EngD Position in Complex Biomass Combustion on a Grate

• Hours40 hr.

• Salary indication€ 2,089

• Deadline10 Feb 2023

Job description

The EngD programme is a 2-year post-MSc technological programme with a focus on technological design. This programme contains an educational part that will be followed at the University of Twente, and a design project that will be carried out in cooperation with consortium of companies (HoSt FT, HVC and Bio-energie Andijk) gathered under the BALANS project funded by RVO HER+ subsidy. The educational programme will have an in-depth and broadening character with ample attention for professional development and will be partly tailored to the design project.

Project description

In the Netherlands large quantities of complex non-woody combustible biomass are still not utilized for power and heat generation. One of the best opportunities to utilize the potential is efficient and low emission combustion in modern energy plants like Bio-energiecentrale Andijk. However, the physico-chemical properties of the biomass mix, make it very challenging for the energy plant. A low temperature melting point of the ashes leads to agglomeration and blockage at the grate, whereas evaporated sodium and potassium salts present in the fuel, after condensation in the downstream installed afterburning chamber and boiler, may lead to fouling and corrosion. As a consequence the combustion process of such complex biomass (even when mixed with the regular biomass) is characterised by high investment and maintenance costs, low energy efficiency and low plant availability.

The aim of this project is to design an economically attractive combustion process in a grate furnace that can utilize the full potential of the complex non-woody biomass waste streams. This development should realize low temperatures in the gasification zone and assure the required retention time of 2 seconds at minimum temperature of 850 degC. The task demands from the EngD student modelling of the processes which occur on a grate and in the furnace, with the main focus on:

• CFD modelling of the biogas combustion in the furnace using Ansys Fluent and/or OpenFOAM
• Modelling of the gasification process of various biomass feeds on a grate (Matlab based)
• Design optimum conditions for complex biomass combustion

Please send your CV, motivation letter and any relevant certificates and references by February 10, 2023 through the apply now button.

Contact information

If you have any further questions about this vacancy or the EngD programme in Energy & Process Technology, please contact dr. ir. A.K. Pozarlik (Email: [email protected] Tel.: +31 (0)53 489 2658.

The first (online) interviews will take place in the week of February 20.

The Faculty of Engineering Technology (ET) engages in education and research of Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Industrial Design Engineering. We enable society and industry to innovate and create value using efficient, solid and sustainable technology. We are part of a ‘people-first' university of technology, taking our place as an internationally leading center for smart production, processes and devices in five domains: Health Technology, Maintenance, Smart Regions, Smart Industry and Sustainable Resources. Our faculty is home to about 2,900 Bachelor's and Master's students, 550 employees and 150 PhD candidates. Our educational and research programmes are closely connected with UT research institutes Mesa+ Institute, TechMed Center and Digital Society Institute.