PhD Researcher in Sustainable Energy Systems
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The Thermal Systems Simulation (The SySi) Team at KU Leuven is seeking a highly motivated researcher to work on the Horizon Europe SEEDS project. The successful candidate will be part of an international collaboration between universities, research institutions, and companies to develop cost-effective and replicable RES-integrated electrified heating and cooling systems for improved energy efficiency and demand response.
About the Project
The SEEDS project aims to speed up the electrification of thermal systems through energy renovation and system smartification in the building sector. The project focuses on developing and demonstrating scalable and generic design and operational optimization methodologies for integrated systemic solutions.
Research Topics
* Integrated design of collective hybrid heat pump systems based on air-water and ground-water HPs for cost-effective electrified solutions
* Adaptive hydronic scheme for seasonal switch
* Smartification of heat pumps to facilitate MPC integration
* Integrated optimal control and sizing using white-box MPC, including stress-testing for robust design
* Extension of white-box MPC for multi-energy vector districts, virtual assessment, demonstration, monitoring, and evaluation in the field
* Continuous Commissioning using the white-box model
* Replication of the hybrid concept from De Schipjes Pilot to Stijn Streuvelstraat Pilot
* Contribution to Replication Strategies, Decision Making Support Framework, Communication, and Dissemination
About the Position
We are looking for a highly motivated researcher with a Master of Science degree in Engineering or a related field. The ideal candidate should have a strong background and interest in energy, especially in collective thermal energy systems, optimal control (MPC), physics-based modelling, and optimisation. The candidate should start from insights in the system and enrich these approaches by available data.
Requirements and Qualifications
* Scientific rigor, initiative-taking, results-oriented, loyal
* Proficient in English (spoken and written)
* Ability to work independently, accurately, and methodically
* Team player with a broad network offered
* Active player in the broader team, attending brainstorm sessions, sharing approaches, insights, and vision
* Presentation of research findings at national and international conferences
* Publishing research findings in international top-journals
* Contribution to the Horizon Europe SEEDS project as one of the main researchers for novel developments, but also for related demonstration, replication strategies, communication, dissemination, and valorisation tasks
* Knowledge of Modelica and Python is an asset
* Attending international project meetings and writing project reports
* Assisting in teaching activities through project work and exercise sessions
* Supervising Master theses