Research Assistant - Hybrid Heating Technologies for Industrial Furnaces (m/f/d)

Supplier: Chair of Sustainable Thermo Process Engineering and Institute of Industrial Furnace Engineering and Heat Technology The Institute for Industrial Furnace Engineering and Heat Technology (IOB) of RWTH Aachen is one of the leading research institutes in industrial furnace technology and is particularly concerned with sustainable thermoprocess technology. In this context, research topics of process and plant optimization in the fields of production, processing and recycling of iron and steel, non-ferrous metals and glass and ceramics are dealt with in a total of five scientific working groups. The special focus is currently on the deossilization of melting, reheating and heat treatment processes. A focus topic is the use of renewable hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives as well as electric heating and the development of new process technology and plant technology. This results in a further focus, the flexibility of the systems by, for example, hybrid heating technologies. Further focus topics are process modelling and simulation as well as the energy and resource efficiency of industrial furnaces. The topic of already completed and up-to-date research projects is, in particular, the burning of novel fuels for heating industrial furnaces in the course of defossilization. For this purpose, the IOB has numerous test benches and high-quality measurement technology, which are used for testing in the technical scale. Furthermore, significant computing capacities are available for the simulation. In addition to specializing in content, the IOB is distinguished by application-oriented research in close cooperation with industry. Our partners include renowned research institutes and well-known companies, especially from the steel, aluminium and glass industries as well as machine and plant engineering. Cooperation also takes place at international level, currently particularly through cooperation projects with institutes and companies from Europe. As a scientific assistant (w/m/d) of our institute, you are part of an innovative research environment that promotes the field of defossilization and promotion of the circulation of energy-intensive industries. The body explicitly aims at an EU funding project with numerous industrial partners. These include steel manufacturers, plant manufacturers and technology suppliers for innovative heating solutions. The RWTH is certified as a family-friendly university. RWTH offers a variety of health, counselling and prevention services (e.g. university sports) as part of a university health management. There is a wide range of training and the possibility of obtaining a job ticket for employees and civil servants.

As a scientific assistant (w/m/d) of the IOB, you can realize yourself in the following fields of work, which will provide a diverse range of theoretical, practical and organizational work: Research – As part of a European-funded research project coordinated by the IOB, you are the main partner for the consortium. You are mainly concerned with CFD simulations of a hybrid heating system – initially a technique scale and later in an industrial heating furnace. In addition, you accompany the development of heating technology and support colleagues in measurements at the industrial plant. The work focuses on the validation and further development of existing simulation frameworks for very high air preheating temperatures and their influence on the formation of air pollutants (in particular NOx) – for metallurgical process gases, natural gas and hydrogen. Furthermore, one goal is to efficiently simulate the entire industrial process – it is possible to use different modeling strategies of partners and approaches developed in the IOB. The design and methodology is your responsibility. In addition, there is a chance to participate in further national and international research projects. Further work, which ensures the scientific excellence of your work, complements the work of this body. This includes the publication of your scientific results, among others by lectures at national and international conferences and publications in high-quality journals. Industrial cooperation – Close cooperation with industry is another important task. In industrial projects, you are involved in carrying out CFD simulations of industrial plants or process analyses for our partners. Optimization potentials or strategic issues such as technology change are derived and implemented from the analyses. Together, future-oriented concepts are developed in this way. You will also be able to expand and deepen contacts in the industry. Continuing education – At national and international conferences, seminars and congresses, you have the opportunity to present the knowledge gained from research and to promote the transfer to industrial practice. At the events and training of specialists and executives, an exchange of expertise is possible to develop new ideas and establish contacts. Teaching – The Institute offers events and internships for the students of RWTH Aachen. As part of the institute, you support the lectures and take responsibility for the training and internship. In addition, there is the possibility to supervise ambitious students during their graduation. First experience in leadership responsibility can be gathered in which you enable students to apply and extend the knowledge gained in practice.

The prerequisites for your entry to the IOB are a technical university degree (master or comparable) in the field of materials engineering, environmental engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering or comparable fields of study, as well as the safe mastery of the German and English language in word and writing. You may already have knowledge of the CFD simulation of turbulent flows, combustion and chemical kinetics. Also desirable are knowledge of programming with Python and experience with the software ANSYS Fluent® and Cantera. You have a high degree of autonomy, commitment and organizational talent. You want to develop and implement your own ideas. You like to work in the team, but can also motivate themselves for the purposeful execution of project work and focus on the writing of scientific articles. The organization of a project team and regular contact with industrial partners motivates and enthuses you.

The employment is in the employment relationship. The place shall be occupied at the next possible time and shall be limited to 2 years. A further employment of at least 2 years is envisaged. There is the option to extend the job to a total of 5 years. The temporary employment is carried out within the framework of the time-limits of the science-time contract law. It is a full-time job. There is a doctoral opportunity. The grouping depends on the TV-L. The place is rated with EG 13 TV-L. The job description is aimed at all sexes. We want to promote the careers of women at RWTH Aachen University and are therefore looking forward to applicants. Women are preferably taken into account in the case of equal suitability, competence and professional performance, provided You are underrepresented in the organisational unit and, if not in the person of a competitor, outweigh the reasons. Applications for suitable people with difficulty are expressly desired. For the purposes of equal treatment, we ask you to waive an application photo. Information on the collection of personal data pursuant to Articles 13 and 14 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) can be found at https://www.rwth-aachen.de/dsgvo-information-bewerbe