PhD Candidate within thermal cycling of compact steam cycles

Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU); Trondheim; On-site; NOK 480,000 - 540,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Energy and Process Engineering at NTNU is seeking a PhD candidate to work on numerical analysis and experimental work for thermal cycling of compact steam cycles. The position is full-time for three years, supervised by Professor Lars O. Nord.

The project DUOP focuses on understanding Once-Through Steam Generators through advanced modelling and experiments, in collaboration with NTNU, SINTEF, and industrial partners.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree with a major independent project (minimum 30 ECTS)
• Master’s degree must be completed and documented before starting (by 01.08.2027)
• Strong English communication skills are required
• Good understanding of steam-based power plants and heat exchangers
• Solid foundation in engineering thermodynamics and heat

Responsibilities

• Complete the doctoral education, including PhD coursework, until obtaining a doctorate
• Carry out high-quality research within the described framework
• Publish academic papers and contribute to dissemination
• Co-supervision of Master students
• Collaborate with the Heat-to-Power Laboratory and international partners
• Engage in activities such as conferences or research stays abroad
• Collaborate with national and international industry partners

Skills

English presentation skills

Steam-based power plants understanding

Thermodynamics and heat knowledge

Education

Master’s degree in Mechanical/Energy/Industrial/Process Engineering or related field

Major independent project (≥30 ECTS)

Expected completion by 01.08.2027

Job description

About The Position

The Department of Energy and Process Engineering (https://www.ntnu.edu/ept) at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) is seeking a PhD candidate to work with numerical analysis and experimental work applied to thermal cycling of compact steam cycles. The successful candidate will be employed full-time by NTNU for a period of three years.

The candidate will be supervised by Professor Lars O. Nord with expertise in thermal power plants, and process modelling and simulation. Are you motivated to take a step towards a doctorate and open up exciting career opportunities? As a PhD Candidate with us, you will work to achieve your doctorate, and at the same time gain valuable experience that qualifies you for a further career in higher education and research, in and outside academia.

About The Project

Energy efficiency and emission reduction are key challenges in offshore power production. Offshore technology is a strategic sector in Norway, which is a global leader in this field. The field of compact heat exchangers and steam cycles is also applicable to the marine sector and other applications where space and weight are limiting factors.

The project “DUOP - Deeper Understanding Of Once-through steam generator Operational Physics,” is a collaborative and knowledge-building project funded by the Research Council of Norway and industry. It is based on a collaboration between NTNU, SINTEF, Cracow University of Technology, and industrial partners. DUOP aims to improve understanding of how Once-Through Steam Generators (OTSGs) operate. By combining advanced modelling with controlled experiments, the project will identify the root causes of damage that affect reliability and maintenance needs. A key focus is understanding how thermal stress, fatigue, creep, and corrosion influence OTSGs tubing during start-ups, shutdowns, and changing operating conditions.

DUOP brings together leading researchers and industry partners to advance compact OTSG technology for offshore applications, so the candidate will have the opportunity to collaborate with relevant national and international industry. By enabling more efficient energy use, the project will help reduce emissions from offshore installations and support Norway’s leadership in low-emission offshore solutions. Thermal cycling can lead to creep-fatigue damage and is hard to directly measure. In addition, compact offshore OTSGs have different creep-fatigue characteristics from traditional boilers. Accurate models validated with experimental data are necessary to predict creep-fatigue.

The Tasks For The PhD Candidate Include The Following

• Develop and simulate dynamic process models of compact steam cycles to investigate typical transient operation scenarios.
• Participate in experimental work at a steam laboratory.
• Develop automated scripting workflows to process, validate, and analyse measurement data from the steam laboratory.
• Perform transient thermal analysis based on measurement data and numerical analysis.
• Identify damage mechanisms under thermal stresses.
• Participate in developing a framework for dynamic optimisation of OTSG operation.

Duties of the position

• Complete the doctoral education, including PhD course work, until obtaining a doctorate
• Carry out research of good quality within the framework described above
• Publish academic papers and contribute to popular science dissemination
• Co-supervision of Master students
• Participate in the research group Heat-to-Power Laboratory (https://www.ntnu.edu/ept/heat-to-power)
• Participating in international activities such as conferences or research stays at foreign educational institutions
• Collaborating with relevant national and international industry

Required Selection Criteria

• You must meet the requirements for admission to the Faculty of Engineering’s Doctoral Programme (https://www.ntnu.edu/iv/doctoral-programme) see Section 6-1 of the PhD regulations for more information.
• You must have a relevant Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Energy Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Process Engineering, or related field. Your degree must include a major independent project (minimum 30 ECTS) equivalent to a master’s thesis.
• Master students can apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position and no later than 01.08.2027.
• You must have a strong and relevant academic background from your previous studies and have an average grade from your Master's degree study, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared to NTNU's grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic foundation. If you have a weaker academic background, you may be considered if you can document that you are exceptionally suited for a PhD education, for example through relevant work experience and/or peer-reviewed academic works.
• Good oral and written presentation skills in English.
• A good understanding of steam-based power plants and heat exchangers.
• A good foundation in engineering thermodynamics and heat