Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e)
The Laboratory of Chemical Reactor Engineering of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry at the Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands has a PhD vacancy:
"COPIRIDE - Combining Process Intensification-driven Manufacture of Microstructured Reactors and Process Design regarding to Industrial Dimensions and Environment. "
Ph.D. project description
This Ph.D. vacancy is in a joint research project COPIRIDE for demonstrating the use of process intensification and microstructured devices for large-scale chemicals production. This project is carried out within the scope of the FP7-Nano Materials & Production (NMP) program of the European Commission. Central aspect is the development of modular container-like plants equipped with PI equipment and specialized for much improved chemical conti-flow production. The COPRIDE project is a collaborative project, co-ordinated by the Institut fuer Mikrotechnik Mainz GmbH (IMM) and 7 companies and 8 academic partners, including the Chemical Reactor Engineering group at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), with a total budget of 11 Mio Euro.
The ultimate ambition of COPIRIDE is to develop a modular production and factory concept for the chemical industry using adaptable plants with flexible output. This concept will be new, superior, intellectual property (IP) protected, and enable a much wider spread of know-how and education of this skill-intensive technology. Key functional and enabling units are new production-scale, mass-manufactured microstructured reactors as well as other integrated process intensification (PI) reactors realising integrated processes. This will lead to a substantial reduction in costs, resources & energy and notably improves the eco-efficiency. To ensure the competitiveness of European (EU) manufacturing businesses, PI technology / know-how is transferred from leaders to countries (and respective medium & small industries) with no exposure in PI so far, but with a track record in sustainability, and to the explorative markets food and biofuels. A deeply rooted base will be created for IP rights (Copyright, = COPIRIDE) by generic modular reactor & plant design and new generic processes via Novel Process Windows, facilitating patent filing. Due to the entire modular plant concept comprising all utilities far beyond the reaction & processual parts - a holistic PI concept is provided, covering the whole development cycle with, e.g., safety & process control & plant approval. Features, inter alia, are fast plant start-up and shut-down for multipurpose functionality (flexibility in products), sustainable & safe production, and fast transfer from lab to production & business (time-to-market). Industrial demonstration activities up to production scale with five field trials present a good cross-section of reactions relevant to the EU chemical industry.
The economic impact in COPIRIDE is 10 Mio (cautiously optimistic) to 30 Mio (optimistic) by direct exploitation. Indirect exploitation might sum up to 800 Mio (extremely optimistic) by other companies via technology transfer.
TU/es contribution to the project is two-fold in the work package Catalyst Optimisation TU/e has to bring in its experience (together with IMM) with catalyst coating related to two tasks about development of wall coating techniques (using channel coating at large-scale format and modeling; in the work package Intensifying Process Windows and Reactor Engineering TU/e is involved in collection and analysis of existing process data, in changing the process protocols towards Novel Process Windows, reactor engineering for laboratory reactors, and in the low-risk scale-up reactor concept for pilot reactors. Thus, this frame will provide contents for a PhD thesis entitled Modelling and design of scaled-out microstructured reactors for modular container plants guided by operation in Novel Process Windows (working title).
More information about the group"s research program: www.chem.tue.nl/scr
Requirements
University Graduate
We are looking for candidates who have a Master degree in chemistry or chemical engineering, and with a sound background in reaction engineering and/or catalysis.
Organization
Technische Universiteit Eindhoven Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry
The Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry (ST) is one of the nine departments of Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). It was established in 1957. The department has approximately 500 employees (411 fte), 13 full professors, 370 undergraduate students (bachelor and masterstudents) and about 170 graduate students (140 Ph.D. and 30 design engineers).The department aspires to be an academic institution for education and research in chemical science and engineering that meets the highest international standards. The aim is to generate and to develop technology and scientific knowledge relevant for the long-term needs of society. Scientific curiosity and the use of newly generated knowledge are the main driving forces for the continuing enhancements of the three chosen fields of expertise: molecular, materials, and process engineering.
Conditions of employment
Estimated maximum salary per month: eur 2500 - 3000
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: 4 jaar
Maximum hours per week: 40
Additional Information
Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:
Prof. dr. Volker Hessel
Telephone number: +31(0)40 247 4959
Prof.dr.ir. Jaap Schouten
Telephone number: +31 (0)40 247 3088
E-mail address: j.c.schoutenattue.nl
Application
You can apply for this job before 31-07-2009 by sending your application to:
Technische Universiteit Eindhoven
STW1.41
Prof. dr. V. Hessel
Postbus 513
5600 MB Eindhoven
Nederland
E-mail address: v.hesselattue.nl
When applying for this job always mention the vacancy number V37.675.
