PhD stipend in carbon capture storage impurities and corrosion modeling (14-22105)

PhD stipend in carbon capture storage impurities and corrosion modeling (14-22105)

At the Faculty of Engineering and Science, AAU Energy, a position as PhD in modeling of impurities and corrosion for carbon capture storage (CCS) is open for appointment from 15-12-2022 or soon hereafter. The position is fixed for 3 years and will be positioned in the Energy Metropolis of Denmark, Esbjerg, at the AAU campus.

Job description

The project is part of the InnoMission call that invests in mission-driven green research and innovation partnerships that will significantly contribute to society's green transformation and the development of sustainable climate technologies for the benefit of Denmark and the rest of the world. The Danish government designates four specific green research and innovation missions that will contribute to the green transition nationally – one of them being the collection and storage or use of CO2 . More information about the InnoMisson call for the collection and storage or use of CO2 can be found here: InnoMission - CCUS

Job description 
CCS is considered to become a key intermediate technology in reducing CO2 emissions, and it would be difficult to achieve the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C pathway target without it. CCS is a vital but temporary solution in sectors that are hard to decarbonize. Thus, it has been agreed upon that CCS will play a big part in the future climate policy in Denmark. The political agreement in Denmark has resulted in a total grant pool for CCS of €2 billion in the coming years. The support will be divided into two parts. The first part of the pool will be implemented in the short term to kick-start the market. Esbjerg will likely play a central role in establishing a CCS industry as the current offshore industry in Denmark is centralized around Esbjerg due to its geographical location close to the North Sea. Besides, CCS is also part of the seven missions at AAU Energy: "Circularity and carbon capture in the energy sector," which emphasizes the department's strategy of keeping strengthening its position in the CCS research domain.
The main challenge is: if, how, and when CCS would become commercially feasible through either high national CO2 taxes, trading CO2 permits, or direct and indirect governmental support. In that context, the transportation method and the determined legislative quality of the CO2 will greatly impact the cost. For CO2 capture and storage deployment, understanding the impact of impurities in the gas or dense phase CO2 stream arising from fossil fuel power plants or other large-scale industrial emitters is of fundamental importance to the safe and economical transportation and storage of the captured CO2. Transportation of CO2 involves a risk of significant releases in case of pipeline rupture, which can endanger the surroundings as CO2 is transported under very high pressure and in large quantities. Therefore, transportation of CO2 to a storage site using high pressure must be governed by safety, environmental and economic considerations. Especially the concentration of impurities, such as O2, H2O, H2S, and NOx, in the CO2 stream can affect the pipes' corrosion rate. 
The overall project is intended to investigate how the infrastructure is affected by CO2 and impurities when transported in the future CCS industry, which is an essential part of the CCS solution but is seldom reviewed. The infrastructure design for transport and storage sites should be resistant to the future-defined CO2 quality and flexible in its design if considering future needs for CO2 in the Power-to-X production of green fuels. Furthermore, the national infrastructure of CO2 should be compatible with international infrastructure to allow future import/export of CO2 if Danish operators should not lose market shares. As part of the InnoMisson call, our overall project (CarbonAdapt) collaborates with several Danish companies: Welltec, Rambøll Danmark A/S, FORCE Technology, and Gas Storage Denmark. Welltec has developed a dedicated test loop facility for corrosion testing in a liquid/supercritical CO2 environment. The test loop facility at Welltec will simulate corrosion conditions similar to those expected in CO2 transportation pipelines and injection wells. In addition, the test loop facility will provide data to study the effect of different impurities of CO2 streams for injection, flow conditions, and reservoir fluids on materials, both on the existing type of wells and for new pipelines. More information about the test loop facility can be found on: Welltec - Test loop facility 
The aim of this PhD position is to utilize the results from the test facility to establish a mathematical model between CO2 impurities and corrosion in wells and pipelines. In addition, the learning in this PhD project will be used to identify requirements for qualifying existing infrastructure for CO2 transport both on a technological level to assist in determining, e.g., estimating the material lifetime, as well as being an important tool on a legislative level to establish a, e.g., gap analysis on a common practice for future CCS applications.
More information about the four Danish companies that are part of the project can be found on:

• Welltec: https://welltec.com/
• Gas Storage Denmark: https://gasstorage.dk/
• Rambøll Danmark A/S: https://dk.ramboll.com/
• FORCE Technology: http://force.dk/  

General about Aalborg University: 
Aalborg University contributes to the knowledge-building of the global society and the development of Danish society's prosperity, welfare, and culture. This is accomplished through research, research-based education, public sector services, and knowledge collaboration. Furthermore, Aalborg University educates students for the future, and activities are based on a dynamic and transformative collaboration with the surrounding community. 
AAU Energy is a dynamic engineering research department in continuous growth and inspiring surroundings. AAU Energy has a very international environment and covers all areas of the future's clean and sustainable energy systems within electrical, thermal, and mechatronic energy technology. AAU Energy has campuses in both Aalborg and Esbjerg. 
The mission is to be world-leading in both research and research-based education of future energy engineers. AAU Energy has approx. Three hundred employees of many nationalities, of which 25 are administrative staff. In addition, AAU Energy constantly has approx. 50-70 guest researchers from around the world. Research and teaching are in the absolute world elite in the field of energy, and we have an extensive and leading workshop and laboratory facilities where research and innovation are carried out in direct collaboration with industry to a great extent. 
Qualification requirements: 
Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the project, the candidate can have a background in any of the natural sciences engineering disciplines: chemical engineering, chemistry, surface science, electrochemistry, applied physics, mechanical, or energy; the requirements are more specific to have a solid background in, e.g., process modeling, mathematics, multivariable data analysis, and mechanics of materials. Having experience with CCS processes, corrosion, and fluid mechanics will be advantageous, but it is not mandatory. 
For consideration, interested applicants should submit the following documents:

• Letter of motivation
• Diploma confirming academic degree (Master's degree), including the grade transcript.
• Curriculum vitae
• Publications (if applicable) 
• Project description (4-5 pages), which describes the applicant's initial thoughts and ideas related to the specific project applied for. This includes a brief state-of-the-art (including a short list of references), a time schedule, and how the applicant intends to shed light on the project objectives.

All documentation should be in English. Please, note that applications that do not follow the announcement's guidelines will not be considered. The application must only be submitted online using the "Apply online" button below.
Read more about AAU at www.aau.dk .
Read more about AAU Energy at www.energy.aau.dk . 
PhD stipends are allocated to individuals who hold a Master's degree. PhD stipends are normally for a period of 3 years. It is a prerequisite for allocation of the stipend that the candidate will be enrolled as a PhD student at the Doctoral School of Engineering and Science in accordance with the regulations of Ministerial Order No. 1039 of August 27, 2013 on the PhD Programme at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions. According to the Ministerial Order, the progress of the PhD student shall be assessed at regular points in time.
Shortlisting will be applied. This means that subsequent to the deadline for applications the head of department supported by the chair of the assessment committee will select candidates for assessment. All applicants will be informed whether they will be assessed or not.
You may obtain further professional information from the project leader, Simon Pedersen;
phone: +45 30663663, E-mail: [email protected] . 
Read more about AAU at www.aau.dk . 
Read more about AAU Energy at www.energy.aau.dk .  
For further information about stipends and salary as well as practical issues concerning the application procedure contact Mr. Svend Hansen, The Doctoral School at The Faculty of Engineering and Science, email: [email protected] ,  phone: +45 9940 7527.
For more information of The Doctoral School of Engineering and Science: www.phd.engineering.aau.dk  

AAU wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background or belief.

Agreement

Appointment and salary as a PhD fellow are according to the Ministry of Finance Circular of 28 June 2019 on the Collective Agreement for Academics in Denmark, Appendix 5, regarding PhD fellows, and with the current Circular of 11 December 2019 on the employment structure at Danish universities.

Vacancy number

14-22033

Deadline

12/12/2022

Apply online
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