PhD Scholarship in Multi-phase Process Unit based upon Green Pipe (2021 Feb Entry)

• Tuition fee
• Monthly stipend (RMB4,500)
• Medical insurance with designated providers
• All above items are covered for up to 36 months based on satisfactory progression
• All regulations set out in the UNNC PGR Scholarship Policy apply

In addition to the above scholarship, successful candidates also have the opportunity to carry out paid teaching (after the completion of Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) training) or research assistant duties at UNNC since second year of their PhD programmes.

The above scholarship is to support research projects outlined under the following themes:

GreenPipe – a novel process unit for multiphase flows

Previous work demonstrated that the GreenPipe process unit is able to locally generate a vortex core downstream of the unit, resulting in enhanced radial mixing and a high level of kinetic momentum.

We believe that incorporating a GreenPipe at various strategic positions in a tubular reactor, may enhance mixing, heat and mass transfer axially and radially thus improving chemical reaction rates over the complete tubular reactor.

In addition to tubular reactors, GreenPipe may also be applicable in helical coiled tube heat exchangers leading to improved heat and mass transfer due to enhancing the angular momentum near to the tube wall.

Yet another potential application of GreenPipe is in the cleaning of membranes in ultrafiltration systems. Ultrafiltration requires regular cleaning through a backwash cycle. The PhD work of Ogunbiyi (University of Nottingham, 2007) showed explicitly that swirling flows encouraged scouring of the membrane surface increasing cleaning intensity and decreasing downtime. Again the impact of the strategic placement of a GreenPipe in a variety of ultrafiltration, nano filtration and reverse osmosis units will be explored.

The above are some examples where GreenPipe may have a positive impact and is worthy of in-depth investigations. This PhD programme will be blend of modelling work and validation through laboratory and pilot scale experimental facilities.

 Informal inquiries may be addressed to Prof. Nick Miles nick.miles@nottingham.edu.cn or Dr Zheng Wang zheng.wang@nottingham.edu.cn, but formal applications should follow the instructions in ‘How to apply’ section. Please specify 2003GCT_NM2 as scholarship reference code when submitting application.

PhD programmes at the UNNC are composed of 3 years research and a 1 year thesis pending period for full time PhDs. Full time PhDs are expected to submit their theses within a maximum of four years from initial registration. PhD supervision is undertaken jointly by academics from the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) and the University of Nottingham UK (UNUK). On successful completion, students will be awarded the University of Nottingham PhD degree, and no reference will be made on the degree certificate as to where the degree has been completed. The University of Nottingham PhD degree will be accredited by the Chinese Ministry of Education.

Applicants must have a first class honours undergraduate degree or 65% and above for a Masters’ degree from a British university, or the equivalent from other institutions.

Applicants must meet the required English language proficiency for the relevant subject area. IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in all elements) or its equivalent is required for Faculty of Science and Engineering (FoSE) scholarship applicants.

More details can be found on the ‘entry requirements’ page of the website.

No separate application is required for applying for a scholarship but please make sure you quote the scholarship reference number in your PhD application form. It normally takes 7-8 weeks for a final decision to be made after the closing date. List of required documents can be found on the ‘how to apply’ page.