The Department of Thermal and Fluid Engineering jointly with the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) at the University of Twente are currently looking for an EngD candidate in the field of energy systems integration. Information about the involved research groups is available at

Department TFE

and

Computer Science EEMCS

Job Description

This position is part of a recently funded project under the European Union's Horizon Europe program. The University of Twente is collaborating with academic/research organizations and industrial partners from 7 European countries, pooling their expertise in renewable energy, combustion, techno-economics, and socio-political science. Together, they are joining forces to address the challenges and opportunities in the field of zero-emissions supercritical gas turbine engine operating on locally synthesized renewable liquid and gaseous fuels (e.g. methanol or hydrogen) coupled with decentralized carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) and to create innovative solutions for a sustainable future.

The EngD program is a 2-year post-MSc technological program with a focus on technological and process design. This program at the University of Twente 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 a consortium of universities and companies around Europe. The educational program will have an in-depth and broadening character with ample attention for professional development and will be partly tailored to the design project.

About the project and your task

Hydrogen and methanol fuels can be carbon neutral when produced by means of excess wind or solar electricity. They are widely available, storable, market compatible and with established supply chains that can serve the energy transition. Today, in large-scale methanol synthesis plants, high pressure (> 80 bar) is used to overcome thermodynamic equilibrium limitation. When downscaling the synthesis to the size of the envisaged local closed loop energy system, applying such high pressures would lead to high specific costs and energy efficiency loss. Therefore, combining innovative low pressure (< 30 bar) synthesis processes for decentralized and local production of renewable fuels and coupling them with new developments in power systems operating under supercritical combustion conditions, can make a leap forward in renewable highly efficient zero emission combustion and deliver a flexible highly efficient, decentral energy generation system for heating and cooling.

Because of the integration of multiple energy sources and energy components, it is quite complex to match the energy systems and fuel synthesis processes with one another. Hence, optimal planning of integration of energy systems and fuel synthesis processes is essential to reduce the installation cost. This requirement can be met out by developing a methodological approach, based on “digital twins” and dynamic energy assets models, for coupling the integrated system energy flows management with localized combustion and chemical kinetics. Smart input/output match, depending on the energy demands and production, will be monitored utilizing Machine Learning methods. The models will be validated for different renewable fuels and system operational conditions and power levels. The results will be used for the technology scale up and HERMES technological feasibility. Optimization algorithms will maximize the power/heat output based on the requested demand from the smart city, temporarily surplus of the electricity and available storage.

You will be part of a team consisting of Ph.D. and EngD. students. During the project, you will work with modelling and system integration experts. You are expected to work with experts from

Paul Scherrer Institute-Switzerland, Ethnicon Metsovion Polytechnion-Greece, OPRA Engineering Solutions B.V. Netherlands, and other commercial partners.

• We are looking for an enthusiastic, professional, and ambitious colleague;
• You are an outstanding MS graduate in the field of Sustainable Energy Technology, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline with a proven affinity to multidisciplinary assignments;
• You are eager to learn energy systems modelling and analysis, energy conversion and storage technologies.
• You have experiences or eager to learn working with python, simulation software packages and relevant application toolbox for the simulation of supply and demand in sustainable energy systems over time.
• You have the ambition and talent to accelerate in finding solutions for complex technological issues with a multidisciplinary character;
• You have strong analytical skills;
• You can work in a multidisciplinary team of researchers coming from various branches of science and industry;
• You have excellent communication skills.
• You are fluent in English, both spoken and written.
• A high degree of responsibility and independence, while collaborating with close colleagues, researchers and other university staff is strongly encouraged.

• We offer a very challenging position for two years in an inspiring multidisciplinary and international environment.
• salary of € 2618 gross per month;
• a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary and a year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• solid pension scheme;
• Minimum of 29 holidays in case of full-time employment;
• a tailor-made post-master design program that has an educational component (~50%) as well as a design project (~50%);
• on completing the program, you will receive a certified degree. You will be entitled to use the academic degree EngD and will be registered as a Technological Designer in the Dutch register kept by the Royal Institution of Engineers in the Netherlands (KIVI).