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Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
PhD Project Template
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Use one form per project
Please complete & submit to international@nuigalway.ie as soon as possible, and by 27/11/2012
In your email, begin the subject line with [SWB] (be sure to use square brackets) to ensure that
your email is filed correctly. Emails will be automatically filed
PI name & contact details:
Dr. Eoghan Clifford BE PhD CEng MIEI
Lecturer, Chartered Engineer
Civil Engineering, College of Engineering & Informatics
NUI Galway, Galway,
Ireland
Tel: 00353 91 492219
Fax: 00 353 91 494507
e-mail. eoghan.clifford@nuigalway.ie
web:
http://www.nuigalway.ie/civileng/Staff/eoghanclifford.html
Tuam WRF:
http://www.nuigalway.ie/civileng/Facilities/tuam/index.html
School:
College of Engineering & Informatics (Civil Engineering)
Has project been agreed with head (or
nominee) of proposed registration
school?
Research Centre / group
affiliation:
Ryan Institute, Civil Engineering
http://www.ryaninstitute.ie/
http://www.nuigalway.ie/civileng/
Research group / centre
Ryan Institute, Civil Engineering
website:
http://www.ryaninstitute.ie/
http://www.nuigalway.ie/civileng/
PI website / link to CV:
http://www.nuigalway.ie/civileng/Staff/eoghanclifford.html
http://www.nuigalway.ie/civileng/Facilities/tuam/index.html
http://www.ryaninstitute.ie/research/built-environment-smartcities/
Brief summary of PI research / research group / centre activity (2 or 3 lines max):
If you are already involved in relevant scholarly activities relating to Brazil, please mention them here.
The research group led by the PI comprises 6 PhD students, 1 MEngSc student, 3 post-doctoral
researchers and 2 research assistants. The PI carries out research in the areas of Environmental
Engineering, Energy, Transport Engineering (in particular sustainable transport) and Urban Planning
and Mobility. He currently has funding from industry and national funding agencies.
Title & brief description of PhD project (suitable for publication on web):
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Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
Microbubble aeration systems: Design, development and modelling using CFD
The global market for aquacultural based products is increasing and indeed it is seen as one of the
future growth areas of the marine agriculture area. Internationally aquaculture is the fastest
growing food producing sector with an average of 8% annual growth. The use of land based
aquaculture facilities can overcome many of the potential problems of marine based systems.
However, given the necessity for aeration to maintain healthy biomass and also as part of the
wastewater treatment processes, such operations are highly energy intensive. Furthermore closed
loop production systems that are “zero” discharge can be seen as crucial to the future of this sector.
Dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration is one of the most important factors in Aquaculture. DO levels
directly impact – food conversion rates, stocking levels, production capacity, fish health and
mortality rates. This project will develop, test and model novel aeration technologies for the
aquaculture and wastewater sectors. The research will be carried out in conjunction with an Irish
based company and will comprise both experimental and CFD modelling research work.
Furthermore it is envisaged this study will look at the feasibility of using the same technology for air
transfer and carbon dioxide removal from process waters and also in the wastewater treatment
process. Such an advance could significantly improve production rates and reduce costs. The
research will combine industry with marine biology and engineering expertise at NUI Galway.
Unique selling points of PhD project in NUI Galway:
This research offers the student a number of unique opportunities including:
 The research is being carried out in conjunction with industry and thus is of direct commercial benefit
 The research is applicable to both the aquaculture and wastewater treatment sectors
 The research is particularly timely given the new emphasis on the “blue economy” – i.e. marine based
products
 The researcher, will develop experimental skills but also transferrable skills in CFD modelling and
would work in an engineering team and in collaboration with marine biologists
 The research involves operation and modelling of novel technologies and has international
significance
 NUI Galway is located on the West Coast of Ireland in an area which is renowned for its aquaculture
products
 Through the Ryan Institute, the PIs industry contacts and collaboration opportunities within the EU
the research at NUI Galway can expose the students to research developments in this sector that is a
key target growth area internationally
 The research group has unique access to full scale on-site testing facilities such as aquaculture farms
and wastewater treatment facilities run by NUI Galway.
Name & contact details for project queries, if different from PI named above:
Contact details as per above
Please indicate the graduates of which disciplines that should apply:
Civil Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Environmental Science
Ciência sem Fronteiras / Science Without Borders Priority Area:
Please indicate the specific programme priority area under which the proposed PhD project fits- choose only
one (tick box):
Engineering and other technological areas
X
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Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
Pure and Natural Sciences (e.g. mathematics, physics, chemistry)/Physical Sciences (Mathematics,
Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Geosciences)
Health and Biomedical Sciences / Clinical, Pré-clinical and Health Sciences
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), Computing
Aerospace
Pharmaceuticals
Sustainable Agricultural Production
Oil, Gas and Coal
Renewable Energy
Minerals, Minerals Technology
Biotechnology
Nanotechnology and New Materials
Technologies for Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Disasters
Bioprospecting and Biodiversity
Marine Sciences
Creative Industry
New technologies in constructive engineering
Please indicate which of the following applies to this project (referring to Science Without Borders
arrangements):
Suitable only as a Full PhD (Y/N): _ ____
Available to candidates seeking a Sandwich PhD arrangement (Y/N): _____
Suitable for either/Don’t know: Yes