PhD Researcher: Interactions and co-design between control and DC-side protection in future multivendor HVDC grids in the Inter-oPEn project

8 Mar 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

KU Leuven

Research Field

Engineering » Electrical engineering

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Belgium

Application Deadline

14 Mar 2024 - 00:00 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

38 hours/week

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Reference Number

BAP-2024-39

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

The PhD will be performed at KU Leuven/EnergyVille within the HVDC protection roadmap. Extensive support in HVDC control and HVDC protection topics can be expected given our growing teams, allowing you to focus your research on novel aspects and contributions towards the topic area. Sitting in between the fields of HVDC protection and HVDC converter controls, the topic will examine the interactions and possible co-design between control and DC-side protection. The project will address part of a key technical challenge for the HVDC industry - multivendor HVDC grids - and is therefore highly topical and industrially relevant. 

You are expected to perform independent research guided and supported by our experienced colleagues and industrial partners, with some flexibility in the research topic. You would be expected to work in topics related to co-design between HVDC converter and DC-side protection in a multivendor context, which could include topics such as: 

• Development of an understanding for the trade-offs in system protection and design of converter control/protection, and the possible interactions between HVDC system design and converter control. 
• Evaluation of the benefits of partially open structures, methods and models in HVDC protection and HVDC control co-design, leading to designs of structures, specification of interface requirements and evaluation of limitations and impacts.
• Developing methods to enable effective system reconfiguration and expansion while maintaining the expected functional performance of the combined converter-level and system-level control and protection.
• Examining the operational benefits of interfaces between DC protection and converter control and protection systems, and the division of control and protection functionality between different devices in a multivendor environment

Requirements

Research Field

Engineering

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Research Field

Engineering

Years of Research Experience

None

Additional Information
Benefits

• Fully funded PhD position based at KU Leuven/EnergyVille with range of benefits (e.g. hospitalisation insurance,…).
• Opportunity for placements (e.g. 3-6 months) to work with experts in local and international industry and academia.
• Work in international research project Inter-oPEn (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Training Network) with focus on interdisciplinary training of researchers as well as on high quality and industrially relevant research.
• Opportunity to work in state-of-the-art research laboratories and take part in both fundamental and applied research.
• The role should start in early 2024.

Eligibility criteria

• Background in power systems, power electronics, HVDC systems, …
• International profile (not worked/resided in Belgium for more than 12 months in the last 3 years) - requirement due to mobility aims of EU MCSA funding programme
• Requirements: Available to work in person in Belgium, main work location Genk; Willingness to contribute to a limited number of hours of teaching activities; Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or similar, with excellent academic record (preferably EU master’s); Fluent in English (specific language requirements for enrolment as PhD student)
• Desirable: Knowledge and interest in HVDC grid protection (systems, breakers, algorithms,…), HVDC converters (converter fault ride through, converter control, converter protection,…), and multivendor power systems; Practical experience in real-time simulation and lab testing of control and/or protection systems; Experience in EMT simulation tools (e.g. PSCAD) for transient power system studies

Selection process

For more information please contact Mr. Geraint Chaffey, tel.: +32 16 37 36 81, mail: [email protected] .
You can apply for this job no later than 14/03/2024 via the online application tool

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

KU Leuven

Country

Belgium

State/Province

Limburg

City

Genk

Postal Code

3600

Street

Genk

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://easyapply.jobs/r/8kudR4821uPuQ8Z49bD

Contact

State/Province

Genk

City

Limburg

Street

Genk

Postal Code

3600

STATUS: EXPIRED