IMP Research Projects

Research Projects at the Institute for Materials and Processes (IMP). You can search keywords within Project Titles.

We also have a number of Materials and Processes PhD opportunities for postgraduate students looking to join the School.

Search keywords within Research Project titles
Titlesort descending Principal Supervisor Project Summary
Microwave Assisted Gas Separation

Prof Xianfeng Fan

CO2 Capture

Mixed Matrix Membranes for post combustion carbon capture of CO2

Dr Maria-Chiara Ferrari

Membrane processes are a promising alternative to the more classical post-combustion capture technologies due to the reduced maintenance of the process, the absence of dangerous solvents and their smaller footprint. This project aims at supporting the development of new mixed matrix membranes for post-combustion applications. Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) are composite materials formed by embedding inorganic fillers into a polymeric matrix in order to overcome the upper bound and combine the characteristics of the two solid phases: mechanical properties, economical processing capabilities and permeability of the polymer and selectivity of the filler. Despite several studies on the concept, the interactions between the two phases and their effect on the transport properties are not well understood. Yet, this fundamental knowledge is crucial in order to design the reliable materials needed for real-world-applications.

Modelling advanced adsorption processes for post-combustion capture

Prof Stefano Brandani

Carbon capture from power stations and industrial sources is an essential pillar in the effort of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in order to achieve the legally binding target set by the 2008 Climate Change Act of 80% reductions by 2050. The current state-of-the-art technologies for post-combustion capture (including retrofit options for existing plants) are based on amine scrubbers, but inherent energy requirements make this an expensive option and significant research is aimed at the development of next generation carbon capture processes that reduce the cost of capital equipment and the energy needed.

OFFGAS: OFFshore Gas Separation

Prof Stefano Brandani

Gas separations on offshore platforms are of increasing importance for the purification of natural gas and for the separation of CO2 used in enhanced oil recovery (EOR).

Particulate Materials Processing

Dr Xianfeng Fan

Bubbling fluidization has been widely applied in process industries, such as power generation from coal, renewable energy production, gasification and pyrolysis. In this study, we attempted to predict solid flow patterns, solid and gas mixing, bubble behaviour in a bubbling fluidized bed based on operational conditions and bed design.

Post-Combustion Carbon Capture Using MOFs: Materials and Process Development

Prof Stefano Brandani

The proposal aims to develop an international collaborative research programme under Topic 4 of the FENCO-NET call: New innovative CO2 capture technologies.

Powderblade (EU Project)

Conchur O Bradaigh

Powderblade was a collaboration of The University of Edinburgh, Eirecomposites Teo, Suzlon Energy and WestBIC. It was a research and development project that used novel engineering methods to modernise the way large wind turbine blades are manufactured and installed.

Pressure-Tuning Interactions in Molecule-Based Magnets

Professor Konstantin Kamenev

In optimizing the properties of functional materials it is essential to understand in detail how structure influences properties. Identification of the most important structural parameters is time-consuming and usually investigated by preparing many different chemical modifications of a material, determining their crystal structures, measuring their physical properties and then looking for structure-property correlations. It is also necessary to assume that the chemical modifications have no influence other than to distort the structure, which is often not the case.

Reduce energy penalty in CO2 capture processes and the emission of SOx and NOx from coal combustion

Dr Xiangfeng Fan

The research focuses on develop a microwave swing technique to selectively heat solid at molecular level for adsorbent regeneration, and then compare the results with temperature swing. The project is supported by EPSRC.

 

TRANSPACC - TRANSient operation of flexible Packings for Carbon Capture

Dr Prashant Valluri

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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