PhD Thesis “Industrial process integration concepts for reversibly operated co-electrolysis for syngas production”

We are Austria’s largest research and technology organisation and an international player in applied research for innovative infrastructure solutions. This makes us a powerful development partner for industry and a top employer in the scientific community. Our Center for Energy in Vienna invites applications for a:

PhD Thesis “Industrial process integration concepts for reversibly operated co-electrolysis for syngas production”

- Center for Energy -

IMAGINE

- In order to combat climate change and to optimally protect the environment, the energy system needs a safe and sustainable transformation. In this context, green hydrogen and its derivates (synthetic gases/ fuels) are important energy carriers to decarbonize the energy infrastructure, heavy industry and the mobility sector.

- To accelerate the development of innovative and more efficient technologies for the production of green hydrogen, the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT) and the Graz University of Technology (TUG) launch a new PhD programme on Reversible High Temperature Electrolysis. 

- The programme offers you the opportunity to conduct your dissertation as part of a team of PhD-students enrolled at TUG, and in collaboration with highly specialized experts of both organizations, AIT and TUG. Thus, you can develop "out-of-the-box" solutions for real-world problems: Let's make ideas work!

Engage

- You will explore the latest developments on electrolyzing both steam and CO2 for the production of green synthetic gas (syngas CO-H2) and how it could be converted by further downstream catalytic processes into fuels such as methane, gasoline or diesel.

- You will investigate how high-temperature reversible co-electrolysis could be used to mutually convert power and chemicals at elevated temperatures.

- Together with the PhD programme team you will transfer results from the lab-scale solid oxide electrochemical cell (SOEC) stacks to the industrial application.

- You will evaluate optimal operation, SOEC component design, energy and material stream coupling and integration into selected industrial processes via systems simulation approach.

ACHIEVE

- You will develop a workflow for the evaluation of the technology (incl. reversible operation mode) and the comparison with alternative technologies (steam reforming, etc.) in energy consumption, gas quality, flexibility, techno-economy, etc.

- You will showcase industrial relevant applications and scenarios which benefit the most from employing the technology.

- You will engage with the scientific community and get involved with the relevant international working groups.

- Your contributions will be published as scientific journal articles and you will attend important conferences in the field.

- Your innovative ideas will form the basis of future research projects which you will help define.

Your qualifications as an Ingenious Partner:

- Master’s degree in the field of process engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, or a similar relevant field

- Very good knowledge of mathematical modeling in process engineering and numerical simulation methods

- Familiarity with software for process systems engineering and flowsheeting, e.g., Aspen Plus, IPSEpro, gPROMS

- Knowledge of green chemistry, chemical process engineering and energy technology, chemical reaction engineering, thermodynamics and fluid separations

- Knowledge of hydrogen electrochemical production and conversion techniques would be a plus

- Good programming skills, preferably in C/C++, Python, or MATLAB

- High level of commitment and team spirit

- Working proficiency in English

What to expect:

EUR 32.115,30 gross per year, for 30 hours / week, plus additional company benefits. You will be part of our international AIT PhD community and participate in our AIT PhD framework programme. As a research institution, we are familiar with the supervision and execution of PhD theses, and we are looking forward to supporting you!

AIT, the promotion of diversity is important to us - that's why we are especially looking forward to applications from female students!

TOMORROW TODAY - WITH YOU?

Please submit your application documents including CV, cover letter and certificates online: https://jobs.ait.ac.at/Job/194447