Postdoc Experiments and Modelling of Monolith Structures for Direct Air Capture

Postdoc Experiments and Modelling of Monolith Structures for Direct Air Capture

We seek a motivated researcher with a passion for engineering and sustainability, to design, fabricate, test and model monolith structures for Direct Air Capture.

Job description

Direct Air Capture (DAC) is seen as a key actor in achieving net zero emissions by 2050. This technology can achieve net negative emissions by capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide. The majority of the costs of DAC are associated with energy expense for sorbent regeneration, and replacement of sorbent material due to degradation. In current DAC devices with a granular sorbent bed, a notable part of energy is used by fans to move large amounts of air through the sorbent. The fan power is proportional to the pressure drop over the bed, a parameter largely controlled by the structure of the sorbent.

Monoliths acting as sorbent support are known to be advantageous compared to packed beds because of the lower pressure drop and energy required, while CO₂ adsorption capacity is maintained. Nonetheless, commercially available monoliths have not been optimised for DAC applications. For instance, geometry could be optimised for heat and mass transfer, sorbent lifetime, and to minimise sorbent amounts required. In addition, current sorbent-based DAC processes operate in batch-wise mode. Continuous operation is often regarded as the most productive configuration in the process industry, and it presents technical advantages over cyclic DAC operation. Therefore, in this project, we will design, fabricate, test and model monolith structures for continuous DAC operation. The steps towards this include:

• Designing a range of monolith geometries for DAC application and setting up multiphysics (coupled flow, heat, and mass transfer) simulations of these geometries.
• Interpreting numerical results to select the most promising geometries.
• Fabricating monolith samples using advanced additive manufacturing techniques and functionalising them through impregnation or grafting.
• Constructing a test set-up for breakthrough testing of these samples.
• Validating simulations using experimental results, and combining both to recommend optimal monolith structures for scale-up.

For this 2-year project, we seek a motivated postdoc researcher with a passion for engineering and sustainability. The prospective researcher will work closely with dr.ir. Tim M.J. Nijssen. Furthermore, we will meet regularly with Skytree BV to ensure alignment between this numerical project and their experimental campaign. You will be welcomed in the Engineering Thermodynamics section within the department of Process & Energy. Our section is focussed on the complex interplay between thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, heat and mass transfer and chemistry found in process equipment, and aim to understand these phenomena to design materials, devices and processes for a sustainable economy.

Job requirements

We seek a motivated, conscientious researcher (x/f/m) with strong communication and self-management skills, who is passionate about contributing to a solution for climate change.

The successful candidate:

• Holds (or is soon to obtain) a doctorate degree in mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, applied physics, or a similar field.
• Has experience in (multiphysics) CFD simulations (e.g. in OpenFOAM, COMSOL, etc.).
• Has experience in material preparation and testing (e.g. in adsorption, absorption, membranes, catalysis, etc.).

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 Mechanical Engineering

From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the ME faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.

ME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in ME’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation.

Additional information

We're excited to meet you! For more information about the position, please contact us directly via dr.ir. Tim M.J. Nijssen (t.m.j.nijssen@tudelft.nl).