DTU, Technical University of Denmark, has together with a number of academic and industrial partners just started an exciting project on a novel large-scale thermal energy storage concept. The project includes numerical analyses as well as demonstration of the technology. Turbomachinery is used for the charging and discharging processes of the storage, and the design of efficient and cost-effective turbomachinery tailored for this application is of crucial importance for the success of the thermal energy storage concept. Currently, we have an opening for a PhD position at DTU, Department of Mechanical Engineering concerning the turbomachinery analysis within this project.

The increased use of fluctuating renewable energy sources worldwide, including primarily wind and solar energy, causes imbalance between supply and demand of energy. One of the more promising options to mitigate the variability of renewable energy sources is to use large-scale energy storage systems. The storage system addressed in this project is a novel packed-bed energy storage concept that requires novel turbomachinery designs. Challenges that need to be addressed for the turbomachinery include, for example, variable operating modes, high temperatures and the presence of particles/dust in the air entering the turbomachinery that may cause erosion on the blading.

Responsibilities and tasks
The research work includes the numerical and experimental analyses of turbo-expanders and turbo-compressors with air as working fluid. You will design the turbomachinery using advanced numerical tools, and select an appropriate bearing system, leading to the safe operation and maximum performance of the storage system. If you have a passion for research and a broad mechanical engineering background, including knowledge about turbomachinery design and thermal sciences, you may be the person we are looking for. You will become part of a leading international research team, and together with colleagues, you will get the opportunity to conduct groundbreaking research, ranging from detailed numerical analysis to experimental work. The results of your research will contribute to expand the use of renewable energy sources, reducing carbon dioxide emissions and mitigating climate change. You will get the chance to publish your work in top-level international scientific journals and at international conferences. It is also likely that your work will result in patents.

Examples of your responsibilities are the following:

• Develop expander and compressor designs using mean-line and 3-dimensional aerodynamic design approaches.
• Analyse the use of variable geometry aiming at improving the off-design performance of the turbomachinery.
• Conduct rotor dynamic analyses and select a suitable bearing arrangement.
• Select material for the components, and evaluate the prospects of using additive manufacturing techniques for some of the components of the turbomachinery assembly.
• Conduct a thermal stress analysis of the turbomachinery.
• Analyse means for coping with particles/dust entering the turbomachinery.
• Accomplish multi-objective optimization considering the performance, mechanical design aspects, and production and material costs of the turbomachinery.
• Prepare for and advise the manufacturing of the turbomachinery for the demonstration plant.
• Validate your numerical models based on the operational results of the demonstration plant.

Qualifications
Candidates should 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.

Application procedure

To apply, please read the full job advertisement at www.career.dtu.dk

Application deadline: 28 February 2021 (Danish time).