PhD: Nanofluids for High Voltage Technology

Department/faculty: Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science
Level: Master degree
Working hours: 38 uur per week (Maximum of 38 hours per week (1 FTE))
Contract: Four years
Salary: €2042 to €2612 per month gross
Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science

The faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) is known world wide for its high academic quality and social relevance of its research programs. The faculty’s excellent facilities accentuate its international position in teaching and research. The faculty offers an interdisciplinary setting for its 500 employees, 350 PhD students and 1700 undergraduates. Together they work on a broad range of technical innovations in the fields of sustainable energy, telecommunications, microelectronics, embedded systems, computer and software engineering, interactive multimedia and applied mathematics. EEMCS: Your Connection to the Future.
Job description

In many fields of high voltage (HV) engineering, electrical and thermal stress increase due to an ongoing decrease of product dimensions. Mineral oil plays an important role in many HV systems, i.e., it is used as electrical insulation and as a heat transporting medium. For a further reduction of product size and product weight, it is essential to improve both the electrical and the thermal properties of the oil. The aim of this project is to develop an environmentally friendly replacement of mineral oil, with enhanced thermal and electrical properties. The focus will be on nanofluids, possibly based on ester liquids, which are derived by adding small fractions of nanometre size particles to conventional heat transfer fluids. Nanofluids combined with solid nanocomposites offer good prospects for creating compact and ‘green’ HV products.
An international consortium led by Philips Healthcare is sponsoring this research with the aim to introduce this technology in some of their products if proven successful.
Your tasks include:
• developing techniques for controlled preparation of nanofluids
• electrical, thermal and mechanical characterisation of nanofluids
• validation of the developed technology in a large-scale industrial model
• regular presentation of results to the consortium.
Requirements

We are looking for someone with an MSc degree in electrical engineering, physics or chemistry. He/she should have a multi-disciplinary approach and an affinity for and knowledge of material physics and electrical engineering. Furthermore, the candidate needs to have strong social and communication skills and should be able to cooperate well with the other participants in the project.

Conditions of employment

TU Delft offers an attractive benefits package, including a flexible work week, free high-speed Internet access from home, and the option of assembling a customised compensation and benefits package (the 'IKA'). Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
Information and application

For more information about this position, please contact Prof. Dr. J. J. Smit, phone: +31 (0)15-2784231, e-mail: j.j.smit@tudelft.nl. To apply, please e-mail a detailed CV along with a letter of application by 1 April 2010 to Prof. Dr. Smit at: Peno-ewi@tudelft.nl. When applying for this position, make sure to mention vacancy number EWI2010-06.

Enquiries from agencies are not appreciated.