PhD position in electrical power systems. Early stage researcher

4 Jun 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Tallinn University of Technology

Department

School of Engineering, Department of Electrical Power Engineering and Mechatronics

Research Field

Engineering » Electrical engineering

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Estonia

Application Deadline

30 Jun 2024 - 23:59 (Europe/Tallinn)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

40

Offer Starting Date

1 Sep 2024

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

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

No

Offer Description

Tallinn University of Technology School of Engineering, Department of Electrical Power Engineering and Mechatronics offers a 4-year PhD position in electrical power engineering and mechatronics.

The proposed PhD thesis topic: "Real-time and wide-area based power system stability monitoring in converter based systems"

Supervisor: Tenured Associate Professor Jako Kilter (TalTech)

Abstract
This PhD project focuses on creating a real-time and wide-area measurement based understanding on power system stability in converter based generation dominated power systems. The research aims to develop new methods for determining power system operating conditions and limitations when generation mix and locations are changing. The results of the project will be validated in real power system using available wide-area monitoring system.

Description
The main objective of this PhD project is to design and implement cutting-edge methods to determine the power system condition and states using wide area measurements and other available data in power system with significant level of converter based generation and consumption. This interdisciplinary research will integrate power systems models, electrical grid and power plant constraints, IT infrastructure, advanced forecasting algorithms, and wide-area measurements into advanced algorithms which enable power system operators to understand how far the system is from its stability limits. The research will leverage tools such as RTDS, MATLAB, PSS/E, Python, Wide-Area Monitoring System. The ultimate objective of the research is to increase power system operational awareness and thereby increase system security.

For this project, three PhD positions are offered.

Responsibilities and (foreseen) tasks

• Research and Development: Investigate and develop methods for power system stability monitoring.
• Wide-area platform: Development of algorithms for use in combination of laboratory based wide area monitoring system and RTDS.
• Actual system application: Development of algorithms for actual power system implementation considering the respective limiting constraints.
• Validation and Evaluation: Conduct rigorous validation and evaluation of the designed algorithms and optimization methods to ensure accuracy and reliability.
• Documentation and Dissemination: Document research findings, methodologies, and outcomes, and disseminate results through academic publications and presentations.

Requirements

Research Field

Engineering » Electrical engineering

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Applicants should fulfil the following requirements:

• a master’s degree in Electrical engineering from last 3-5 years
• a clear interest in the topic of the position
• profound knowledge of electric power systems, wide-area monitoring and machine learning methods.
• excellent command of English
• strong and demonstrable writing and analytical skills
• capacity to work both as an independent researcher and as part of an international team
• capacity and willingness to aid in relevant organizational tasks

The following experience is beneficial:

• (co-)authored scientific papers published in Q1 or Q2 journals
• programming using high-level programming languages (e.g., Python, C++, C#, Java or similar)
• mathematical optimization, programming, and algorithm development
• power system economics and electricity market
• renewable power plants and batteries

Specific Requirements

The information for the PhD admission is available at TalTech´s web-page: https://taltech.ee/en/phd-admission

Required application documents:

• CV
• Motivation letter
• Degree certificates as required by the university
• Copy of the passport

 The candidate should submit a research plan for the topic, including the overall research and data collection strategy. The candidate can expand on the listed research questions and tasks, and propose theoretical lenses to be used.

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Additional Information
Benefits

We offer:

• 4-year PhD position in the leading power system research group in Estonia with a large portfolio of pan-European and national research and development, and study projects, mainly concerned with renewable energy integration and wide-area based applications in electric power systems.
• The chance to do high-level research in the domain of power systems and renewables integration in an international and enabling environment with state-of-the-art research infrastructure.
• Opportunities for conference visits, research stays and networking with globally leading universities and research  centers in the fields of power systems monitoring and control

Additional comments

About the department

The Department of electrical Power Engineering and Mechatronics of Tallinn University of Technology is an interdisciplinary research center that focuses on socially relevant and future-oriented research and teaching issues related to power engineering and mechatronics. The mission of the Department is to be a leader in electrical engineering and technical studies and development projects in Estonia, known and valued in society, and a respected partner in both national and international cooperation networks and organizations.

The Department of Electrical Power Engineering and Mechatronics conducts research within 7 research groups and operates state of the art laboratories with high end equipment, offering also accredited services in the fields of lighting and different electrical measurements. The focus areas of the department are related to domestic and global challenges related to increasing digitalization, decarbonization and decentralization of electric power systems and increasing use of renewable energy sources. The department carries out research in the following relevant areas:

Optimization of electric power systems and system analysis to find possibilities for electrification and decarbonization
Diagnostics and monitoring of equipment and systems
Cyber security, 5g data communications and artificial intelligence
Energy networks and research on hydrogen technologies, including energy storage, renewable energy, low carbon technologies, consumption management, iot applications in energy
Implementation of smart industry, including industrial robotics, automation, 3d printing, machine vision
Implementation of energy and resource efficiency, including digitization of supply chains, mapping of opportunities to optimize systems and reduce energy consumption
Development of smart city solutions, including environmentally friendly and self-driving vehicles / drones, digital twin applications.

For further information, please contact Prof Jako Kilter, [email protected]

Website for additional job details

https://taltech.ee/en/phd-admission
https://taltech.glowbase.com/positions/818

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

3

Company/Institute

Tallinn University of Technology

Country

Estonia

City

Tallinn

Postal Code

19086

Street

Ehitajate tee 5

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://taltech.glowbase.com/

Contact

City

Tallinn

Website

https://taltech.ee/en/phd-admission

Street

Ehitajate tee 5

Postal Code

19086

E-Mail

[email protected]

STATUS: EXPIRED