PhD Position Aircraft Design for the Integration of Hydrogen Tanks

PhD Position: Aircraft Design for the Integration of Hydrogen Tanks

This position seeks a Ph.D. candidate to develop a parametric and multiphysics model of a hydrogen storage and distribution system to be integrated in the fuselage of a regional turboprop aircraft.

Job description

Aviation is relentlessly working on the ecological transition to reduce its contribution to climate change. This Ph.D. position will explore the potential introduction in aviation of the enabling technologies associated with the storage of liquid hydrogen as a power source either for combustion or for the generation of electric energy thanks to the fuel cell systems. This research pursues the objective of modelling a multi-physics and multi-fidelity parametric model of the liquid hydrogen storage and distribution systems to verify the impact of its integration in the design, the certification and the operative life of a regional aircraft such as the ATR-72, chosen as reference for the European project CRYOSTAR.

This position will include research activities associated with the project CRYOSTAR, funded within the framework of the European research initiative Clean Aviation, and further developments that will derive from its outcomes. The objective of this project is testing to crashworthiness a hydrogen tank designed by previous European projects. The research activities include the development of a multi-physics model and its validation through an intensive testing activity in collaboration with the other partners of the project. Whereas the scalability of the model is addressed in the CRYOSTAR project in terms of limits and constraints, after the two years of the project, the Ph.D. candidate will have the opportunity to implement scalability methodologies to address different integration strategies in the fuselage. Thus, certification constraints and design choices will be investigated to efficiently integrate the hydrogen tanks and assure the necessary safety levels.

The research activities covered by this position will encompass several phases of the design process scaling the fidelity level of the designed aircraft and system models. Furthermore, the multi-disciplinary aspect involved will require an efficient interaction with the researchers of both the departments of Flight Physics and Technologies and Aerospace Structures and Materials involved in the project.

Job requirements

• Familiar with challenges and benefits of hydrogen propulsion in aviation from both design and operations points of view.
• Strong expertise with programming in MATLAB or Python.
• Strong knowledge and expertise in conceptual and preliminary design of green aircraft integrating hydrogen tanks.
• A solid background in unconventional aircraft design methodologies for the ecological transition, with a strong interest in combining aircraft design with digital modeling.
• Familiar with the concepts of crashworthiness and the associated means of compliance.
• A team-oriented mindset, eager to collaborate with researchers and industry experts.
• Excellent spoken and written English communication 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 Aerospace Engineering

The Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology is one of the world’s most highly ranked (and most comprehensive) research, education and innovation communities devoted entirely to aerospace engineering. More than 200 science staff, around 270 PhD candidates and close to 3000 BSc and MSc students apply aerospace engineering disciplines to address the global societal challenges that threaten us today, climate change without doubt being the most important. Our focal subjects: sustainable aerospace, big data and artificial intelligence, bio-inspired engineering and smart instruments and systems. Working at the faculty means working together. With partners in other faculties, knowledge institutes, governments and industry, both aerospace and non-aerospace. Working in field labs and innovation hubs on our university campus and beyond.

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 €3059 per month in the first year to €3881 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.

Additional information
If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Dr. Francesco Orefice, via F.Orefice-1@tudelft.nl.