PhD Student position in Hydropower

PhD Student position in Hydropower at the Div. of Fluid Mechanics

In Sweden, most of the large turbines were built between 1940 and 1970, therefore an important period of renovation is approaching. The refurbishment has to be done in conjunction with state of the art in turbine technology to obtain the best availability and efficiency. However, the rationalization of the electricity market has considerably reduced the number of turbine manufacturers and activities at universities. Aware of the problem, the Swedish Electrical Utilities Research and Development Company (ELFORSK), the Swedish National Energy Administration, major companies and universities have started the Swedish Hydropower Centre (SVC) in 2005. The goal of SVC is to secure and development competences within hydropower in Sweden. Two main areas are present within the centre: the area of civil engineering and the area of turbine and generator.

Luleå University of Technology is a major actor within SVC. The Division of Fluid Mechanics (www.ltu.se/tfm/fluidmechanics ), part of the Department of Applied Physics and Mechanical Engineering, works actively with hydropower since many years. The division has now a position open for a new PhD student. The student will work in an exiting and growing environment using the latest techniques within the area of fluid mechanics and with the possibility to develop contacts world-wide within as well industry as academy.

Project description
The work will comprise pressure and velocity measurements on a turbine model and its corresponding prototype in order to further develop scale-up formulas for validation of Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) calculations.

Qualifications: Masters/Civ.ing. in Mechanical Engineering. Specialization in Hydropower is a merit.