Join our effort to improve alkaline water electrolyser stacks through computational modelling!

Job description
Hydrogen generated from green electricity in water electrolysers is currently widely considered as an essential ingredient for a successful energy transition. Hydrogen bubbles form, coalesce, rise, and move through various parts of the electrolyser, influencing the distribution of flow, current, dissolved gas, and heat. Various problems associated with gas bubbles can arise, including flow maldistributions, the formation of hot spots, and the unwanted crossover of gas. To minimise energy losses and improve safety, you will build a comprehensive computational multiphase flow model including heat and mass transport.

As part of a consortium of Dutch universities and companies (HyPro, https://groenvermogennl.org/project/hypro-onderzoek-naar-technische-risicos-en-kostenverlaging-van-groene-waterstof/) you will look at larger-scale flow phenomena in good communication with a similar effort at AVOXT. At the TU/e a postdoc will work on small-scale bubble release, in collaboration with Veco Precision. Battolyser Systems will develop a CFD model of bubble behaviour within a cell on different electrode types and topologies.

A turbulent Euler-Euler two-fluid model or mixture model is envisioned, coupled to transport of current, heat and dissolved gas. The model will be implemented in commercial software like Ansys Fluent or an open source code like OpenFoam. Working models for various aspects of electrolyser modelling are already used in our groups and may be expanded upon.

You will be part of the lively research groups of Willem Haverkort (http://jwhaverkort.weblog.tudelft.nl) and Johan Padding (https://www.tudelft.nl/en/me/about/departments/process-energy/research/complex-fluid-processing), including a mix of experimental and computational students, PhDs, and other researchers. Occasional work visits or consortium meetings to the collaborative partners are foreseen. Various experimental projects are running in parallel, and you are encouraged to regularly leave your computer, go into the lab and directly compare your results to experiments. Within Delft there is a flourishing community of researchers working on various types and aspects of electrolysis (https://www.tudelft.nl/e-refinery)

We can use your enthusiasm for CFD to help the energy transition and look forward to meet you and work on this challenging topic together! 

Job requirements
As our new colleague you:

• Hold a master’s degree in an engineering or scientific discpline,
• Have a keen interest in computational modelling and fluid mechanics,
• Are a highly motivated and self-driven researcher, capable of working both independently and as part of a team, and
• Have an excellent command of written and spoken English.

Experience with Ansys Fluent, OpenFoam, or COMSOL or training in multiphase flow is a plus.

TU Delft (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 as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Mechanical Engineering
From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the ME faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.

ME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in ME’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work.

Conditions of employment
Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2872 per month in the first year to € 3670 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 a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service. This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme for partners and they organise events to expand your (social) network.

Additional information
If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact HR advisor Linda Verhaar, via recruitment-me@tudelft.nl.

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 5 January 2025 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• CV.
• Motivational letter.
• A list of courses taken and grades obtained.
• A copy or link to your Master's thesis.
• Contact details of 2-3 references.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• A knowledge security check will be part of the selection procedure.
  (for details page 45: national knowledge security guidelines)
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.