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Modelling and management of distribution networks using high-resolution synchronised measurements |
Dr Sasa Djokic
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Energy Systems |
This project will develop improved methodologies and tools for assessing and providing more detailed information on complex system-user interactions, which will be further implemented in an integrated framework for system state identification, system or plant/component condition assessment and evaluation of the overall system performance (all currently performed in a number of separate studies).
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Fire Safety of Modern Timber Infrastructure |
Dr Rory Hadden
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Infrastructure and Environment |
Exposed structural timber elements within a compartment creates an additional fuel load which must be considered in design. This research focuses on quantifying this additional fuel load, and understanding conditions where after burnout of the compartment contents, the additional exposed timber may stop burning (auto-extinguish).
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Multi-scale analyses of wildland fire combustion processes |
Dr Rory Hadden
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Infrastructure and Environment |
Low intensity prescribed fires are often employed in forests and wildland in order to manage hazardous fuels, restore ecological function and historic fire regimes, and encourage the recovery of threatened and endangered species. Current predictive models used to simulate fire behavior during low-intensity prescribed fires (and wildfires) are empirically-based, simplistic, and fail to adequately predict fire outcomes because they do not account for variability in fuel characteristics and interactions with important meteorological variables. Experiments are being carried out at scales ranging from the fuel particle, to fuel bed, to field plot and stand scales, with an aim of better understanding how fuel consumption is related to the processes driving heat transfer, ignition and flame spread, and thermal degradation through flaming and smouldering combustion, at the scale of individual fuel particles and fuel layers. Focus is placed on how these processes, and thus fuel consumption, are affected by spatial variability in fuel particle type, fuel moisture status, bulk density, and horizontal and vertical arrangement of fuel components, as well as multi-scale atmospheric dynamics.
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Fire-fighting underventilated fires |
Dr Ricky Carvel
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Infrastructure and Environment |
Working with the fire brigades, and using a small-scale experimental apparatus to define appropriate fire-fighting responses to underventilated fires in sealed or partially sealed compartments.
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ThermaSMART |
Dr Prashant Valluri
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Integrated Micro and Nano Systems, Materials and Processes, Multiscale Thermofluids |
Project ThermaSMART is an international and intersectoral network of organisations working on a joint research programme in the area of phase-change cooling of high-power electronic devices.
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TRANSPACC - TRANSient operation of flexible Packings for Carbon Capture |
Dr Prashant Valluri
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Materials and Processes, Multiscale Thermofluids |
Power plants constitute one of the largest CO2 emitting sectors. With increased emphasis on abatement of emissions to meet the 2030 deadline set by the UK Committee on Climate Change, the power-plant sector is relying on CCS retrofits using post-combustion capture to clean up flue gases. However, despite the highly transient nature of power plant operation characterised by frequent shut-downs and start-ups (up to twice a day), the retrofits are currently designed for a constant base-load operation and hence cannot maintain even liquid distribution during unsteady loading.
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Liquid crystal lasers |
Dr Philip Hands
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Integrated Micro and Nano Systems |
Usually associated with display technology, liquid crystals also have many other applications and uses. In this research project we are developing liquid crystal lasers, capable of broad wavelength-tuning, multiple simultaneous colour emissions, and highly customisable outputs, all within a small, portable and low-cost architecture. We are also seeking to integrate liquid crystal lasers into new photonic systems and applications, such as biomedical imaging (e.g. fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry), digital holographic projection, and 2D & 3D displays.
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A novel diagnostic tool: from structural health monitoring to tissue quality prediction |
Dr Pankaj Pankaj
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Bioengineering |
As quality of life constantly improves, the average lifespan will continue to increase. The bad news is that tissue degradation due to wear and tear in an aged body is inevitable and is different from person to person. Fortunately recent advances in science and technology have enabled us to work towards personalised medicine. This project, by an interdisciplinary team from four different UK Universities (Liverpool, Heriot Watt, Durham and Edinburgh) with distinct areas of expertise, aims to predict patient-specific tissue quality which is essential in devising treatments plans. While our primary concern in this study is the bone tissue, the developed framework will apply to other tissues having porous or complex microstructure.
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Geobag Revetments for river bank reinforcement in Bangladesh |
Dr Martin Crapper
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Infrastructure and Environment |
This project aims at the production of guidelines for the safe design of revetments, which are often constructed manually by local farmers, with little engineering input.
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Community-Based Waste-Water Treatment in International Development |
Dr Martin Crapper
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Infrastructure and Environment |
A project, funded by PhD scholarships from the Islamic Development Bank and EPSRC (via the Doctoral Training Grants) is underway looking at the efficiency of meso-scale waste stabilization ponds to treat municipal waste water, with resource recovery from fish farming and selling sludge for fertilizer. The ultimate aim is to demonstrate systems that can be adpoted and run by communities, particularly in urban West Africa. The pilot project is based in Cotonou, Benin.
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