As part of the ERC grant “Active Wind Farms: Optimization and Control of Atmospheric Energy Extraction in Gigawatt Wind Farms,” funded by the European Research Council, we are looking for a

Postdoc researcher in the field of multidisciplinary wind-farm simulation

The TFSO research group (Turbulent Flow Simulations and Optimization) at the department of Mechanical Engineering of KU Leuven is a leading research group in simulation and optimization of wind-farm aerodynamics and interaction with the atmospheric boundary layer. TFSO, led by Prof. J. Meyers, currently employs 9 PhD researchers, and is largely focusing on wind energy in the context of the ERC project Active Wind Farms, and two other related research projects. For more information, visit http://www.mech.kuleuven.be/en/tme/research/tfso

The KU Leuven, situated in Leuven near Brussels, is one of the oldest universities in Europe. Its rich history and patrimony provides an inspiring research environment, and this is combined with very high standard accommodation. For its computational research, the K.U.Leuven has a state-of-the-art cluster, which is part of the Flemish Super Computing Center. Leuven is an agreeable city that is excellently geared to serve almost 40,000 students. The Mechanical Engineering building is situated on its perimeter in a peaceful green park near an ancient Castle.

Responsibilities
The candidate will focus in his research on the use of large-eddy simulation of wind-turbine arrays interacting with the Atmoshperic Boundary Layer (ABL) and the inclusion of multidisciplinary aspects related to structural loading of turbines, the interaction with the local electric grid, or aspects related to coordinated wind-farm control.

With the recognition that wind energy will become an important contributor to the world’s energy portfolio, wind farms are expected to cover increasingly large surface areas. At these scales, wind farms significantly slow down the ABL wind velocities at turbine height, leading to a large reduction of available power. At the same time, turbulent interactions between the ABL and wind turbines, and wake interactions between turbines, lead to increased power variability, and structural loading, reducing turbine lifetimes and increasing costs. Therefore, if future wind-energy targets are to be met, new approaches to improving the cost-efficiency of energy extraction from the ABL by wind farms are necessary. To that end, in the ERC project Active Wind Farms, PDE-constrained optimization techniques are combined with large-eddy simulation of wind-farm ABL flows. Simulations are performed using parallel computing.The postdoc research focuses on the inclusion of multidisciplinary aspects related to structural mechanics, the electric grid (primary and secondary reserves), or coordinated farm control into the ABL simulation and possibly the optimization problem.The postdoc researcher will closely interact with other researchers within the Active Wind Farms project. He/she is interested in a multidisciplinary approach to wind-farm research, combining his/her own expertise (preferably in turbine structural mechanics, wind-farm control, electrical grid aspects, or wind-farm aerodynamics) with other disciplines within the team.

Profile
Requirements and competencies:
PhD in engineering preferably with specialization in wind energy combined with either structural mechanics, electricity-grid aspects, turbine control, large-eddy simulation of ABL, or super computing
good programming skills in Fortran, C++, handling of large data sets, possible experience with parallel computing,
good English redaction skills for scientific reporting
good command of the English language in general

Offer
Salary and benefits:
The postdoc position is for one year, and extendable with one year. The monthly remuneration follows the salary scales of KU Leuven. The net salary roughly corresponds to 2200 euro after taxes, social security included (for an unmarried researcher without children; taxes, and the resulting net renumeration depend on civil status, and seniority). Funds for attending conferences, etc. are also in place.

Additional benefits for interested NSF postdoctoral research fellows
NSF has an agreement with ERC to allow NSF postdoctoral fellows to participate in ERC projects for up to one year. Travel costs for the U.S. scientists and their families (if necessary) will be covered by the NSF. Postdoctoral fellows are allowed to suspend their NSF grant, and pick it up when they return to the US (further details can be found in following press release: http://erc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/press_release/files/Press_release_NSF-ERC_agreement_final.pdf).

Selection and start:
Earliest possible starting date: immediately
Decision: as soon as a suitable candidate applies

Interested?

Please Apply using the online application tool of KU Leuven (cf. link below). Applications by Email cannot be processed! Upload a detailed CV, study transcripts, and a list of publications. Also add a copy of your best paper (as first author), and two reference letters.

You can apply for this job no later than March 01, 2014 via the online application tool

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