New digital hydraulic technologies, such as digital displacement pumps, electro-hydraulic actuators, digital hydraulic converters, and digital hydraulic power management systems are being explored recently, driven by the need for highly energy-efficient and contamination-insensitive hydraulic systems.
The Research Associate will work on the project entitled “SWIFT: Switch Inertance Fluid Technology” funded by Innovate UK. This project aims to raise the technology maturity of a digital switched inertance hydraulic converter using a high-speed 3D-printed hydraulic valve. Collaborating with Domin Fluid Power, the team is going to design and develop a smart controller for a high-speed 3D-printed valve and integrate it onto a switched hydraulic converter to evaluate the energy efficiency of digital hydraulic systems.
Applicants must have a PhD (or equivalent significant relevant experience and professional qualification) in Mechanical/Electrical Engineering or a related discipline with experience of control engineering. Proven experience in modelling and design. Successful applications will possess:
- Ability to organise the prioritise own workload to meet required deadlines
- Self-motivation
- Possess project management and technical communication skills
- Experience in some of the following areas with being a distinct advantage: hydraulic valve control, valve modelling, test rig design and validation.
Bath brings a wealth of expertise in digital hydraulic control together with decades of hydraulic experience from the UK's leading centre for fluid power research. Domin brings a proven record of valve design innovation and the ability to bring that innovation to market, being the world's first company to offer an off-the-shelf product designed from metal Additive Manufacturing. At project completion, the consortium will deliver a working prototype at TRL5 and throughout the project will work closely with industrial sponsors to ensure alignment to industry needs.
This role is fixed term for 8 months.
For more details about the role please contact Dr Min Pan, mp351@bath.ac.uk or Prof Andrew Plummer arp23@bath.ac.uk. All application must be made via the University website.
For more information regarding staff benefits please click here.
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