PhD Position CFD-FEM Modelling of Electrically Heated Reactor Concepts Reactio

PhD Position CFD-FEM Modelling of Electrically Heated Reactor Concepts With and Without Reactions

How will you electrify our future CO2 conversion reactors?

CO2 conversion reactors depend on adequate heating and heat management. Several thermochemical pathways involve high-temperature (> 300 °C) endothermic reactions, that depend on technically feasible, efficient and economically attractive heating by green electricity. A typical example is the dry reforming of biomethane, which is taken in this project as a model reaction to develop and further mature electric heating technologies. The developed technologies can be readily transferred to other relevant reactions for carbon-based chemistry, including reverse water‑gas shift (CO2 + H2 CO + H2O), leading to technology transition moving away from conventional fossil‑fuel heated refining processes to the refinery of the future.

In this challenging PhD project we ask you to combine knowledge and models from three different domains: electromagnetism, thermo‑hydraulics and reaction kinetics.

In particular, we aim to develop both surface heating solutions (through resistive and impedance heating) and volume heating solutions (through impedance and induction heating) for catalytic flow reactors. The work will be performed in the Process and Energy Department of the Mechanical Engineering Faculty (Johan Padding), in close collaboration with the Electrical Engineering Faculty of TU Delft (Mohamad Niasar) and the Chemical Engineering and Chemistry Department at TU Eindhoven (Martin van Sint Annaland).

Your work will start with the design, modelling and evaluation of resistive heating concepts in collaboration between T.EN, NEM, TU/e, and TNO. A theory review will be performed jointly, resulting in guidelines for reactor design, taking into account the electrical breakdown strength of the reaction environment. Based on advanced technology for internal resistive heating of chemical reactors, several different configurations will be evaluated with your CFD‑FEM models and tested at TRL4 (10 kWe) at TU/e to identify the most promising configurations and operation modes, first only for heating purposes, followed by an experimental demonstration for dry methane reforming.

For volume heating, T.EN with TUD and TU/e will design integrated 3D‑printed structures that combine heating functionality with active materials (catalysts).

Next to the resistive heating solutions, you will design, model and evaluate impedance and inductive heating concepts in collaboration with T.EN, NEM, TU/e, and TNO. Several different configurations, which include direct inductive heating (using a dedicated coil) and impedance heating using auto‑inductive effects in different reactor geometries, will be evaluated by your CFD‑FEM models and tested at TRL4 (10 kWe) at TU/e to identify the most promising configurations and operation modes, first only for heating purposes, followed by an experimental demonstration for DRM.

• An MSc in Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Applied Physics or related field
• Proven experience with finite element and/or finite volume modelling of continuous fields in a multi‑physics context
• Affinity with chemical reactor engineering
• Sound knowledge of Maxwell's equations for electromagnetic fields

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4‑year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1.5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2.5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from €3059 - €3881 gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end‑of‑year bonus of 8.3%.

As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic…