Award summary
100% fees (UK Home only), a minimum tax-free annual living allowance of £21,805 (2026/27 UKRI rate), and a research training support grant of £20,000.
Overview
This PhD project is part of the Process Industries: Net Zero (PINZ) Centre for Doctoral Training and will investigate the “ARCS Chamber”, a novel device for CCS and CCU. The aims of the project will be:
* to assess the unit’s potential for carbon sequestration from gas streams containing CO and CO₂
* to develop an improved and more fundamental understanding of the mass and energy balances and reactions taking place within the system
The study will combine theoretical analysis with targeted experimental investigation to understand the physical and chemical mechanisms operating within the ARCS process. The carbon-focused part of the work will examine whether, and under what conditions, the ARCS process may support the capture, transformation, deposition, or stabilisation of carbon derived from CO and CO₂ in treated gas streams. The energy-focused part of the work will investigate the distribution of microwave energy within the system and the balance between energy input, plasma effects, gas heating and cooling, heat losses, phase changes, chemical reactions, and any other mechanisms that may explain the unexpectedly large drop in gas temperature across the chamber.
This deeper understanding will feed into the design, operation and use scenarios of the ARCS unit. This PhD is an opportunity to work on a genuinely novel, near-to-market technology and participate in its journey towards commercialisation.
Number of awards
One
Start date
1 October 2026
Award duration
4 Years
Sponsor
EPSRC
Supervisors
Professor Adam Harvey (adam.harvey@newcastle.ac.uk)
Eligibility criteria
You must have, or expect to gain, a minimum 2:1 Honours degree or international equivalent in a subject relevant to the proposed PhD project. Due to nature of this project, the candidate should have a strong background in Engineering, especially chemical engineering or another closely related engineering subject, or chemistry. Enthusiasm for research, the ability to think and work independently, excellent analytical skills and strong verbal and written communication skills are also essential requirements.
This studentship is available to Home UK students only.
Contact details
General enquiries: pinz.cdt@ncl.ac.uk
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