PhD Numerical and fundamental researcher on metal combustion
PhD Numerical and fundamental researcher on metal combustion
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Job description
Power & Flow focuses on clean and efficient combustion and process technology, to cater for fast-growing energy demands. Today, we need to shift towards ultra-clean, highly efficient 'low-temperature' combustion methods. We are also seeing increased use of biofuels, and eventually the emergence of fuels derived from sustainable sources, such as solar and metal fuels. Optimizing combustion and process devices, in combination with different fuel formulations to minimize undesired emissions and maximize thermal efficiency, is essential to supporting both of these developments.
The metal combustion research is concerned with a novel type of fuels: metal powders that have a tremendously high energy density and can act as a major CO2-free energy carrier for the long term. Within the group we develop the combustion technology of metal powder, solid handling including separation and regeneration through chemical reduction with renewable hydrogen.
The group has a unique research infrastructure, both from an experimental and computational perspective. The group has a world-wide reputation on experimental and numerical tackling of combustion problems (in particular the Heat Flux Method and the Flamelet Generated Manifolds technique).
More information about Eindhoven University of Technology and Mechanical Engineering Department, can be found on https://www.tue.nl/en Information of the involved research group can be found here: https://www.tue.nl/en/research/research-groups/power-flow.
Job description
Combustion is responsible for 80% of our current energy supply and will remain to be extremely important in future due to its extremely high power-density. However, the fuels will shift more and more from fossils to sustainable fuels like biofuels, solar fuels and metal fuels. To understand the underlying physical and chemical processes and to control them in such a way that the processes are ultra-clean and highly efficient is highly motivating.
One of the newly discovered ways to generate power involves rethinking the way we use metals. People deal with metals every day and it may be hard to imagine that metals can replace hydrocarbon fuels. However, recent scientific research has indicated that there might be huge opportunities for a carbon-free energy cycle based on metal fuels, with which it will be possible to supply power and heat when and where needed. In order to make fast oxidation of metals possible, they should be used as small (micron-sized) particles. In that case, they generate flame structures similar to those of gaseous fuels. This similarity leads to the opportunity to adapt numerical methods to a description of the physics in a continuum approach with several approximations, associated to the details of the small scale flow and chemistry interactions. Furthermore a highly accurate experimental method is developed in the group that will be used in a second PhD research for studying metal dust flames with which the numerics can be validated.
The metal combustion research is concerned with a novel type of fuels: metal powders that have a tremendously high energy density and can act as a major CO2-free energy carrier for the long term. Within the group we develop the combustion technology of metal powder, solid handling including separation and regeneration through chemical reduction with renewable hydrogen.
The group has a unique research infrastructure, both from an experimental and computational perspective. The group has a world-wide reputation on experimental and numerical tackling of combustion problems (in particular the Heat Flux Method and the Flamelet Generated Manifolds technique).
More information about Eindhoven University of Technology and Mechanical Engineering Department, can be found on https://www.tue.nl/en Information of the involved research group can be found here: https://www.tue.nl/en/research/research-groups/power-flow.
Job description
Combustion is responsible for 80% of our current energy supply and will remain to be extremely important in future due to its extremely high power-density. However, the fuels will shift more and more from fossils to sustainable fuels like biofuels, solar fuels and metal fuels. To understand the underlying physical and chemical processes and to control them in such a way that the processes are ultra-clean and highly efficient is highly motivating.
One of the newly discovered ways to generate power involves rethinking the way we use metals. People deal with metals every day and it may be hard to imagine that metals can replace hydrocarbon fuels. However, recent scientific research has indicated that there might be huge opportunities for a carbon-free energy cycle based on metal fuels, with which it will be possible to supply power and heat when and where needed. In order to make fast oxidation of metals possible, they should be used as small (micron-sized) particles. In that case, they generate flame structures similar to those of gaseous fuels. This similarity leads to the opportunity to adapt numerical methods to a description of the physics in a continuum approach with several approximations, associated to the details of the small scale flow and chemistry interactions. Furthermore a highly accurate experimental method is developed in the group that will be used in a second PhD research for studying metal dust flames with which the numerics can be validated.
Specifications
- max. 38 hours per week
- Eindhoven View on Google Maps
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Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e)
Requirements
Qualification of applicant
We are looking for talented, enthusiastic candidates with excellent numerical, CFD and communication skills holding an MSc in Power and flow, Mechanics of Combustion Technology or Aerospace Engineering. A strong interest in combustion combined with energy transition is required. Detailed insight in physical and chemical modelling approaches is a benefit.
We are looking for talented, enthusiastic candidates with excellent numerical, CFD and communication skills holding an MSc in Power and flow, Mechanics of Combustion Technology or Aerospace Engineering. A strong interest in combustion combined with energy transition is required. Detailed insight in physical and chemical modelling approaches is a benefit.
Conditions of employment
We offer:
- An exciting job in a dynamic work environment and multidisciplinary consortium.
- A full time appointment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation after 1 year
- A gross monthly salary from € 2.325 (first year) to €2.972 (fourth year) in line with the Collective Agreement for Dutch Universities.
- The possibility to present your work at international conferences.
- A personal development program for PhD students (Information on the PROOF program can be found on: https://www.tue.nl/en/education/graduate-school/phds-at-tue/
- An attractive package of fringe benefits, including end-of-year bonus (8,3% in December), an extra holiday allowance (8% in May), moving expenses and excellent sports facilities.
