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A fully funded PhD studentship in the Department of Mechanical Engineering
PhD project description
Aligned with the global attempt to decarbonise the transport sector, new technologies to evolve alternative fuels, batteries, and power trains for electric vehicles (EVs) are required to provide sustainable zero-emission solutions. These advances are dependent on efficient thermal management as improved performance (faster charging/acceleration, increased driving ranges) and efficiency (lighter and smaller components) increase the power density and thus heat dissipation. At the heart of EVs is the battery pack, which stores electrical energy as the primary power source. This indispensable component requires a narrow and stable temperature range for optimal performance. Considering its simplicity and safety, cold plate liquid cooling remains the preferred battery thermal management (BTM) approach.
Cold plates contain multiple small channels with complex flow paths to enhance heat transfer, but simultaneously increase pressure drop and pumping power requirements. During the PhD, the successful candidate will micro engineer cold plates that exploit flow instabilities, convective or viscoelasticity driven, to optimise thermohydraulic performance.
The project is experimental and make use of the state-of-the-art facilities of UCL’s new Advanced Propulsion Lab (APL). It will combine microfabrication technologies, heat transfer and fluid dynamics expertise to provide new insights into advanced cooling methods for next generation BTM technologies.
The position offers the opportunity to join APL’s multi-disciplinary research team which contains mechanical, chemical and electrical engineering expertise. Furthermore, the candidate will gain in-depth heat transfer and fluid dynamics knowledge using different experimental and flow visualisation methods and will be encouraged to publish in leading journals and present findings at national/international conferences. The position also offers opportunities to engage in teaching assistant activities.
Person specification
- Applicants are preferred to have a 1st class undergraduate and Master's degree (or equivalent) in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline, with an interest in thermal management.
- Excellent organizational, interpersonal and communication skills are required.
- Experience in experimental research, numerical modelling and data analysis is essential.
- Strong knowledge in heat transfer would be essential.
- Background in MATLAB and ANSYS Fluent is desirable.
- Fluency and clarity in spoken English as well as good written English in accordance with UCL English requirements (TOEFL>92 or IELTS>6.5).
Eligibility
Please note that the available funding supports tuition fees at the Home/UK rate (currently £6,215 per year). Students who are eligible to pay fees at the UK rate are welcome to apply (e.g. UK students or EEA or Swiss nationals who are “settled” or “pre-settled” within the UK in accordance with the EU Settlement Scheme). Please refer to our website for further information about Home tuition fee eligibility.
International students who are eligible to pay tuition fees at the Overseas rate (currently £33,000 per year) are also welcome to apply, however the tuition fees covered by the studentship will be limited to the Home/UK level. International students will be required to find additional funding for the remaining Overseas tuition fees.
Applicants whose first language is not English are required to meet UCL's English language entry requirements.
Please refer to this webpage for full eligibility criteria: Mechanical Engineering MPhil/PhD
How to apply
Eligible applicants should first contact Dr Marilize Everts (m.everts@ucl.ac.uk). Please enclose the following documents:
- A one-page statement outlining suitability for the project
- A two pages CV (including contact details of two referees)
After discussing the project with Dr Everts, eligible applicants should also submit a formal PhD application via the UCL website.
The supervisory team will arrange interviews for short-listed candidates in February 2025.