspect ratios, heating and cooling arrangements and/or cooling fluids.

The objective of this PhD project is to employ the above-described experimental setup of a natural convection loop with water as the cooling fluid. For a range of operating conditions, the student will use a variety of diagnostic and measurement techniques (ranging from thermocouples to particle image velocimetry) to map the flow and thermal behaviour. Analysis of these data will further advance current understanding of the flow features and behaviours which develop within NCLs and provide highly valuable validation data for the development of effective and efficient simulation tools.

The student will be supervised by a group of experts in nuclear thermal hydraulics experiments and modelling from the University of Manchester and research engineers from the EDF Energy R&D centre in the UK.

Eligibility

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s (or international equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering related discipline.

This project is suitable for Engineering or Physics graduates with a strong background in Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer. The work will involve the use of flow diagnostics techniques and post-processing algorithms. It will also require the development of good programming skills (Python/MATLAB or similar), good communication skills, the ability to work independently, and a willingness to engage with industrial partners.

Funding

This 3.5 year project is co-funded by EDF UK R&D and The University of Manchester. A full scholarship, which will cover tuition fees and provide an annual tax-free stipend in line with the UKRI rate (£20,780 for 2025/26), is available only to applicants who qualify for UK Home student status.

Before you apply

We strongly recommend that you contact the supervisors for this project before you apply. Please include details of your current level of study, academic background and any relevant experience and include a paragraph about your motivation to study this PhD project.

How to apply

Apply online through our website: https://uom.link/pgr-apply-2425

When applying, you’ll need to specify the full name of this project, the name of your supervisor, if you already have funding or if you wish to be considered for available funding through the university, details of your previous study, and names and contact details of two referees.

Your application will not be processed without all of the required documents submitted at the time of application, and we cannot accept responsibility for late or missed deadlines. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

After you have applied you will be asked to upload the following supporting documents:

• Final Transcript and certificates of all awarded university level qualifications
• Interim Transcript of any university level qualifications in progress
• CV
• Supporting statement: A one or two page statement outlining your motivation to pursue postgraduate research and why you want to undertake postgraduate research at Manchester, any relevant research or work experience, the key findings of your previous research experience, and techniques and skills you’ve developed. (This is mandatory for all applicants and the application will be put on hold without it).
• Contact details for two referees (please make sure that the contact email you provide is an official university/work email address as we may need to verify the reference)
• English Language certificate (if applicable)

If you have any questions about making an application, please contact our admissions team by emailing FSE.doctoralacademy.admissions@manchester.ac.uk.

Equality, diversity and inclusion is fundamental to the success of The University of Manchester, and is at the heart of all of our activities. We know that diversity strengthens our research community, leading to enhanced research creativity, productivity and quality, and societal and economic impact.

We actively encourage applicants from diverse career paths and backgrounds and from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation and transgender status.