The candidate•Holds a Master degree in electrical engineering•Has solid fundamental knowledge about electrical power systems•Has strong interest in renewable energies and low-voltage grids•Has an interdisciplinary mindset: Bringing power systems expertise, power electronics and feasible EMS together•Has decent English writing proficiency to publish scientific papers•Can swiftly communicate in English (B2 level)•Is willing to learn the Dutch language or is already proficient•Has preferably the nationality of a NATO member state
The candidate’s research will focus on off-grid systems. Off-grid systems contain a low-voltage grid that spans over a few hundred meters. As the name says, the off-grid system is not connected to a medium- or high-voltage grid. Therefore, local generation must satisfy the required load controlling voltage and frequency.
The candidate supports the research project HYDE. This project is dedicated to the off-grid system of a military camp powered by PV and supported by batteries and hydrogen as storages. An electrolyzer produces hydrogen using surplus PV production. A fuel cell generates electricity with that hydrogen. The losses of these conversions support the warm water supply. The two major challenges are: First, the EMS must be compatible with the dynamics of the fuel-cell and electrolyzer. Second, the protection must be compatible with the weak short circuit currents from the power electronic converters of the PV plant and the fuel cell. For this off-grid system, the candidate will investigate the operation: Model the low-level voltage and frequency control and interface that with an energy management system (EMS). The candidate will also support the implementation of the EMS on a 10-kVA demonstrator. The candidate will also investigate the protection: Model the grid’s fault behavior, propose an earthing scheme and develop a protection against short-circuits.
Next to research, the candidate will take up teaching activities. These are: Assisting students in lab-sessions and project work and guiding students during their master theses.
The research group ELECTA-Ghent conducts applied research on photovoltaics (PV), energy storage, electrical distribution grids, electrical mobility and applied power electronics. The group consists of three professors, two postdocs and 8 researchers.•Opportunity to obtain a PhD degree within 4 years. You will start with a one-year contract. A positive evaluation is the condition to pursue the PhD.•Extend your skills in the course of a structured PhD program by the Arenberg Doctoral School•Office on a cozy campus in next to the historical city center of Ghent(The authentic medieval city hosts 3 UNESCO world-heritage sites)•Flexible working times•Become part of the great KU Leuven network and its facilities•Opportunity to build up an international network•Contribute to the green energy transition with your work