Votre mission

Context
Gas flaring is an old practice of burning rather than recovering, using and converting an associated gas produced by an industrial process, notably in the petrochemical industry. Flaring gas contributes to climate change. It also impacts the environment through large emissions of soot, nitrogen oxides and other pollutants through poor or difficult to be efficient combustion processes. In addition, gas flaring is an immense waste of valuable energy.
The conversion of these flare gases into electricity, in particular by using micro gas turbines (MGTs), appears to be the most obvious but not the most efficient solution. On the other hand, the hybrid cycle, combining an MGT with a fuel cell, and more specifically, the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell or SOFC, offers much higher power density and efficiency, better matching the specific needs. However, these cycles do not yet reach the necessary TRL to ensure a quick deployment.
RESTORE aims to develop and demonstrate such a hybrid combined microturbine-SOFC demonstrator capable of working with flare gas through partial steam reforming.
Description of the Project
RESTORE aims to develop a very efficient combined heat and power system for flare gas by implementing a hybrid cycle combining a micro gas turbine and an SOFC to avoid flaring while still enabling the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions through carbon capturing.
Description of the Post-Doctoral position
The post-doctoral research is expected to perform the theoretical analyses to identify the optimised cycle, including the best O2 separation CCS, design this specific cycle and test it experimentally.
Description of the Team
This offer is for a post-doctoral position at the Université de Mons (UMONS). The post-doctoral researcher will be supervised by Prof. Ward De Paepe of the Thermal Engineering and Combustion Research Unit of the University of Mons (UMONS).
Ideally located in the heart of Europe, the University of Mons (UMONS) offers a wide variety of courses in an enriching environment, as well as close teacher-student relationships. Despite the small size of UMONS, it is nonetheless open to internationalisation. Its research excellence contributes to the socio-economic development of the entire region
The Thermal Engineering and Combustion Research Unit is composed of 2 professors and 15 researchers. It brings together all of the UMONS’s research and teaching activities, evidently, around heat transfer and combustion. By specializing our research activities on energy in buildings and industry and its sustainable production, we contribute to tackling the engineering challenges of today and tomorrow: Towards sustainable energy for all!
The research interests of Prof. De Paepe are in the fields of advanced thermodynamic cycle development towards highly flexible and efficient, carbon-clear electricity and possible heat when considering cogeneration and production in the future energy system.
The Post-Doctoral researcher is expected to work in close collaboration with Mitis SA.

Votre profil

Candidates should be proficient in English, have obtained a Ph D degree in Mechanical Engineering, preferably around the subject of numerical and experimental (gas turbine) cycle analysis and development and have a hands-on mentality. Experience in programming (ideally Python), thermodynamic analysis using commercial software (e.g., Aspen Plus, Flownext, Thermoflow, or equivalent), as well as a strong background in experimental turbomachinery cycle analysis, design, and operation, are necessary qualifications to apply.

Notre offre

Starting date: January 2025
End date: December 2027 (on yearly-based contract)
Location: UMONS (Belgium)
Salary: 2200€ (approximate net income)

Intéressé(e) ?

Applications should contain a letter of motivation, a letter of recommendation, a short analysis of the project idea (max one page), and a short video (2 minutes max) explaining why we should hire the candidate. The application package should be sent to ward.depaepe@umons.ac.be.
Application Deadline: November 15th, 2024

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