UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM RECRUITMENT ROLE PROFILE FORM

Job Title: Research Fellow in Fluidized Bed Combustion

School/Department: Faculty of Engineering

Salary: £28,695 - £37,394 per annum, depending on skills and experience. Salary progression beyond this scale is subject to performance

Job Family and Level: R&T Level 4

Contract Status: This post is available from 1 July 2015 and will be offered on a fixed term contract of 24 months

Hours of Work: Full time

Location: University Park Campus & Jubilee Campus

Reporting to: Dr Hao Liu, Dr Chenggong Sun, Prof Colin Snape

Purpose of the New Role:

Recently, the University of Nottingham-led consortium had been awarded EPSRC funding to research ‘Ultra-Supercritical (USC) steam power generation technology with Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB): Combustion, Materials and Modelling (USC-CFB-CMM)’ (http://gow.epsrc.ac.uk/NGBOViewGrant.aspx?GrantRef=EP/M01536X/1). This large consortium project aims to maximize the benefits of USC/CFB in terms of power generation efficiency, fuel flexibility including biomass and integration with CO2 capture by conducting research that addresses the key challenges in combustion, materials and modelling. The post holder will undertake the combustion-focused research tasks scheduled for University of Nottingham.

Main Responsibilities % time per year

1. To conduct laboratory-scale fluidized bed combustion tests burning a range of 60% biomass and waste-derived fuels both under conventional air combustion and oxy-fuel combustion conditions; to characterise fuel, ash and bed materials samples using both conventional analytical equipment (e.g. TGA) and advanced materials characterisation techniques (e.g. XRD, XRF); to complete the design to modify the existing laboratory-scale Bubbling Fluidized Bed (BFB) combustor to a laboratory-scale CFB combustor 2. To assist materials-focused Research Fellow working on the same project to 10% install, monitor and test materials corrosion probes/specimens within various regions of BFB/CFB combustors 3. To assist University of Warwick’s research team working on the same project 10% to develop mathematical models of USC/CFB boilers 4. To disseminate research results through publishing research papers in high 10% impact factor peer-reviewed journals, delivering oral/poster presentations at project meetings and national/international workshops/conferences where appropriate 5. To assist the Principal Investigator of the project to co-ordinate combustion- 5% focused research activities at laboratory-scale (@University of Nottingham) and pilot-scale (@University of Sheffield) 6. To co-supervise taught course students (both undergraduate and postgraduate 5% students) who are doing individual/group research projects related to fluidized bed combustion within the research group 6. Any other duties appropriate to the grade and role. Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications & Experience

Essential Desirable Qualifications/ PhD or equivalent in areas relevant to PhD or equivalent in areas Education power plant engineering, energy and relevant to solid fuel combustion fuels. and/or high temperature fluidized beds Skills/Training Good laboratory skills on basic Skills in designing and operating analysis and characterisation of fuel, high temperature combustion ash and bed materials. and/or fluidized bed rigs

Good understanding of solid fuel Skills in modelling steam-Rankine combustion, fluidized beds and cycle power plants and/or high steam-Rankine cycle power temperature fluidized bed generation systems.

Experience Practical operational experience with Specific skills in designing and combustion and/or high temperature operating solid fuel (coal, biomass fluidized bed testing facilities. or waste) fluidized bed combustion testing facilities.

Experience in conducting fuel analysis Experience in materials (proximate analysis, elemental characterisation (SEM, XRD analysis, Calorimetry, TGA). and/or XRF etc.).

Experience in delivering presentations Relevant postdoctoral research at national/international consortium experience. meetings, workshops or conferences.

Experience in publishing research Experience in writing grant results in high impact factor peer- proposals. reviewed journals (a minimum of three published/accepted SCI-journal papers over the past three years). Personal Good organisation skills. Self-motivating and ability to attributes work with minimum supervision.

Good interpersonal skills and team Ability to take initiatives and working. make effective plans

Good written and verbal Ability to deliver according to communication skills. deadlines.

Decision Making i) taken independently by the role holder  Day-to-day research tasks’ management and organisation.  Decisions regarding experimental design, undertaking experiments and analysis of results.  Safe operating practices within laboratories.  Preparing draft reports, papers and presentations. ii) taken in collaboration with others  Maintenance of laboratory equipment and the fluidized bed combustion rig.  Design and modification of the fluidized bed combustion rig.  Purchase of small consumable items for experimentation.  Writing and submission of papers to academic journals/conferences, progress reports/presentations and grant applications. iii) referred to the appropriate line managers (Dr Hao Liu, Dr Chenggong Sun, Prof Colin Snape) by the role holder  Decisions affecting the long-term focus and direction of the research.  Interactions with industrial partners and other stakeholders than academic partners of the project  Purchase of larger items of consumables/equipment and repair/service of any equipment