PhD project: Resilient Processes of Nuclear Fusion Plant Maintenance and Decommissioning using Robotic Technologies

University of Nottingham; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Nottingham invites applications for a postgraduate research project focused on robotics-enabled maintenance and decommissioning of a nuclear fusion plant. The work will develop risk assessment methods, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches, with a strong emphasis on remote robotics for inspection and repair.

The project welcomes UK/EU/overseas students and information on funding is available at the university's postgraduate funding page.

Qualifications

• 1st class degree in engineering, maths or a relevant discipline.
• Masters level qualification preferred for consideration.

Responsibilities

• Develop qualitative and quantitative risk assessment techniques for robotics-based maintenance and decommissioning in a nuclear fusion context.
• Identify system failure modes and contributing elements in mission success; model threats and their effects under uncertainty.
• Explore process recovery and restoration strategies under varying conditions.

Education

First class degree in engineering, maths or a relevant discipline

Masters level preferred

Job description

Supervised by Rasa Remenyte-Prescott (Faculty of Engineering)

Aim: To develop a modelling approach for nuclear fusion plant maintenance and decommissioning processes

More than 80% of the world’s energy still comes from fossil fuels. Climate change and diminishing fuel reserves mean that it is becoming essential to find alternative, sustainable technologies to supply a growing global population. With no greenhouse gas emissions, inherent safety features and virtually limitless fuels, nuclear fusion has a key role to play in the energy market of the future. Major projects, like ITER in France and STEP in the UK, are providing potential avenues for solutions of this clean, abundant, and safe energy. Robotics and remotely operated tools are a fundamental part of operating fusion power plants, therefore, a fusion power plant must be designed to be inspected, maintained, and upgraded remotely using robots.

This exciting project will focus on different qualitative and quantitative risk assessment techniques, considering their suitability for risk analysis of the robotics-based maintenance and/or decommissioning of a nuclear fusion plant. System failure modes and contributing elements in success of a mission will be identified and analysed, followed by modelling a variety of threats and their effects on the mission, as well process recovery and restoration under uncertainty.

Summary: Open to UK/EU/overseas students. Look for funding sources at www.nottingham.ac.uk/pgstudy/funding/postgraduate-funding.aspx

Entry Requirements: Starting October 2027, we require an enthusiastic graduate with a 1st class degree in engineering, maths or a relevant discipline, preferably at Masters level (in exceptional circumstances a 2:1 degree can be considered).

For any enquiries about the project please email Rasa Remenyte-Prescott ([e-mail])