The faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology is one of the world’s largest faculties devoted entirely to aerospace engineering. In the Netherlands it is the only research and education institute directly related to the aerospace engineering sector. It covers the whole spectrum of aerospace engineering subjects. In aeronautics, the faculty covers subjects ranging from aerodynamics and flight propulsion to structures and materials and from control and simulation to air transport and operations. In astronautics, topics include astrodynamics, space missions and space systems engineering. The faculty has around 2,500 BSc and MSc students, 214 PhD candidates and 27 professors supported by scientific staff.
The faculty’s mission is to be the best Aerospace Engineering faculty in the world, inspiring and educating students through modern education techniques and enabling staff to perform ambitious research of the highest quality for the future of aerospace. The working atmosphere at the faculty is friendly, open-minded and dedicated.
The Department of Aerodynamics, Wind Energy and Flight Performance and Propulsion (AWEP) is one of four departments in the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering. Fundamental research is performed in the Aerodynamics section. Aircraft design, propulsion systems and their integration are the main topics in the FPP section. Wind energy systems, from small wind turbines to large offshore wind farms, are the focus of research in the Wind Energy section. The department operates comprehensive laboratories, equipped with modern wind tunnels and state-of-the-art measurement systems.
The Wind Energy section facilitates the development of wind energy technology and the expansion of the use of wind power through research and education. In its research activities there is a focus on large, multimegawatt offshore wind turbines and offshore wind farms, though urban wind power is also addressed. Both technology development aspects as well as fundamental aspects are present in the research programme. With respect to education, dedicated courses at the BSc and MSc levels are offered for Aerospace students, SET students and for the European Wind Energy Master (EWEM) students.
Job description
The PhD will investigate the aerodynamics of ducted wind turbines, based upon the Donqi® concept and will explore possible ways of further power augmentation by using (asymmetric) vortex generators, multi-element airfoils and their combination in multi-element ducts. She/he will perform aerodynamic research on favourable combinations to enhance the performance of ducted wind turbines without compromising structural integrity or manufacturing and installation cost-efficiency. The PhD research will be performed in collaboration with an industrial consortium, and hence academic research will be combined effectively with experiments in controlled and real conditions, allowing validation of concepts under real outdoor conditions. In the course of the project, three sets of experimental turbines will be built, used for experiments in the OJF wind tunnel of the Faculty of Aerospace engineering, tested outdoors and subsequently installed in an outdoor infrastructural test environment. The PhD will work closely together with the other aerodynamics PhDs in the Wind Energy Research group as well as with his/her colleague PhD at the Process and Energy group of the Faculty of Materials, Mechanical, and Maritime Engineering. This fellow PhD focuses on the integration of ducted wind turbines with infrastructural elements.
Requirements
We are looking for a candidate with the following qualifications:
An MSc degree in (wind energy) aerodynamics or aeronautical engineering
Experience with aerodynamics of rotating machinery, preferably wind turbine rotors
Familiarity with fluid mechanics and fluid mechanics software
Proven ability to work in an interdisciplinary environment
Keen interest in wind energy
Fluency in English, both spoken and written
Training in using modelling software packages.
Conditions of employment
TU Delft offers an attractive benefits package, including a flexible work week and the option of assembling a customised compensation and benefits package (the ‘IKA’). Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment; an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor; and a Doctoral Education Programme aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills. Please visit www.phd.tudelft.nl for more information.
Information and application
For more information about this position, please contact Prof. Gerard J.W. van Bussel, phone: +31 (0)15-2785170, e-mail: G.J.W.vanBussel@tudelft.nl. To apply, please e-mail a detailed CV along with a letter of application by 6 March 2015 to S.M. Willems, e-mail: S.M.Willems@tudelft.nl.
When applying for this position, please refer to vacancy number LR15-03.