Graduation: Ammonia Power System

The Graduation: Ammonia Power System thesis develops GT-SUITE models for future marine power plants.

About us

The Research, Development & Innovation department of Damen helps the company to become the most sustainable and digitally connected shipyard in the world. We give support to the business in the development of an innovative product portfolio and offer pro-active advice with the aim of further improving the quality and performance of the Damen products and services.

The RD&I department is divided into Research, Development, and Enabling Technologies branches. There are six research teams. Damen invests substantially in its own internal R&D projects. Moreover, we are also very active in collaborative R&D projects with industry partners, as well as academia and knowledge institutes, both nationally and internationally.

The Role

The maritime industry must reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining reliable and economically viable vessel operations. Ammonia is seen as a promising future marine fuel due to its carbon-free nature and potential for large-scale renewable production. Within the NWO-funded AmmoniaDrive project, a novel power plant concept is being investigated that combines ammonia-fuelled Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) with Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) to achieve high efficiency and low emissions.

To support this concept, simulation models are needed that accurately represent the behavior of the power generation technologies and their interaction within an integrated marine energy system. The objective of this thesis is to develop GT-SUITE models for both an ammonia-fuelled ICE and an SOFC system, suitable for system-level studies of future marine power plants.

Key accountabilities

As an intern you will investigate modelling approaches for both technologies mentioned before, and develop representative models capturing performance, efficiency, operational constraints, transient behavior, and synergies relevant to marine applications. The models will be developed on the basis of experimental data generated within the project and integrated into a vessel model developed by Damen Research. It will also be used to study vessel performance, energy management, equipment sizing, fuel consumption, efficiency, and emissions. The thesis combines marine engineering, alternative fuels, energy systems, and simulation. You will gain experience with GT-SUITE modelling while contributing to AmmoniaDrive research and practical design studies for future ammonia-powered vessels.

Desired Outcomes:

• Models suitable for integration into vessel-level simulations within the AmmoniaDrive project.
• GT-SUITE model of an ammonia-fuelled internal combustion engine incl validation vs measured data.
• GT-SUITE model of a solid oxide fuel cell system running on ammonia incl. validation vs measured data.
• Assessment of the performance and operating characteristics of both technologies.
• Recommendations for optimal SOFC–ICE integration (sizing & control) in marine applications based on system level studies of developed models included in a vessel model provided by Damen Research.

Skills & Experience

• You are currently enrolled in either a Bachelor or Master study, preferably in the field of Mechanical Engineering, Naval Engineering or similar.
• Autonomous, practically and result driven.
• Good command of English, written and spoken.
• Fulltime availability for on-site thesis work in Gorinchem.

What we offer

• Competitive internship/graduation fee and travel allowance.
• A pleasant and dynamic, international work environment with informal atmosphere.
• Professional coaching/mentoring.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.

• Location: Gorinchem.
• Time type: Full time.

Other

Due to housing issues we cannot accept international students that do not have accommodation in the Netherlands yet.

This assignment can be taken up as soon as possible or next semester.