About the project
This project on methane pyrolysis, a disruptive route to low-cost sustainable hydrogen and valuable carbon black, aims to tackle extreme high-temperature reactive flows and multiphysics challenges with cutting-edge computational fluid dynamics (CFD). It will apply fluid dynamics, heat and mass transfer and high-performance computing to design intensified reactors that could transform the UK and global hydrogen economy.
Hydrogen is central to the UK’s 10 GW low-carbon production target by 2030, but cost remains the main barrier to adoption. Methane pyrolysis is emerging as a disruptive alternative to electrolysis: it can deliver sustainable hydrogen at potentially half the cost, while producing solid carbon (carbon black) instead of CO₂ emissions.
Carbon black is a high-value material currently produced by burning fossil fuels, so methane pyrolysis offers a dual benefit: clean hydrogen and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The challenge is that pyrolysis requires extreme conditions, and today’s reactors are constrained by inefficient heat and mass transfer. Unlocking scalable, economical methane pyrolysis will depend on a new generation of intensified reactor designs.
This project will focus on gaining fundamental understanding through computational modelling of process intensification in methane pyrolysis. The project will develop advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models to capture the coupled phenomena of multiphase flow, high-temperature heat transfer, and complex chemical kinetics in pyrolysis reactors. Special emphasis will be placed on novel intensification strategies to overcome transport bottlenecks and minimise energy penalties.
You will:
- build and validate high-fidelity CFD and multiphysics models for complex pyrolysis reactors
- explore how process intensification concepts can boost efficiency and reduce costs
- gain expertise in reactive transport modelling using high-performance computing, and machine learning techniques
- contribute to the fundamentals of an emerging technology that could highly complement electrolysis in the UK’s and World’s hydrogen economy
The project will be based in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, within the School of Engineering.
Alongside the supervisory team at the University of Southampton, this project also includes Dr Mahmood Mousavi (EMBRY-RIDDLE Aeronautical University) as an external supervisor.
The School of Engineering is committed to promoting equality, diversity inclusivity as demonstrated by our Athena SWAN award. We welcome all applicants regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or age, and will give full consideration to applicants seeking flexible working patterns and those who have taken a career break.
The University has a generous maternity policy, onsite childcare facilities, and offers a range of benefits to help ensure employees’ well-being and work-life balance. The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward.
