Join our effort to improve alkaline water electrolyser stacks through 
computational modelling!

Job description 
Hydrogen generated from green electricity in water electrolysers is currently 
widely considered as an essential ingredient for a successful energy transition. 
Hydrogen bubbles form, coalesce, rise, and move through various parts of the 
electrolyser, influencing the distribution of flow, current, dissolved gas, and 
heat. Various problems associated with gas bubbles can arise, including flow 
maldistributions, the formation of hot spots, and the unwanted crossover of gas. 
To minimise energy losses and improve safety, you will build a comprehensive 
computational multiphase flow model including heat and mass transport.

As part of a consortium of Dutch universities and companies (HyPro, 
https://groenvermogennl.org/project/hypro-onderzoek-naar-technische-risicos-en-
kostenverlaging-van-groene-waterstof/) you will look at larger-scale flow 
phenomena in good communication with a similar effort at AVOXT. At the TU/e a 
postdoc will work on small-scale bubble release, in collaboration with Veco 
Precision. Battolyser Systems will develop a CFD model of bubble behaviour 
within a cell on different electrode types and topologies.

A turbulent Euler-Euler two-fluid model or mixture model is envisioned, coupled 
to transport of current, heat and dissolved gas. The model will be implemented 
in commercial software like Ansys Fluent or an open source code like OpenFoam. 
Working models for various aspects of electrolyser modelling are already used in 
our groups and may be expanded upon.

You will be part of the lively research groups of Willem Haverkort 
(http://jwhaverkort.weblog.tudelft.nl) and Johan Padding 
(https://www.tudelft.nl/en/me/about/departments/process-energy/research/complex-
fluid-processing), including a mix of experimental and computational students, 
PhDs, and other researchers. Occasional work visits or consortium meetings to 
the collaborative partners are foreseen. Various experimental projects are 
running in parallel, and you are encouraged to regularly leave your computer, go 
into the lab and directly compare your results to experiments. Within Delft 
there is a flourishing community of researchers working on various types and 
aspects of electrolysis (https://www.tudelft.nl/e-refinery)

We can use your enthusiasm for CFD to help the energy transition and look 
forward to meet you and work on this challenging topic together! 


Job requirements 

As our new colleague you:

Hold a master’s degree in an engineering or scientific discpline,
Have a keen interest in computational modelling and fluid mechanics,
Are a highly motivated and self-driven researcher, capable of working both 
independently and as part of a team, and
Have an excellent command of written and spoken English.
 
Experience with Ansys Fluent, OpenFoam, or COMSOL or training in multiphase flow 
is a plus.

Additional information
If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection 
procedure, please contact HR advisor Linda Verhaar, via recruitment-
me@tudelft.nl.

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 5 January 2025 
via the application button and upload the following documents:

CV.
Motivational letter.
A list of courses taken and grades obtained.
A copy or link to your Master's thesis.
Contact details of 2-3 references.