PhD Position Experimental Physics Thermal-Hydraulics in Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technology

PhD Position Experimental Physics Thermal-Hydraulics in Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technology

Investigating Experimental Thermal-Hydraulics in Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technology for Land-based and Maritime Applications

Perform experimental research and develop accurate datasets that help shape the next generation of micro nuclear reactors for land-based and maritime applications. At TU Delft, you will design and operate unique thermo-hydraulic experiments that directly contribute to the safety and deployment of advanced reactor technology. You will work in an interdisciplinary consortium while collaborating closely with a second PhD researcher focused on reactor modelling and safety analysis.

TU Delft is part of a consortium led by Allseas that is developing a micro High-Temperature Reactor (HTR), being a pebble-bed design, for land-based and maritime applications. Within this project, you will generate experimental data that support reactor safety assessment and model validation.

As a PhD candidate, you will investigate passive heat removal and reactor behavior during water ingress scenarios in the MARLIN pebble-bed reactor concept. You will design, build and operate a non-nuclear experimental facility consisting of a tiltable reactor vessel with heated pebbles and advanced measurement systems.

You will perform experiments that vary pebble power, vessel orientation, water flow and pebble configurations to study heat transfer, natural convection, boiling phenomena and hotspot formation. Experiments will include extreme maritime conditions with vessel inclinations up to 90 degrees.

A second research line focuses on the influence of ship motions such as roll, pitch and heave on pebble-bed behavior. You will develop dedicated experimental setups to measure pebble movement, collision dynamics and local density variations under non-stationary conditions.

The validated datasets you generate will directly support the adjoining PhD project on high-fidelity reactor modelling and safety analysis. Together, both positions contribute to the safe deployment of advanced microreactors.

• You hold, or will soon obtain, a Master's degree in applied physics, mechanical engineering or a related field.
• You have a strong interest in experimental research and laboratory work.
• You have a proven interest/background in thermal hydraulics (fluid dynamics and heat transfer).
• You enjoy designing, building and operating experimental facilities.
• You can work collaboratively in multidisciplinary research teams.
• You communicate effectively in spoken and written English.
• You work proactively, accurately and in a structured manner.
• You are interested in advanced nuclear energy systems and reactor safety.

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 full-time 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. Benefits include a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, a monthly work cost contribution, and flexible work schedules.