Industrial secondment: Hydrogen Fuel Cell Sensor – Data Interpretation and Reference Table Creation

C-DICE is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity for a six-month secondment for a postdoctoral researcher with des19ncor.

The project will be ideal for a researcher with machine learning and AI expertise, experienced in big data projects, which will contribute significantly to an important project for the company in the area of H₂ fuel cell sensors.

des19ncor is an experienced engineering consultant company, whose team has over 20 years of Product Development experience. Specialising in communication products, industrial products, gas & oil products, and water industry products, des19ncor’s designed products include Smart Survey Device (SSD) and Smart Pipeline Remote Terminal (SPIRET) in the gas industry.

A key strategy to decarbonise the UK’s Natural Gas Grid is to progressively blend hydrogen into the gas grid from steam reforming or electrolysis, lowering carbon emissions by up to 9%. Up to 20% concentration hydrogen is envisioned for the UK, which is the provisional limit for domestic end users to carry on using existing appliances and infrastructure. Industrial users in processes such as glass making will acutely feel any changes in the calorific value. Hence, a compact, economical, and robust gas sensor platform to accurately assess blended hydrogen is highly desired. In conjunction with Loughborough University owned IPR, we developed a recently patented electrochemical Fuel Cell-based Sensor (FCS) for the monitoring of new gas contents such as hydrogen and bio-methane, in a blended mixture with natural gas to determine the calorific value. The new device traces the hydrogen and/or bio-methane content in natural gas and outputs a current reading in near real time, which correlates to the level of various gases in the gas stream.

Job Purpose

The proposed research project will investigate and build a new reference data base which will contain the outputs from the planned FCS trials and investigations of different gas types. This reference data base will be required to perform the following actions.

• Link to the FCS to learn the characteristics of different gas types.
• Output the gas percentages in a format which aligns to the requirements of end users (e.g. OGEM % formats).
• Link to OFGEM’s proprietary software.
• Perform some AI machine learning to build predictive gas type tables.

This project is supported by National Grid and Cadent gas who both see the need for this hydrogen fuel sensor. The applicant will be required to liaise with both companies in order to understand the customer requirements.

Benefit to Researcher / Secondee

• Industrial Mentorship and support from des19ncor.
• Academic Mentorship and support from Loughborough University.
• Privileged access to des19ncor’s business plan and commercial offering.
• Opportunities to present the technology and product to key persons in major utility companies responsible for decarbonisation.
• Invitations to climate change events to present the technology and product to a wider audience and help it gain credibility.
• To be part of the presentation team to present the technology and product to a number of key investor forums.

Secondment Details

Number of secondments: This advert is for one secondment.

Duration: The secondment is six months in duration at 1.0FTE (i.e. full-time).

Location: Loughborough University or Hybrid (Remote + in-person).

Salary: University Pay Scale Spine 26 to 36 (£31,406 to £40,927 p.a. prorated for duration of post), depending on current postdoctoral researcher salary. Please note that university overheads will not be paid due to the developmental opportunity this presents to the postdoctoral researcher to be seconded to des19ncor. Expenses related to authorised travel for this secondment will be covered.

Special Conditions

This industrial placement is open to postdoctoral researchers based at C-DICE universities. You will be required to seek permission from your employing organisation to undertake the secondment. The project will commence as soon as possible. In cases where participation in this secondment would require a no-cost extension to an EPSRC grant, EPSRC has agreed to grant this automatically on request.

All staff have a statutory responsibility to take reasonable care of themselves, others and the environment and to prevent harm by their acts or omissions. All staff are therefore required to adhere to the des19ncor and Loughborough University Health, Safety and Environmental Policy & Procedures.

All staff should hold a duty and commitment to observing the des19ncor and Loughborough University Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion policy and procedures at all times. Duties must be carried out in accordance with relevant Equality & Diversity legislation and policies/procedures.

The selection process is managed by the C-DICE Development Strand, led by Professor Chris Rogers and managed by Amy Beierholm at the University of Birmingham.

After the Secondment

• Confirmation of expenditure
• Outcomes (e.g. publications, engagement activities) for impact tracking
• A report highlighting key findings
• The postdoc may be asked to engage with C-DICE events (e.g. Annual Conference or Business Engagement Events) and to lead a C-DICE training activity in their area of expertise.

Eligibility

Essential Criteria

• Postdoctoral researcher in a relevant field
• Experienced in big data projects
• Machine learning and AI experience
• Labview, Matlab, CAD, Office suit, COMSOL, and data analysis computer packages expertise
• Large data base software and analytics tools
• The postdoc must be currently employed by a C-DICE HEI (home institution) or C-DICE affiliated partner.
• This post is not intended for permanent teaching staff / lecturers.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of algorithm development
• Practical skills of using analytical software tools
• Understanding of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and the data sets resulting
• Full Driving license
• UK national or Visa granted to work in UK

Timeline

How to Apply

Applications may be submitted any time before the deadline.

• Sign up to Inkpath. Then link to C-DICE. For more details on how, click here.
• Apply via Inkpath using Activity Code DSAB0005 or click the button above.
• When you sign up for the activity, you will receive a link to an online application form.
• If you need additional assistance with completing an application or Inkpath, contact Amy Beierholm at a.beierholm@cdice.ac.uk
• You will need:
• Applicant details (education & employment background)
• Cover letter stating your available start date (max 500 words)
• A narrative CV. For guidance, click here

Supporting documents to be emailed to C-DICE at a.beierholm@cdice.ac.uk.

If you are successful, your supervisor will be contacted for a letter/email of support.