PhD scholarship in modelling molten salt based thermal energy storage systems - DTU Energy

The Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), invites applications for a PhD scholarship in modelling molten salt based thermal energy storage systems.

The position is part of the CETP (clean energy technology partnership) project “LoCoMoSa” aiming to demonstrate a cost-reduced medium- to long-duration thermal energy storage system based on molten salt to deliver industrial heat at 120-450 °C. 

Heat accounts for half of Europe's energy consumption, making its decarbonization crucial to addressing climate change and energy security. Industrial heating constitutes 74% of industrial energy demand and nearly 20% of global energy consumption. While low-carbon policies have focused on electricity, Europe must also decarbonize industrial heat to meet its goals. This requires storage solutions to convert intermittent renewable energy into on-demand heat. 

The project LoCoMoSa aims to demonstrate an affordable thermal energy storage system using molten salt to provide industrial heat at 120-450 °C. It proposes indirect electrification using renewable energy to ensure a lower energy cost and higher energy security level for the industry. In this way, the project can advance the decarbonization of medium-temperature industries. LoCoMoSa aims to push state of the art for plant integration and cost of Thermal Energy Storage (TES) in industrial settings. 

Responsibilities and qualifications

As our new PhD student you will work on simulation and optimization of molten salt based thermal energy storage systems. Such system contains typically one or two molten salt tanks, an electric heater, and a steam generator. The system will be simulated and optimized to determine the optimal thermal storage capacity, heat power, and steam generator size. System simulation will evaluate the mass and heat balance of each component. The optimization process will leverage cost functions of both the CAPEX and OPEX.

Key tasks will be: 

• Background research on the market cost of each component (including molten salt, medium voltage electric heater, and additive-manufactured steam generator).
• Develop cost functions.
• Carry out system simulations to evaluate system performance. 
• Conduct optimization to determine the capacity of the thermal storage, power of the heat and sizing of the steam generator as well as the optimized LCoH for a full-scale version of the thermal storage system.

As part of the PhD education, you will follow courses and assist in teaching activities, and:

• You are expected to spend at least 3 months at a foreign research institution
• You will disseminate your work in international peer reviewed journals and at professional conferences.

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree. Ideally, you have a degree in thermal, chemical, or energy engineering, material science or similar and experience with one or more of the following areas: 

• Thermal energy storage
• System modelling & simulation
• MATLAB (Simulink) programming
• Aspen programming & simulation 

Moreover, you will be a good fit in our team if you are innovative, responsible, has good communication skills in English and able to combine working independently and in cross-disciplinary teams.

Approval and Enrolment

The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education

. 

Assessment

Your application will be assessed by Professor Ming Chen and Professor Peter Vang Hendriksen.

We offer

DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms 

The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 3 years.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here http://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/working-at-dtu/career-paths.

Further information

Further information may be obtained from Professor Ming Chen (mincdtu.dk). Please do not send applications to this e-mail address, instead apply online as described below. 

You can read more DTU Energy at www.energy.dtu.dk 

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark

. Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar

” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU. 

Application procedure 

Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 

than Saturday, 31st August 2024 (23:59 Danish time)

. 

Applications must be submitted as one PDF file

containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file

. The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae 
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it. 

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

DTU Energy

The Department of Energy Conversion and Storage is focusing on functional materials and their application in sustainable energy technology. Our research areas include fuel cells, electrolysis, solar cells, magnetic materials, sustainable synthetic fuels, batteries, and thermal energy storage etc. The Department was founded in 2012 and has more than 200 employees. Additional info can be found on 

www.energy.dtu.dk

Technology for people

DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.