PhD Position: CO2 Desublimation for Cryogenic Carbon Capture

Job description

Job description

Carbon capture will play an important role in reducing CO₂ emissions from sectors such as power generation, steel production and cement manufacturing. One promising route is cryogenic carbon capture, in which CO₂ is cooled to very low temperatures and turns directly from gas into solid. This gas-to-solid phase change is called desublimation.

Although cryogenic carbon capture can produce high-purity CO₂ without relying on chemical solvents, the physics of CO₂ desublimation is still not sufficiently understood. In particular, we need to know how the solid layer develops, how it affects heat and mass transfer, and how surface design can improve the efficiency of the process.

As a PhD candidate in the Thermal Conversion and Storage group at the University of Twente, you will investigate CO₂ desublimation under controlled cryogenic conditions. The project is primarily experimental, supported by modelling and data analysis. You will design, build and operate a cryogenic experimental setup in which gas composition, pressure, flow rate and surface temperature can be controlled. Using optical imaging techniques such as back-light imaging and Schlieren, you will study solid CO₂ layer growth and the thermal and concentration boundary layers near the surface.

Your work will contribute to a predictive understanding of CO₂ desublimation and support the development of design guidelines for cryogenic carbon-capture systems.

You will be part of the Department of Thermal and Fluid Engineering at the University of Twente and will work in collaboration with academic and industrial partners, including RWTH Aachen University and Emicap B.V.

As a PhD candidate, you will

• design, commission and operate a test setup for controlled CO₂ desublimation experiments;
• perform experiments with CO₂ containing gas mixtures at low temperatures;
• use optical diagnostics to visualise and quantify solid CO₂ layer formation, growth and morphology;
• analyse heat and mass transport phenomena during desublimation;
• develop or support modelling approaches that link experimental observations to predictive descriptions of the process;
• investigate the influence of operating conditions, gas composition, flow rate, pressure, surface temperature and surface design;
• collaborate with academic and industrial project partners;
• publish your results in peer-reviewed journals and present them at international conferences;
• contribute to teaching activities within the department for a limited part of your time.

Your profile

We are looking for a motivated and curious researcher who enjoys understanding physical phenomena from first principles and is interested in combining hands-on experimental work with quantitative analysis.

You should have

• an MSc degree in Mechanical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a closely related field;
• a strong background in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer and/or mass transfer;
• a clear interest in experimental research and hands-on work with laboratory setups;
• the ability to analyse experimental data in a structured and quantitative way;
• good communication skills and the ability to work in an interdisciplinary environment;
• a very good command of written and spoken English.

Experience with one or more of the following topics is considered an advantage:

• cryogenic systems or low-temperature experiments;
• phase-change heat transfer, condensation, sublimation, desublimation, frosting or solidification;
• optical diagnostics such as Schlieren, shadowgraphy, or high-speed imaging;
• gas-flow systems, mass flow controllers, pressure control or thermal instrumentation;
• image processing and data analysis using Python, MATLAB or similar tools;
• modelling using COMSOL, OpenFOAM or similar software.

Our offer

We encourage high responsibility and independence, while collaborating with colleagues, researchers, other university staff and partners. We follow the terms of employment by the Dutch Collective Labour Agreement for Universities (CAO). Our offer includes: a full-time, 4-year PhD position with a qualifying evaluation in the first year; excellent mentorship in a stimulating research environment with excellent facilities; and a personal development program within the Twente Graduate School. It also includes:

It also includes

• Gross monthly salary of €3.204 in the first year, increasing each year up to €4.051 in the fourth year;
• Excellent benefits including a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary, an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%, and a solid pension scheme;
• 29 holidays per year in case of full-time employment;
• A training programme as part of the Twente Graduate School where you and your supervisors will determine a plan for a suitable education and supervision;
• A green campus with free access to sports facilities and an international scientific community;
• A family-friendly institution that offers parental leave (both paid and unpaid);
• A full employee status at the University of Twente (UT), including pension, healthcare benefits, and favourable secondary conditions as outlined in the CAO-NU collective labour agreement for Dutch universities.

Information and application

Are you interested in this position? Please submit your application via the University of Twente vacancy portal and include:

• a curriculum vitae;
• a cover letter explaining your motivation for this PhD position and your relevant background (maximum 2 A4 pages);
• a transcript or list of BSc and MSc courses and grades;
• your MSc thesis or another example of scientific writing, if available;
• contact details of two references.

An IELTS-test, Internet TOEFL test (TOEFL-iBT), or a Cambridge CAE-C (CPE). Applicants with a non-Dutch qualification and who have not had secondary and tertiary education in English can only be admitted with an IELTS-test showing a total band score of at least 6.5, TOEFL Internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT) showing a score of at least 90, or a Cambridge CAE-C (CPE).

For more information about the position, please contact

Dr. ir. Abhishek Purandare

Email: a.s.purandare@utwente.nl

Interviews will be held between 2 and 13 of November.

Screening is part of the procedure.

About the department

The University of Twente is a research university in Enschede, the Netherlands, with a strong focus on engineering, technology and their role in society. The university offers an international and interdisciplinary academic environment, where researchers work closely with industry, public organisations and other knowledge institutions. As a PhD candidate at the University of Twente, you will be part of the Twente Graduate School and will receive training and supervision to develop as an independent researcher. The university offers a lively campus environment with modern research facilities and a strong network of academic and industrial partners.

About the organisation

At the Faculty of Engineering Technology (ET), we work on engineering for impact: developing smart, sustainable, human-centred and technological solutions for societal challenges. We connect fundamental education, research and practice across five core domains: Asset & Maintenance engineering, Intelligent Manufacturing Systems, Personalised Health Technology, Resilience Engineering, and Sustainable Production, Energy and Resources.

We work on education and research in mechanical engineering, civil engineering and industrial design engineering. Together, we learn by making, creating, and innovating, addressing challenges in a solution-oriented way. Quality, connection and inclusivity are the foundation of our culture.

In our open community, students, researchers and staff collaborate with industrial and societal partners. This enables us to develop insights, applications and solutions that add value to society.