Modelling distribution and transport dimensions of a liquid inorganic hydrogen carrier

Project background and aim

A fully funded 36-month PhD position is available to candidates of any nationality, subject to Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Network eligibility and mobility rules. The studentship is a Doctoral Candidate position within the Europe Hy-DETAILS project.

Delivering low-carbon hydrogen to industrial users requires production and transport systems that work efficiently together. This fully funded PhD will develop models and optimisation tools for safe, efficient and economically viable hydrogen distribution. You will be placed in Clyde Hydrogen Systems Ltd and enrolled for a PhD at the University of Glasgow as doctoral candidate in Hy-DETAILS MSCA DN, an international network connecting hydrogen generation, transportation and utilisation.

The project focuses on decoupled electrolysis and a liquid inorganic hydrogen carrier, examining how production pressure, temperature and impurities influence downstream transport requirements. The candidate will compare onshore and offshore pipelines, repurposed gas grids, tube trailers and shipping, accounting for conditioning, storage and carrier conversion where relevant. The central challenge is to optimise production and delivery together while embedding infrastructure integrity, safety and environmental performance in the analysis.

The research programme will cover the following steps:

1. Model production and transport interfaces: Develop mass and energy balances and thermodynamic models linking decoupled electrolyser outlet pressure, temperature and impurity levels to each transport mode.
2. Optimise pressure and conditioning: Identify suitable production pressures and requirements for compression, purification, drying, thermal management and storage. Quantify how distance, throughput, demand and existing infrastructure change the preferred delivery pathway and electrolyser operating conditions.
3. Assess economics and environmental impacts: Build techno-economic assessment and life-cycle assessment models covering energy consumption, capital expenditure (CapEx), operating expenditure (OpEx) and delivered hydrogen cost.
4. Integrate safety and integrity constraints: Represent relevant pressure limits, material integrity, pressure cycling, leakage and venting requirements within the modelling and optimisation framework.
5. Optimise routes and hub locations: Develop European storage and hub siting maps and routing recommendations.

The research findings of this PhD will support decisions on hydrogen transport routes and storage or hub locations across Europe, with relevance to industrial applications such as ammonia production, steelmaking, glass manufacturing and hydrogen-powered aviation.

Two three-month industrial secondments are planned: during months 12-14 for the calibration of measurement and safety systems for hydrogen transport, and in the eRoots Analytics SL (Spain) during months 22-24 for the coupling hydrogen transport, electricity transmission and hub operation.

The candidate will deliver carrier-aware production–transport compatibility maps, cost and efficiency models for each transport option, and European storage and hub siting recommendations. Performance measures will include specific energy use, delivery efficiency, delivered hydrogen cost, CapEx and OpEx, life-cycle greenhouse-gas emissions, and quantified safety and integrity indicators. Results will include uncertainty ranges and clearly defined operating limits.

Industrial Host, Research Group, and Supervisory team

The successful PhD candidate will experience cutting-edge research within a multidisciplinary supervisory team between a company, Clyde Hydrogen Systems, and academia, University of Glasgow.

Clyde Hydrogen Systems (CHS) is a University of Glasgow spinout dedicated to driving the world’s transition to Net Zero through innovative technology that produces hydrogen from water. Based in the Joseph Black building at the University of Glasgow our decoupled electrolysis technology offers the opportunity more flexible, lower cost, safer hydrogen production than existing products. Industrial supervisor are Dr. Matt Lees, and Prof. Mark Symes.

Academic supervisor is Dr. Mohammad Yazdani-Asrami, who leads “Propulsion, Electrification & Superconductivity” group and CryoElectric Research Lab, in which individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds are all supported to thrive. The PhD student will join at an exciting time for the group, following substantial external investment in our group. The group consists of 17 researchers (PGR/PhD students, research assistants, postdoctoral researcher, and academics). We collaborate with a range of academic and industrial partners within the UK and globally (Italy, Netherlands, France, China, Switzerland, New Zealand, and USA).

Network schools, industrial placements, conferences and a personal career development plan will support research communication and responsible innovation. There will be opportunity for research visit and participating in international conference/workshop during this PhD to disseminate the findings and results of the research work.

More information about supervisory team’s research can be found at:

https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/engineering/staff/mohammadyazdaniasrami/

https://clydehydrogen.com/about-us/

https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/engineering/staff/wenjuansong/

MSCA eligibility

• Applicants may be of any nationality but must not hold a doctoral degree at the date of recruitment and must be eligible to enroll for a PhD at the University of Glasgow.
• The MSCA mobility rule applies: applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity, such as work or studies, in the United Kingdom for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before recruitment, subject to the applicable MSCA exceptions.

MSCA Doctoral Networks eligibility and funding information

Essential qualifications and skills

• A relevant Master’s degree or equivalent, completed or expected before the start date, in chemical, mechanical, energy, electrical or process engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• A strong foundation in mathematical modelling and numerical methods, with relevant knowledge of thermodynamics, fluid flow, process systems or energy networks.
• Programming and computational modelling experience in Python, MATLAB or a comparable scientific computing environment,
• Evidence of research potential through a dissertation, research project, industrial R&D or publications.
• Good analytical and communication skills, readiness to collaborate across disciplines and undertake secondments.
• Prior journal publication is mandatory. Publications of journal papers in Q1 journals are highly desirable.
• Applicants should be willing to work across different disciplines and to undertake international training, secondments and dissemination activities.
• Satisfaction of the University of Glasgow’s English-language entry requirements.

Desirable experience

• Hydrogen production, electrolysis, gas or liquid transport, storage, or coupled electricity–hydrogen systems.
• Optimisation, techno-economic assessment, life-cycle assessment, uncertainty analysis, safety or reliability modelling.
• Process simulation, hydraulic network tools, geographical information systems, open-source energy modelling or relevant research publications.

How to apply

Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to Dr. Yazdani-Asrami - [Email Address: [email protected]] by sending a CV and a cover/intention letter. Please be to the point explaining how your previous experiences are well-aligned with this PhD position. 

This fully funded 36-month Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Network position covers tuition fees; living and mobility allowances and, where applicable, a family allowance; plus research, training, networking, conference and secondment costs.

Employment will be through Clyde Hydrogen Systems Ltd, with PhD registration at the University of Glasgow. In addition, the successful applicant will receive Global Talent visa.