Chemical Engineering

This industrial focussed project will generate fundamental insights into the propagation of smouldering combustion. Timber and bio-based materials are increasingly found in applications within the built environment and industrial systems. It is therefore increasingly important that engineers understand the hazards that they present. While the flaming combustion (and extinction) of timber is relatively well understood, smouldering of solid wood has been less extensively studied. Smouldering combustion is a slow, low-temperature, flameless form of combustion. It can occurs in porous materials like peat, biomass, and polymer foams which form a carbon rich char when heated. Unlike flaming combustion which occurs in the gas phase, the combustion reaction of smouldering occurs on the surface of the solid. Smouldering plays an important role in our understanding of problems in wildfires (loss of organic soils, release of carbon), and engineered systems (e.g. soil remediation). This project will take an experimental approach to quantifying the processes underpinning smouldering propagation in timber and wood-based products. Of particular interest are evaluating the effect of parameters related to the wood (scale, grain orientation, moisture content) and the environmental variables (oxidiser flow and composition). The goal of this project is to measure the smouldering rates for large (~0.5 m3) volumes of timber and to quantify the effect of boundary conditions, timber density, and grain direction on the rate of smouldering. This will be achieved through an experimental programme on a range of different specimens of timber. The experimental work may be accompanied by detailed material characterisation, study of the reaction mechanism and numerical modelling to interrogate the smouldering processes in more detail to advance fundamental understanding of this important fire process.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.firesaf.2020.103058 

https://doi.org/10.1016/0360-1285(85)90004-8 

https://publications.iafss.org/publications/fss/3/565/view/fss_3-565.pdf

This project will build upon existing work already performed at the University of Edinburgh’s Fire Research Centre. The project will utilise existing equipment as well as designing new apparatus on an as-needed basis. The project is entirely sponsored by Nuclear Transport Solutions. The student should expect the project to involve significant time in the Rushbrook Fire Laboratory as well as analysis of data and the development of underpinning analytical models.

The project is available to (UK+EU settled/pre-settled). The candidate must meet the English qualification requirements as described at: Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.

This project is fully funded for a home student (fees and stipend).

To qualify as a Home student, you must fulfil one of the following criteria:

• You are a UK student OR
• You are an EU student with settled/pre-settled status who also has 3 years residency in the UK/EEA/Gibraltar/Switzerland immediately before the start of your programme. International students are not eligible.

Further information and other funding options.

Dr Norbert Radacsi is a Senior Lecturer (US equivalent: Associate Professor) at The University of Edinburgh. He obtained his Ph.D. at the Delft University of Technology. Prior to his current position he was postdoctoral researcher at Purdue University and California Institute of Technology. He has pioneered a new type of 3D electrospinning technology. His interdisciplinary research includes areas of advancing electrospinning technology and bioprinting, developing wearable sensors and energy harvesters, and producing novel materials.

• Ph.D. Chemical Engineering/Materials Science - Delft University of Technology (2012)
• M.Sc. Physics - University of Debrecen (2006)

Postdoctoral training

• California Institute of Technology (2014-2015)
• Purdue University (2013-2014)
• Delft University of Technology (2012-2013)

• 2021 – date             Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
• 2016 – date             Member, American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)

• Nanomaterials in Chemical & Biomedical Engineering (course organiser)
• Process Safety and Environmental Issues in Chemical Engineering
• Chemical Engineering Laboratory 3
• Chemical Engineering Design: Project 4
• Chemical Engineering Study Project 4

My research interest lies in the application of nanotechnology to advance the engineering of new functional materials for medical applications.

• Electrospinning
• 3D/4D (bio)printing
• Tissue engineering
• Sensing

The Radacsi group is looking for talented people all year around! Send you CV to Dr Radacsi, if you are interested in joining the group.

https://www.radacsigroup.co.uk