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
Title Principal Supervisorsort descending Project Summary
Development of H2 PSA (99.9% purity and 85+% recovery) Integrated with a Pre-Combustion IGCC and its Integrated Efficiency evaluation

Dr Hyungwoong Ahn

This project is aimed to develop a novel process for producing ultrapure hydrogen from synthesis gas originating from coal gasification. The coal-to-H2 process is integrated with a pre-combustion carbon capture process for de-carbonising the syngas and the integration results in improving H2 yield at the H2 Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA).

Ice-Rubber Friction for Tyres

Dr Jane Blackford

The aim of this project is to gain a better understanding of the nature of the interface between rubber and ice. It is a collaborative project with Michelin. We use tribological testing and materials characterisation techniques in a specially designed cold room facility to do this. Ultimately this knowledge will be used to improve tyre traction on ice.

Influence of snow structure and properties on the grip of winter tyres

Dr Jane Blackford

The aim of this project is to investigate the friction of rubber and tyre treads on snow. It is a collaborative project with Michelin. We use tribological testing and materials characterisation techniques in a specially designed cold room facility to do this. Ultimately this knowledge will be used to improve tyre traction on snow.

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.

ThermaSMART

Dr Prashant Valluri

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.

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.

Development of UV and visible light active photocatalysts

Dr Xianfeng Fan

To address the need for effective vis response photocatalysts, we have synthesised WO3 and TiO2 nanowires to provide a fast transport channel for the photo-generated electrons which can retard the charge recombination. We are working on improving the visible activity of the catalysts through modifying the nanocomposites using metal (Ag, W, V, Fe, Ni) and non-metal (C, N, B, S) elements, and through the control over the microstructure or even over the crystal phase.

Enhanced oil/gas recovery and CO2 storage

Dr Xianfeng Fan

Enhanced oil/gas recovery and CO2 storage are a displacement process at pore scale, in which oil and gas are displaced by water or CO2 in reservoir at pore scale, or water is displaced by CO2 in aquifers at pore scale. This displacement is controlled by pore structure, pore wettability, pore surface chemistry, fluid viscosity and interfacial interaction between pore fluids and pore surfaces. The displacement controls the pore connectivity, therefore oil/gas recovery and CO2 storage capacity. We investigate the displacement and the effect of various factors on the displacement at pore scale and core scale.

Measurement of pore wettability

Dr Xianfeng Fan

Pore wetting is a principal control of the multiphase flows through porous media. However, the contact angle measurement on other than flat surfaces still remains a challenge. In order to indicate the wetting in a small pore, we developed a new pore contact angle measurement technique to directly measure the contact angles of fluids and gas/liquid/supercritical CO2 in micron-sized pores under ambient and reservoir conditions in this study, as well as the effect of chemical functional groups on pore contact angle.

FASTBLADE, Structural Composites Research Facility

Conchúr Ó Brádaigh

FASTBLADE is commencing construction - see our facility site here.

The Structural Composites Research Facility (SCRF) is funded by a strategic equipment grant (EP/P029922/1). The grant started on the 1st of June 2017 and is due to complete on the 30sh of November 2020. The SCRF is to be setup as a Small Research Facility (SRF) and has been given the name FASTBLADE.

FASTBLADE will offer a suite of experimental and testing services to meet every client’s needs. The team can offer bespoke solutions to match every user’s needs and are supported by the world renown expertise and knowledge within the School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh.

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