Water and Chemical Processes
One of the great contributions of engineers to civilisation is the supply of clean water to homes, recreation, businesses and industry, and the safe and sanitary disposal of liquid effluents (wastewater) there from. The science and engineering of this activity involves mathematics, computing, biology, chemistry and physics. Engineers that deal with continuous processes, buildings, rivers and underground infrastructure are known as chemical engineers and civil engineers. You will find both civil and chemical engineers working together in water companies (such as Thames Water) and government agencies (such as UK Environment Agency). At the University of Surrey you will find civil and chemical engineers working together as well as separately to solve problems arising from the following:
Fluid flow (air, natural gas, oil, chemicals, blood, and water); weather (floods and droughts); sanitation, environmental pollution and health; desalination for water supply in dry countries.
Chemical and Process Engineering
Members: Dr F Cecelja Dr NF Kirkby Professor RB Thorpe Dr A Yang
The Chemical and Process Engineering group conducts research into both experimental and theoretical aspects of multiphase flows, mixing in chemical and biological situations, growth of biological cells and the treatment of brain tumours (a clump of cells). We have measured mass transfer in gas-liquid flows related to industrial fementers. We have modelled the action of micro-organisms on contaminated water from an old gas works. We have investigated the mixing in sparged stirred tanks containing particles and liquid (relevant to methyl methacrylate production). We measure and model oil and gas production flows and help medical doctors design research into prolonging the life of patients with brain tumours. Our collaborators range from large chemical companies to medical clinicians.
Process integration and systems analysis for sustainability of resources and energy efficiency are carried out within the Centre for Process and Information Systems Engineering (PRISE). PRISE, supported through industrial membership, fosters interactions with R&D centres around the world. Notable successes in this area include design technology for chemical reactors and chemical process flowsheets, optimisation solvers, the knowledge management h-TechSight and a long array of synthesis tools.
Centre for Environmental and Health Engineering
Members: Professor B Lloyd Professor S Khu Dr S Ouki Dr M Matthews Mr B Clarke Mrs C Jones Dr P Kumar
The Centre for Environmental and Health Engineering (CEHE) undertakes research projects covering the entire water cycle. These encompass water resources surveillance, modelling and management, water treatment, supply and regulation, wastewater treatment, disposal and safe reuse, and pollution control and waste management. CEHE is a designated World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for the Protection of Water Quality and Human Health (with the Robens Centre for Public and Environmental Health), and has recently been invited to join the UNICEF WASH cluster group of relief agencies as a centre of excellence in water and sanitation. CEHE provides support to overseas governments through international agencies (WHO, PAHO) and relief organisations (such as Oxfam and MSF). Research and training projects have been completed by CEHE staff in at least 45 countries. Strong contacts are also maintained with UK and European water utilities (notably Thames Water, Southern Water and Stadtwerke Karlsruhe).
Find out more in the videos from our Queens Anniversary Award winning Researchers:
Centre for Osmosis Research and Applications
Members: Professor AO Sharif Dr Franjo Cecelja Dr Aidong Yang Dr Ali Hosseini
The Centre is well equipped with state-of-the art experimental facilities for desalination and membrane separation processes, and high-speed computational facilities. The Centre’s most recent activities have resulted in the discovery of the novel Manipulated Osmosis Technology (MOT) which addresses most of the key shortcomings and limitations of the Reverse Osmosis (RO) membrane separation, thermal desalination methods (MSF, MED, VC), water treatment of cooling towers,
secondary oil recovery of water injection/flooding operations and other technologies used commonly in the desalination of seawater and brackish water. The innovations of CORA in the area of desalination and renewable power generation have been commercialised through a university spin-out company, Surrey Aquatechnology Ltd, which was merged with the AIM-listed company Modern Water plc in 2007, and since then three commercial plants have been installed in Southern Europe and the Middle East.
A list of CORA Publications, Patents, Keynotes, Invited Lecturers and feature Articles can be found here.