PhD Position Wide Area Protection and Control Applications

Are you interested in working in a dynamic team consisting of academic and industrial partners, and contributing to the ongoing energy transition by doing research with a high level of scientific.

Job description

Today, dynamic line rating (DLR) is a method utilized to mitigate congestions occurring during normal operation. Although replacing DLR with static line rating can alleviate congestion problems, this may deteriorate the voltage and transient security of the power grid in real-time operation or N-1 contingency situations. Thus, considering DLR technology would not be sufficient as a single autonomous control action. Other system assets, such as on-load tap changer transformers, reactive power compensators, load shedding and generation rescheduling should be optimally adjusted to improve the power system security. 

The goal of this project is to develop an optimization-based application to determine the dynamic system rating (DSR) among virtual zones in a decentralised power system, ensuring the system security requirements (thermal limits, voltage stability, and transient stability) are satisfied. These virtual zones should be dynamically determined based on the real-time topology of the power system computed using real-time SCADA and PMU measurements, after which zonal autonomous control should be applied to guarantee secure power grid operation.

The final application of this project, which will be tested using Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) platforms developed with off-the-shelf software such as RTDS and PSS/E, should run continuously during normal power system operation. Its purpose is to ensure that, according to DLR, the power carried by the transmission lines does not compromise real-time system security and to provide optimal preventive and corrective actions to restore the system to a secure state if necessary.

The project is financed by industry and it is in the scope of the Power System Protection Centre (www.tudelft.nl/pspc).

About the department

The research in the Department of Electrical Sustainable Energy is inspired by the technical, scientific, and societal challenges originating from the transition towards a more sustainable society and focuses on four areas:

• DC Systems, Energy Conversion and Storage (DCE&S)
• Photovoltaic Materials and Devices (PVMD)
• Intelligent Electrical Power Grids (IEPG)
• High Voltage Technologies (HVT)

The Electrical Sustainable Energy Department provides expertise in these areas throughout the entire energy system chain. The department owns a large ESP Laboratory assembling High Voltage testing, DC Grids testing environment, and large RTDS that is actively used for real-time simulation of future electrical power systems, AC and DC protection and wide-area monitoring and protection.

The Intelligent Electrical Power Grid (IEPG) group, headed by Professor Peter Palensky, works on the future of our power system. The goal is to generate, transmit and use electrical energy in a highly reliable, efficient, stable, clean, affordable, and safe way. IEPG integrates new power technologies and smart controls, which interact with other systems and allow for more distributed and variable generation.

Job requirements

An MSc degree in Electrical Power Engineering. A strong emphasis on electrical power systems dealing with power system protection, wide area monitoring applications related to system protection. Comprehensive knowledge in:

• Electrical power system operation and system integrity protection schemes
• Affinity with programming.
• Mastering EMT-based software tools and PSS/E.  
• Knowledge and mastering RTDS is a strong benefit to this project.
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent writing skills.
• Excellent English skills. The minimum requirement of a TOEFL score of 100 IELTS of 7.0 per sub-skill (writing, reading, listening, speaking) applies to all candidates wanting to pursue a PhD at TU Delft

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology) 

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science 

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) brings together three scientific disciplines. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we all use in our daily lives. Technology such as the electricity grid, which our faculty is helping to make completely sustainable and future-proof. At the same time, we are developing the chips and sensors of the future, whilst also setting the foundations for the software technologies to run on this new generation of equipment – which of course includes AI. Meanwhile we are pushing the limits of applied mathematics, for example mapping out disease processes using single cell data, and using mathematics to simulate gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. In other words: there is plenty of room at the faculty for ground-breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1000 employees and 4,000 students work and study in this innovative environment.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science.

Conditions of employment 
Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met. 

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2901 per month in the first year to € 3707 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills. 

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.  

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.  

Additional information
If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Professor Marjan Popov, via m.popov@tudelft.nl.

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please submit:

• a cover letter that details your motivation and fit to the job requirements, 
• your CV with scientific publications with a list of (academic and/or industry) references that we can contact, 
• a list of grades of your qualifying degrees (BSc, MSc), 
• if available, the thesis or another sample of your technical writing. Incomplete applications will not be considered.    

The deadline for applications is July 27th at 23:59 CET. The candidates will be screened as the applications arrive and the promissing candidates will be shortlisted and contacted before the closing of this post. 

If you are interested, do not wait to apply, we are happy to schedule an interview while the response period is running

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements. 

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. 
• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• For the final candidates, a knowledge security check will be part of the application procedure. For more information on this check, please consult Chapter 8 of the National Knowledge Security Guidelines. We carry out this check on the basis of legitimate interest.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.