项目介绍

2024年3月15日

The open PhD candidate position aims at mining the knowledge needed for describing fluidized-bed cyclic reduction and oxidation of iron. Such a process aims at aiding the decarbonization of the heat and power sector. The research entails a combination of state-of-the-art experimental methods and modeling strategies. This position offers professional development in a frontline research environment and within a topic of the highest relevance for enabling the transition of energy systems towards sustainability.

Project description
The research is framed within the EU project CORAL (“Combustion of Rechargeable Metal Fuels in Fluidized Bed Boilers”), involving collaboration with academic and industrial project partners from Germany, Italy, Finland, Poland and Spain. This EU project is of outmost relevance in facilitating the establishment of iron as a carbon-neutral energy carrier providing long-term energy storage and cost-efficient freight. The cyclic reduction/oxidation of metal oxide/metal is a promising approach for the storage of intermittent energy from renewable sources and on-demand provision of CO2-free heat, power and hydrogen. For the oxidation step (energy discharge), the project will explore the retrofitting of current coal-fired fluidized bed power plants. For the reduction step (energy charge), a hydrogen-based process will be studied.

Various numerical models (steady-state/dynamic, semi-empirical/CFD) will be developed, validated by experiments, and used to investigate industrial-sized designs. The reduction/oxidation cycle in fluidized beds will be experimentally tested at various scales up to 1 MW thermal power.

Information about the division and the department
The work is hosted at Chalmers University of Technology by the division of Energy Technology, which has a long and world-wide recognized expertise in the field of gas-solids fluidization for energy conversion applications. The division of Fluid Dynamics, which holds a front-running research group in modeling of multiphase flow, will support the modeling activities.

Major responsibilities
As a PhD student your main responsibility is to manage your own doctoral studies, which includes the project research but also to undertake doctoral courses. A successful doctoral programme leading to the obtention of the doctoral degree is equivalent to four years of full-time studies, which includes the cited research, coursework, and participation in seminars and conferences. Further, considering teaching duties, the position is designed to be five years-long in total.

You are expected to plan and organize your work, to work in close collaboration with other group members and project partners, and to be able to communicate scientific results in English, both orally and in written form.

Your major responsibilities are to pursue your own doctoral studies. You are expected to develop your own scientific concepts and communicate the results of your research verbally and in writing. The position generally also includes teaching on Chalmers’ undergraduate level or performing other duties corresponding to 20 per cent of working hours.

Read more about doctoral studies at Chalmers here.

Qualifications
To qualify for the position, you need to have an MSc degree corresponding to at least 240 higher education credits in a relevant technical field and with a proven interest in transport phenomena and heterogeneous chemistry. An excellent academic track record and strong motivation and commitment to scientific inquiry are expected.

Excellent writing and communication in English, and high interpersonal and co-operational skills are required.
Further, we value possession of programming skills, and experience in experimental work and research labs, CFD modeling, and gas-solids flow.

To qualify for the position, you need to have an MSc degree corresponding to at least 240 higher education credits in a relevant technical field and with a proven interest in transport phenomena and heterogeneous chemistry. An excellent academic track record and strong motivation and commitment to scientific inquiry are expected.

Contract terms
Full-time temporary employment. The position is limited to a maximum of five years.

We offerChalmers offers a cultivating and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg. 
Read more about working at Chalmers and our benefits for employees.

Chalmers aims to actively improve our gender balance. We work broadly with equality projects, for example the GENIE Initiative on gender equality for excellence. Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.

Application procedure
The application should be marked with reference number 20240178 and written in English. The application should be sent electronically and be attached as PDF-files, as below. Maximum size for each file is 40 MB. Please note that the system does not support Zip files.

CV: (Please name the document: CV, Family name, reference number)
• CV
• Other, for example previous employments or leadership qualifications and positions of trust.
• Two references that we can contact.

Personal letter: (Please name the document as: Personal letter, Family name, ref.number)
1-3 pages where you:
• Introduce yourself
• Describe your previous experience of relevance for the position (e.g. education, thesis work and, if applicable, any other research activities)
• Describe your future goals and future research focus

Other documents:
• Copies of bachelor and/or master’s thesis.
• Attested copies and transcripts of completed education, grades and other certificates, e.g. TOEFL test results.

Use the button at the foot of the page to reach the application form. 

Please note: The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the application is complete. Incomplete applications and applications sent by email will not be considered.

Application deadline: 2024-04-10

For questions, please contact:
David Pallarès, Div. of Energy Technology,
david.pallares@chalmers.se

Carolina Guío-Pérez, Div. of Energy Technology,
carolina.guioperez@chalmers.se