R&D Modelling Expert for Thermal Energy Systems

No Dutch job description available as knowledge of English is required.

As a Flemish, internationally recognized research center, VITO aims to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world. VITO performs innovative activities for, among others, the Thermal Energy Systems sector. Thermal networks are gaining more attention in the process of decarbonization of heating and cooling systems, due to their potential to increase the energy system flexibility through, for example, demand-side management. A better understanding and representation of these systems through realistic data-driven models, advanced control and condition monitoring strategies will lead to better design and operation. You will actively participate in research projects as expert on modelling for thermal networks and their components. You will also be involved in the practical implementation of the developed tools and strategies in relevant thermal networks. You will work on the next generation algorithms for thermal network control (www.stormcontroller.eu) as well as automated fault diagnostics in these systems.

You will be based in VITO/EnergyVille in Thor Park Genk, Belgium. EnergyVille is a collaboration of Flemish universities and research centers with focus on renewable energy.

Read more about our research on Research on thermal systems | EnergyVille

Your responsibilities

• You will be the researcher with excellent expertise in the creation of physics-based and data-driven models of thermal energy systems and their components.

• You translate your expert knowledge of thermodynamics in white, gray and black box models.

• With this, you actively contribute to team developments of novel and/or advanced control, optimization, and condition monitoring (fault diagnostics) with main focus on system level.

• You can pinpoint (and tackle some of) the challenges to balance true physics-based models with data-driven models for practical use in operational algorithms. You welcome the challenge to handle non-linear optimization problems.

• You will work with the centralized expert team of data modelling, optimization and AI-specialists to challenge their mathematical approach to fit the thermo-dynamics reality.

• You contribute to the preparation, execution and reporting of fundamental and/or applied research proposals.

• You work in various project teams with multi-disciplinary expertise towards common goals.

• You communicate your own or project team results in clear and high-quality reports, scientific papers and presentations.

• As member of the ACES (Analytics and Control for Energy Systems) team of VITO, you are part of a leading team that brings high-tech digital innovative solution for renewable energy systems to the international market.  

• You hold a master’s degree in Thermodynamics, (Chemical Process) Engineering or Applied Mathematics. Holding a PhD-degree is a bonus.

• You have at least 5 years of relevant experience on physics-based modelling.

• You want to further extend and apply your knowledge into the thermal energy sector and more specifically on thermal networks.

• You have good implementation skills in Python and you are familiar with Python packages such as NumPy, pandas, scikit-learn, and knowledge of packages supporting numerical optimization such as Pyomo and CasADi is a bonus.

• Knowledge of Modelica and TRNSYS is expected.

Are you eager to grasp different ideas and detect relevant research questions with your multidisciplinary team? Do you enjoy acting on an international platform? Do you think connecting with researchers and other stakeholders is a must for conducting excellent research? Then don't hesitate and take your chance!

Offer

• If you're tired of the frequent commute, you've come to the right place. We work 'activity based', our activities bring us to our location. Our EnergyVille office is in Genk. Part-time work from home, our headquarter in Mol, or working from a satellite office in Antwerp-Berchem, Leuven or Ostend is possible.

• A competitive salary with a range of benefits including allowances, insurances, and a modular vacation package.

• Innovation is our asset, so it goes without saying that we give our employees the opportunity to follow additional training courses and stay up to date in their field of expertise. You always get the opportunity to broaden your knowledge on BMS applications and their components towards innovative and robust designs and solutions.

• You will be part of an organization with an international reputation, known for its advanced technological research and scientific consultancy.

• With us, you will contribute directly to sustainable developments at local, national, and global level through your innovative applications. You provide an answer to today’s societal challenges.

• Moreover, at VITO we attach great importance to work-life balance! We do this by being flexible, depending on your specific needs.