General background. Twenty-five companies and knowledge institutes in the maritime industry have joined forces in SH2IPDRIVE: Sustainable Hydrogen Integrated Propulsion Drives. In this innovation programme, they will work together to make hydrogen shipping a reality. Not only would this make the Dutch sector more sustainable, but it would also give the country a head start in the rapidly developing maritime hydrogen economy. In this project, a team of Delft researchers from the Maritime and Transport Technology and from the Process & Energy department are investigating, among other things, boron hydrides. Using boron hydrides (BH) as a hydrogen carrier makes it possible to store hydrogen in solid crystal form with a very high energy density, which is expected to reduce safety risks as well. TU Delft is also participating in sub-projects on bunkering and storage systems, fuel cells, data collection and system validation, system integration and safety. The university’s contribution to these projects includes experimental research and the creation of models and simulations.

Description of this PhD project. To make the application of boron hydrates circular, it is important to recycle the spent fuel (generally consisting of oxygenated species) that is left after hydrolysis of the boron hydrides. An option that has emerged recently is to reduce the spent fuel through mechanochemical reactions with metallic species such as Mg or Al. Such reactions are not induced or catalyzed by a high temperature but rather by the action of crushing and shearing the solid particles together. The goal of this subproject is to better understand this mechanochemical reaction process, and to optimize the conditions for large-scale mechanochemical regeneration of the spent fuel. You will identify the most critical component of the regeneration process, which is likely to be the possibility to exert sufficient mechanical pressure and shear forces under specific conditions of temperature, pressure and composition of the inert or hydrogen gas environment. You will then design scalable equipment in three stages. First, CFD-DEM modelling will be used to evaluate the effect of different grinding geometries and -speeds on the pressure- and shear forces experienced by particles of different sizes. Next, a lab-scale version of the optimized grinding equipment will be built to evaluate real-world chemical conversion. Finally, the results will be used to find a link between pressure/shear forces and reaction rates, enabling further in silico scale-up studies.

You will be part of the SH2IPDRIVE consortium, and will collaborate with companies, universities and fellow PhD students on accompanying projects, including a PhD student focusing on the hydrolysis reaction.

The prospective PhD candidate:

• needs to have an MSc degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Applied Physics, or comparable technical/engineering education
• needs to have proven experience with setting up and leading lab-scale experiments
• needs to be creative and self-propelling
• must be an excellent team player
• must be proficient in English and be able to communicate results clearly and efficiently to larger groups (including non-experts in the field) (a minimum requirement of a TOEFL score of 100 or IELTS of 7.0 applies to all candidates wanting to pursue a PhD or PDEng programme at TU Delft)
• preferably has experience with CFD and/or discrete element modelling
• preferably has experience with solids processing

TU Delft offers PhD-candidates a 4-year contract, with an official go/no go progress assessment after one year. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2434 per month in the first year to € 3111 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation.

Delft University of Technology

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context. At TU Delft we embrace diversity and aim to be as inclusive as possible (see our Code of Conduct). Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering

The Faculty of 3mE carries out pioneering research, leading to new fundamental insights and challenging applications in the field of mechanical engineering. From large-scale energy storage, medical instruments, control technology and robotics to smart materials, nanoscale structures and autonomous ships. The foundations and results of this research are reflected in outstanding, contemporary education, inspiring students and PhD candidates to become socially engaged and responsible engineers and scientists. The faculty of 3mE is a dynamic and innovative faculty with an international scope and high-tech lab facilities. Research and education focus on the design, manufacture, application and modification of products, materials, processes and mechanical devices, contributing to the development and growth of a sustainable society, as well as prosperity and welfare.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? This video will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work.