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 (houses, EV chargers, etc.) 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 co-funded by an NWO fund and 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, DC Grids testing environment, and 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 (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 (charging of electric vehicles), and renewable generation of electrical energy (such as wind and solar energy). Would you like to know more about the ESE department and the DCE&S group?

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.
• An 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)

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, 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, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) brings together three scientific disciplines. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we all use in our daily lives. Technology such as the electricity grid, which our faculty is helping to make completely sustainable and future-proof. At the same time, we are developing the chips and sensors of the future, whilst also setting the foundations for the software technologies to run on this new generation of equipment – which of course includes AI. Meanwhile we are pushing the limits of applied mathematics, for example mapping out disease processes using single cell data, and using mathematics to simulate gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. In other words: there is plenty of room at the faculty for ground-breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1000 employees and 4,000 students work and study in this innovative environment.

Conditions of employment

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with 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.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2901 per month in the first year to € 3707 in the fourth year. 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.

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