The Department of Mechanical Engineering (W) considers as its core activities the design, realization and analysis of new products, processes and materials. Next to the basis of solid and fluid mechanics, material science, control theory and thermodynamics, mathematics, physics, chemistry and computing science are important supporting tools. The field is explored by a combination of dedicated experimentation and modeling. The Mechanical Engineering Department comprises about 1000 students and 250 staff members. In the Process Technology Group, research is conducted on various fundamental and applied topics relevant for process industry. The main themes are studied both by numerical simulation and by special validation experiments. This is also the case for the phase-transitional flows of the project described below, which is studied in collaboration with the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (ST). Tasks The processes of Chemical Vapor Deposition and Atomic Layer Deposition are vital for the fabrication of e.g. computer chips and solar cells. In both processes, fluids need to be evaporated with a chemical composition that becomes unstable above a certain temperature. This temperature can only be avoided by keeping the operating pressure and therefore the pressure drop low in the miniature evaporator. With new so-called contactless boiling techniques this can be achieved. In contactful boiling, on the other hand, the liquid rises through a porous wall by capillarity and evaporates on top in a gas flow passing by. Because of the complementary character of contactless and contactful boiling, both are studied in the present project. In this project, funded by the Dutch Technology Foundation, three PhD students and a post-doc will collaborate to study boiling and evaporation in miniature ducts. One of the PhD students will carry out experiments with advanced measuring techniques in two test set-ups at W, while a second PhD student will focus on numerical modeling at meso-scale at ST. The boiling and evaporation algorithm required in this model will be elaborated at micro-scale by a third PhD student, at W. The main tasks of the experimental PhD student will be the design and commission of two test set-ups, the further development of measuring techniques, performing validation experiments and the assessment of scaling rules. For the experimental Phd student, we are looking for a candidate with an MSc-degree in Applied Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or equivalent with a strong interest in experimentation. The candidate should have excellent communication skills in English and good cooperative skills and should be capable and willing to work in a multidisciplinary team together with theoreticians. Drive, initiative and self-reliance are important qualities as well. We offer: For further information on this vacancy you can contact:    For information concerning employment conditions you can contact: If you are interested in one of the PhD positions, and would like to apply, please send us your application by using the ‘apply now button on the TU/e website.
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