PhD student position in pulping technology: Falling film evaporation

The research project is a collaboration between Chemical Engineering and Mechanics and Maritime Sciences. The position will be located at Forest products and chemical engineering, a highly multidisciplinary research group working with experimental and theoretical research with expertise in chemical engineering and organic, analytic and polymer chemistry with the focus on pulping processes and solutions for future lignocellulosic biorefinery. We collaborate broadly with local groups at Chalmers, such as Applied Mechanics and Organic Chemistry, but also externally with KTH, RISE as well as industrial partners. The position will also be a part of “Resurssmarta processer" ("Resource efficient processes"), a network established at the national level aiming at promoting research and education within chemical engineering critical for development of resource-efficient technologies.

Information about the research
Scaling in evaporators is a major problem for chemical recycling in kraft pulp mills. For many mills disruptions in evaporation are a dominant cause of production losses and reduction of the plant energy efficiency and availability, aspects of fundamental importance for future biorefineries. By understanding how different operating conditions and process changes affect the performance of the evaporation plant, it is possible to develop strategies for controlling the scaling rate and maintaining a high plant efficiency, and consequently to reduce the risk of sudden production losses. For future biorefineries, it is important that the evaporation plant is both efficient and reliable, as the pulp mill's steam production will decrease when an increased proportion of the wood raw material is taken out as product streams in a biobased economy.

The aim of the project is to understand the physical mechanisms behind the heat transfer and scaling rate in evaporation plants under different operating conditions and process changes in order to maintain a higher and more robust evaporation capacity of the mills.

The PhD-student will conduct experiments at world-unique pilot evaporator, producing results relevant for industrial conditions, and utilize state-of-the-art numerical simulations to achieve this goal. The heat transfer and scaling rates dependence on temperature, dry solids and salt content are expected to be experimentally investigated. The PhD-student will also work with developing a numerical framework for simulating crystallization in liquid films under industrially relevant conditions to provide explanations for experimental observations on crystallization on the heat transfer surfaces. In the end, the project will provide clear recommendations and measures for the industry on predicting and avoiding scaling in black liquid evaporators.

Related research will be conducted in two parallel PhD-projects running in the research group at the division at Chalmers, along with closely related projects at KTH and Uppsala University within the network "Resurssmarta processer" ("Resource efficient processes") that will provide close collaboration, knowledge exchange and methodology support. 
 
The collaborative context and hands-on lab guidance within the research group at Chalmers will be further expanded to industrial partners and the whole “Resource efficient processes” network. Supervision of the PhD student will be provided through multidisciplinary supervision teams including supervisors from Chalmers (main supervisor) and RISE along with industrial partners Södra, Stora Enso, SCA, BillerudKorsnäs, Valmet and Holmen. 

Major responsibilities
Your main responsibility as a PhD student is to pursue your doctoral studies within the framework of the outlined research project. You are expected to develop your own scientific concepts and communicate the results of your research verbally and in writing, at international conferences and in scientific journals. In addition, the position includes 10% departmental work, mostly as a teaching assistant in undergraduate and masters-level courses at Chalmers. Moreover, you are expected to actively contribute to the collaborations and knowledge exchange within the network e.g. through participation in joint project meetings, seminars, workshops and education activities.

Qualifications
To qualify as a PhD student, you must have a master's level degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biotechnology or equivalent. To be succesfull in this position you need to be highly motivated and have an innovative way of thinking. You also need the ability to be independent but enjoy working in a team. The position requires sound verbal and written communication skills in English. 

Contract terms
Full-time temporary employment. The position is limited to a maximum of 5 years.

We offer
Chalmers offers a cultivating and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg. 
Read more about working at Chalmers and our benefits for employees.

Chalmers aims to actively improve our gender balance. We work broadly with equality projects, for example the GENIE Initiative on gender equality for excellence. Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers. 

Application deadline: 31 March 2022. 

Read more and apply here: https://www.chalmers.se/sv/om-chalmers/Arbeta-pa-Chalmers/lediga-tjanster/Sidor/default.aspx?rmpage=job&rmjob=10261&rmlang=SE

 

*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. *** 
   



Chalmers University of Technology conducts research and education in engineering sciences, architecture, technology-related mathematical sciences, natural and nautical sciences, working in close collaboration with industry and society. The strategy for scientific excellence focuses on our six Areas of Advance; Energy, Health Engineering, Information and Communication Technology, Materials Science, Production and Transport. The aim is to make an active contribution to a sustainable future using the basic sciences as a foundation and innovation and entrepreneurship as the central driving forces. Chalmers has around 11,000 students and 3,000 employees. New knowledge and improved technology have characterised Chalmers since its foundation in 1829, completely in accordance with the will of William Chalmers and his motto: Avancez!