Researcher in Next Generation Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Technology

Chemical & Process Engineering

Location: Guildford
Salary: £14,123 to £17,262 per annum pro rata (0.4 FTE)   Fixed Term Post Type: Full Time
Closing Date: 23.59 hours BST on Monday 10 April 2023
Reference: 018523

The main purpose of this role is to carry out research and development (experimental and theoretical), including writing up and presentation of results, in the area of concentrated solar power (CSP) design and application, within the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering in collaboration with Industry. The position is funded by an Innovate-UK Research Grant under the call, “Energy Catalyst round 8: clean energy access, feasibility projects”.

Concentrated solar power (CSP) is an alternative energy capture technology that uses optical devices to concentrate the power of the sun onto a receiver and generate power via a thermal-to-electric conversion unit. When the CSP receiver is integrated with thermal energy storage (TES) materials, the problem of energy discontinuity in the absence of sunlight can be alleviated. Conventional CSP receiver technologies suffer from high levelized cost of energy (LCOE), due to the temperature limitations and the corrosive nature of the TES material, and the costly maintenance. To overcome the current bottlenecks of CSP technologies, it is important to identify appropriate TES material and receiver design to improve storage capabilities and increase the contact area available for heat transfer. Coupling fluidization with concentrated solar power shows a promising future for the next generation of CSP technology.

The goal of the project is to optimise and build a gas-solid fluidised bed solar receiver for CSP technology and boost access to affordable and clean energy. The success of this approach will be showcased by the design of a stainless steel prototype that can demonstrate the effectiveness, capabilities, and limitations of the novel technology.

The research fellow will be supervised by Dr Dimitrios Tsaoulidis and will be working closely with the industrial partners and other relevant consortium members, and academic collaborators to develop the technical datasheets through a combined theoretical and experimental approach for commercialising the novel concentrated solar power technology.

For informal queries, please email Dr Dimitrios Tsaoulidis (d.tsaoulidis@surrey.ac.uk).

Further details:    Job Description    

Please note, it is University Policy to offer a starting salary equivalent to Level 3.6 (£34,314) to successful applicants who have been awarded, but are yet to receive, their PhD certificate.  Once the original PhD certificate has been submitted to the local HR Department, the salary will be increased to Level 4.1 (£35,308).