About the position

We have a vacancy for a PhD position within turbomachinery in combined cycle applications at Department of Energy and Process Engineering.

The PhD position will be based at NTNU - The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Department of Energy and Process Engineering in the Process and Power research group (https://www.ntnu.edu/ept/process-power). The area of work will be within turbomachinery and specifically related to gas turbine technologies in combined cycles on offshore oil and gas installations. The successful candidate will be employed full-time by NTNU for a fixed period of three years. The project is in collaboration with Lund University (http://www.lunduniversity.lu.se) and the candidate is expected to spend a 6 months – 12 months research stay in Lund, Sweden.

The head of the department is Professor Terese Løvås. The position's day-to-day project management and supervision is by Associate Professor Lars Nord.

Main duties and responsibilities

The LowEmission research centre, hosted by SINTEF with NTNU as the key academic partner, will develop new technologies and concepts for offshore energy systems, increased energy efficiency and integration with renewable power on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (https://www.sintef.no/en/projects/lowemission-research-centre/). The PhD work at NTNU, within mentioned research centre, will be in the area of increased energy efficiency by utilizing combined cycles for power generation on the offshore oil and gas installations. The objective is to improve the net plant efficiency to minimize the CO2 emissions during installation lifetime. To follow the power demand and for operational flexibility, the offshore gas turbines mostly operate at part load conditions. Also, future offshore energy system will likely include a high share of variable renewable energy. This requires more flexible gas turbine operation and increases the importance of high part load efficiency. Therefore, the focus of the research should be on improving the part load efficiency. Both design and operational aspects should be considered.

Research topics include:

• Design and analysis for increased combined cycle net plant efficiency under varying loads and minimum lifetime consumption
• Optimized operational strategy under varying loads for minimized CO2 emissions during installation lifetime
• Analysis both at combined cycle system level and turbomachinery component level
• Evaluate measures, such as, variable area nozzles, exhaust gas recirculation, hot-water inlet heating, moisturization and dilution of different fuels (natural gas, hydrogen, ammonia)
• One or several case studies will be defined during the course of the project
• Results are expected to feed into the work in the LowEmission research centre, both on design and operation of steam bottoming cycles and on the overall offshore energy systems analysis

Qualification requirements

PhD candidate:

The PhD-position's main objective is to qualify for work in research positions. The qualification requirement is completion of a master’s degree or second degree (equivalent to 120 credits) with a strong academic background in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent education with a grade of B or better in terms of NTNU’s grading scale. Applicants with no letter grades from previous studies must have an equally good academic foundation. Applicants who are unable to meet these criteria may be considered only if they can document that they are particularly suitable candidates for education leading to a PhD degree.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants and national guidelines for appointment as PhD, postdoctor and research assistant

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment - DORA.

Applicants are strictly advised to address the following additional qualification requirements:

• Experience with computational tools relevant for design and analysis of turbomachinery
• A good understanding of turbomachinery and thermal power plants
• The ability to guide Master students in relevant topics
• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English
• Please also include a project description and a career development plan

Personal characteristics

• A high level of personal responsibility and initiative
• Ability to work in a project team
• Excellent communication skills with both technical and administrative staff
• Structured

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal suitability, as well as motivation, in terms of the qualification requirements specified in the advertisement

We offer

• exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment
• an open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues
• favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• employee benefits

Salary and conditions

PhD candidate:

PhD candidates are remunerated in code 1017, and are normally remunerated at gross from NOK 479 600 before tax per year. From the salary, 2 % is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The period of employment is 3 years without required duties. Appointment to a PhD position requires admission to the PhD programme in Engineering, please see: https://www.ntnu.edu/iv/doctoral-programme. 

As a PhD candidate, you undertake to participate in an organized PhD programme during the employment period. A condition of appointment is that you are in fact qualified for admission to the PhD programme within three months.

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criterias in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU. After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

General information

A good work environment is characterized by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, functional capacity or cultural background. Under the Freedom of Information Act (offentleglova), information about the applicant may be made public even if the applicant has requested not to have their name entered on the list of applicants.

Questions about the position can be directed to Associate Professor Lars Nord, e-mail Lars.Nord@ntnu.no, or Professor Magnus Genrup, Magnus.Genrup@energy.lth.se . No application should be sent to these email addresses. 

About the application:

Publications and other academic works that the applicant would like to be considered in the evaluation must accompany the application. Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify the individual applicant's contribution to joint works, the applicant must include a brief description of his or her contribution.

Please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates. Applicants invited for interview must include certified copies of transcripts and reference letters.

Please refer to the application number IV-220/19 when applying.

Anticipated starting date: 06.01.20

Application deadline: 20.09.19

NTNU - knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Energy and Process Engineering

We conduct research and teaching covering the entire energy chain, from resources to the end-user. We look at how energy is produced and used by humans and machines in a sustainable way with regard to health, climate change and the resource base. The Department of Energy and Process Engineering is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Engineering.

Deadline 20th September 2019
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
omfang Fulltime
Duration Temporary
Place of service Department of Energy and Process Engineering