PhD Position Battery Energy Storage for Multi-functional Traction Grids

Integrating batteries into traction grids is finding new applications with the integration of RES and third-party users. Still, there are many power electronics and EMS challenges to solve.

Job description

Energy storage for the sake of braking energy recuperation and release will probably never have a solid business case. The often overlooked benefits of energy storage are voltage control and peak shaving when the traction grid has renewables and third-party users, such as houses and EV chargers, connected to it. This multi-functional use of a traction grid is an urgent necessity in times of grid congestion.

Still, how do we properly size the RES system when it is connected to the DC side and faces a significant generational mismatch? How do the connected EV chargers maximize their consumption of the excess RES and braking energy generation? How can battery energy storage, at the heart of this operation, properly buffer these connected sources and loads, and how can we build a robust state estimator, with the very few available measurements, to still allow it to properly dispatch? Finally, we must design a suitable, wide-input range, wide-output range, multi-port converter to connect the batteries, EV chargers, RES, and the traction grid together.

This PhD is fully funded by the public transport operator of Amsterdam, the GVB.

The research in the Department of Electrical Sustainable Energy is inspired by the technical, scientific, and societal challenges originating from the transition towards a more sustainable society and focuses on four areas:

• DC Systems, Energy Conversion and Storage (DCE&S)
• Photovoltaic Materials and Devices (PVMD)
• Intelligent Electrical Power Grids (IEPG)
• High Voltage Technologies (HVT)

The department owns a large ESP Laboratory assembling High Voltage testing, a DC Grids testing environment, and a large RTDS that is actively used for real-time simulation of future electrical power systems, AC and DC protection, and wide-area monitoring and protection. The DC Systems, Energy Conversion and Storage (DCE&S) group is responsible for research and education in the fields of DC systems, high voltage technology, energy storage, electronic power conversion (power electronics), and electromechanics. DC systems is a multidisciplinary field of research, exploring the integration of renewable energy sources and energy storage, including electric vehicles, in DC networks and systems and future DC transmission grids. The group is currently active in applications such as direct current distribution and transmission grids and microgrids, electrification of mobility through EV charging, and renewable generation of electrical energy such as wind and solar energy.

Job requirements

Who are we looking for?

• You have a master's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related engineering discipline from a well-established university.
• Experience with the modeling of one or more among: batteries, solar PV systems, power flows in DC grids, and EV charging demand.
• A solid background in power electronics and the development of experimental setups.
• Excellent English and programming skills are a requirement. Knowledge of Dutch is an advantage.
• A combination of excellent mathematical and analytical skills.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world-class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, its engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) brings together three scientific disciplines that reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we all use in our daily lives. The faculty contributes to making the electricity grid completely sustainable and future-proof, while also developing future chips and sensors and laying foundations for software technologies, including AI. It offers room for ground-breaking research, educates innovative engineers, and provides excellent labs and facilities in a strong international environment.

Conditions of employment

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1.5-year contract includes an official go/no-go progress assessment within 15 months, followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2.5 years, assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.