Job description
PhD thesis on digital twins for anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyzer health monitoring and control. Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) electrolyzers are designed to combine the benefits of alkaline and PEM technologies to reduce the cost of hydrogen production. Compared to PEM, AEM electrolyzers use lower-cost materials, contain more earth, and are typically more efficient than alkaline electrolyzers. However, AEM electrolyzers are prone to higher degradation rates, especially of membranes, and are not yet able to achieve the current densities and hydrogen production rates of PEM electrolyzers. As part of the approximately €50 million “HyPRO” project, the largest ever green hydrogen R&D project in the Netherlands bringing together 58 partners from research and industry, we are looking for a PhD candidate to develop a hybrid physically-based and data-driven digital twin for AEM cells. The goal of the digital twin is to monitor the health and predict the remaining lifetime for predictive maintenance of operational AEM batteries developed by our partner HyET E-Trol. A central feature of your work is the incorporation of a neural network (NN) agent into a detailed physically-based and experimentally-validated model of an AEM battery in order to capture non-measurable internal battery parameters during operation. In order to twin the neural network agent with an operational HyET E-Trol AEM battery and track its health, it may be worthwhile to explore recurrent neural networks, particle and/or extended Kalman filters, and inverse parameter estimation methods. By revealing the dependencies between battery health and operating parameters, it may also be worthwhile to explore remaining useful life for predictive maintenance as well as advanced control strategies to extend operating life. Finally, in addition to modeling, you will participate in experimental stability testing of AEM batteries at HyET E-Trol to obtain data and validate models.
offer requirements
You have a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Applied Physics or a related field. You have experience and/or strong interest in numerical modeling, coding, and machine learning. You have experience and/or strong interest in electrochemistry, transport phenomena, reactor design and control. Experience and/or willingness to learn hands-on battery testing through electrochemical (i-V, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, gas chromatography) and analytical techniques (SEM-EDX, XRD, IR, Raman). You are an excellent team player, working with a group of passionate scientists and engineers on common topics. You are creative, enjoy pushing boundaries, and are highly motivated to solve major challenges in the low-carbon energy and materials transition. You are fluent in English and able to work intensively with external people from academia and industry in regular meetings and working visits.
offer benefits
A full-time position for 4 years. Your salary and related conditions are in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU). The gross monthly salary is €2,901. Excellent benefits, including a vacation allowance of 8% of gross annual salary, a year-end bonus of 8.3% and a solid pension plan. In the case of full-time employment, there is a minimum of 232 hours of vacation based on an official working week of 38 hours. In practice, full-time employment is defined as a 40-hour working week, resulting in an additional 96 hours of vacation per year. Free use of sports facilities on campus. Parental leave (paid and unpaid) at family-friendly schools.
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