Job description

The EngD programme is a 2-year post-MSc technological programme with a focus on technological design. This programme contains an educational part that will be followed at the University of Twente, and a design project that will be carried out in cooperation with consortium of companies (HoSt FT, HVC and Bio-energie Andijk) gathered under the BALANS project funded by RVO HER+ subsidy. The educational programme will have an in-depth and broadening character with ample attention for professional development and will be partly tailored to the design project.

Project description

In the Netherlands large quantities of complex non-woody combustible biomass are still not utilized for power and heat generation. One of the best opportunities to utilize the potential is efficient and low emission combustion in modern energy plants like Bio-energiecentrale Andijk. However, the physico-chemical properties of the biomass mix, make it very challenging for the energy plant. A low temperature melting point of the ashes leads to agglomeration and blockage at the grate, whereas evaporated sodium and potassium salts present in the fuel, after condensation in the downstream installed afterburning chamber and boiler, may lead to fouling and corrosion. As a consequence the combustion process of such complex biomass (even when mixed with the regular biomass) is characterised by high investment and maintenance costs, low energy efficiency and low plant availability.

The aim of this project is to design an economically attractive combustion process in a grate furnace that can utilize the full potential of the complex non-woody biomass waste streams. This development should realize low temperatures in the gasification zone and assure the required retention time of 2 seconds at minimum temperature of 850 degC. The task demands from the EngD student modelling of the processes which occur on a grate and in the furnace, with the main focus on:

• CFD modelling of the biogas combustion in the furnace using Ansys Fluent and/or OpenFOAM
• Modelling of the gasification process of various biomass feeds on a grate (Matlab based)
• Design optimum conditions for complex biomass combustion

• We are searching for the best MSc graduated in the field of Thermal Engineering, Fluid Dynamics, Chemical Engineering, Energy Technology, Mechanical Engineering or related discipline with a demonstrable affinity with design and multidisciplinary assignments.
• You can work in a team,
• You have good communication skills,
• You have a sound project approach,
• You speak and write fluent English.
• You must have the ambition and talent to accelerate in finding solutions / creating designs for complex technological issues with a multidisciplinary character.
• Since a major part of the project will be executed using numerical tools, the former experience with CFD is a must. Previous international mobility and an expertise in biomass combustion are welcome.

• A very challenging position in an inspiring multidisciplinary environment;
• A tailor-made post-master design program that has an educational component (50%) as well as a design project (50%);
• On successfully completing the program, you will receive a certified and recognized degree. You will be entitled to use the academic degree PDEng and will be registered as a Technological Designer in the Dutch register kept by the Royal Institution of Engineers in the Netherlands (KIVI). The degree will soon be renamed to EngD (Doctor of Engineering), to be coherent with the more common abbreviation used in the Commonwealth;
• A salary of € 2.089,- gross per month;
• An annual holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary, and an annual year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• A solid pension scheme;
• Minimum of 29 leave days in case of full-time employment.