PhD scholarship on Wind turbine and wind power plant protection in a converter-based power system

Do you want to be involved in the green energy transition? Do you wish to contribute to the development of wind energy and are you looking for a career in R&D or academia, then we have an opportunity!

We are looking for a highly motivated and skilled candidate to join us as PhD scholar.

DTU Wind and Energy Systems is a world-leading wind energy department that puts knowledge to work through cutting-edge research, innovation and development of technology. We have internationally leading research environments, and we prioritize strong cross-disciplinary collaborations within DTU, with leading international universities and facilities, and with private companies. We have a strong focus on the development of wind energy as the backbone of the future energy system and collaborate with the full sector.

Siemens Gamesa unlocks the power of wind. For more than 40 years, we have been a pioneer and leader of the wind industry, and today our team of more than 27,000 colleagues work at the center of the global energy revolution to tackle the most significant challenge of our generation – the climate crisis. With a leading position in onshore, offshore and service, we engineer, build and deliver powerful and reliable wind energy solutions in strong partnership with our customers. A global business with local impact, we have installed more than 124 GW and provide access to clean, affordable and sustainable energy that keeps the lights on across the world. To find out more, visit www.siemensgamesa.com and connect with us on social media.

Context
The position is part of the ADOreD (Accelerating the Deployment of Offshore wind using Dc technology) project. ADOreD is one of the largest industrial doctoral networks contributing to the decarbonization of electric power system via developing the most appropriate models and methods for a coordinated approach to offshore renewable connections. Six academic and 12 industrial beneficiaries will recruit and train 19 doctoral candidates performing research on topics spanning offshore wind, HVDC technology and grids and interactions between AC and DC systems. ADOReD is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research & innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 101073554.

In accordance with MSCA Doctoral Networks, candidates must comply with mobility rule: you must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Denmark for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before immediately before your recruitment date.

About the position
In traditional power systems, protection systems detect, locate, and isolate of faults (short circuit paths) to protect assets while allowing the remaining system to continue to function. Protection is traditionally based on flow of large fault currents from synchronous machines and that substantial overcurrent being detected by protection relays. Converters however do not have a meaningful short term overcurrent rating since over-currents in semiconductors lead to damaging temperature rises very quickly because of the very low thermal mass. This means that protection philosophy and implementation in 100% converter-based systems will need to be significantly different from what it is today. The project aims at assessing what this means for wind turbines and plants.

You will focus on modelling and analysing protection in 100% converter-based power system focusing on wind turbine’s response, develop control and protection schemes enabling secure tripping of wind turbines, and design and validate wind power plant protection coordination. You are expected to work closely with the industry partner, and collaborate with ADOreD fellow PhD students and others in the department.

Responsibilities and qualifications
Your primary tasks will be:

• Plan and manage your PhD project in collaboration with supervisors
• Model and analyse protection in 100% converter-based power systems
• Develop control and protection schemes for wind turbines
• Design and validate the wind power plant protection coordination
• Contribute to education in teaching and co-supervising BSc and MSc student projects

A detailed project plan will be developed with the supervisors within the     first three months after enrolment.

Candidates should have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) in engineering, natural sciences or similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a Master’s degree. The successful candidate is required to have:

• Documented background in wind modelling and control
• Solid understanding of power system protection
• Experience with simulation tools such as Matlab Simulink, PSCAD or similar, especially with power system and/or power electronics models and simulation in time-domain and frequency-domain
• Technical knowledge on grid simulation such as load flow, short-circuit, dynamic simulations, transient stability, harmonic analysis, fault ride-through,
• Technical knowledge on control systems (e.g. current control, voltage control) and power system elements (e.g. transmission lines, transformers, generators, cables)
• Ability to work in a project team and take responsibility for own research goals
• Fluency in communicating and reporting in English

The successful candidate must also fulfil the requirements for admission to a PhD program at DTU.

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
The assessment of the applicants will be made by the hiring committee that includes as minimum Professor Nicolaos A. Cutululis, Researcher Oscar-Saborío-Romano from DTU Wind and Energy Systems and representatives from Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy. Information about the applicants may be shared with other partners from the ADOreD consortium.

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 during the employment of 18 months at DTU will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed with  the relevant union.

The period of employment is 3 years from which 18 months at DTU and 18 months at Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S.

The terms during the 18 months employment at Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S will be based on the company’s internal terms complying with the MSCA terms.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Professor Nicolaos A. Cutululis, ([email protected] ).

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
Please submit your online application no later than 15 December 2022 (Danish time).

Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link “Apply online”, fill in 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) including the list of different ADOreD vacancies (in DTU and/or other partner institutions) where the candidate is applying
• A 1-page research plan
• Curriculum vitae (including contact info for 2-3 references)
• 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.

The Department of Wind and Energy Systems is one of the world’s largest centers of wind energy and energy systems research and knowledge, with a staff of more than 400 people from 37 countries working in research, innovation, research-based consulting and education. DTU Wind and Energy Systems has approximately 90 PhD students. The department’s cross-disciplinary research is organized through strategic research programmes that collaborate with Danish and international universities, research institutions and organizations, as well as the wind industry.

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 to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,400 students and 5,800 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.