Netherlands - Delft University of Technology PhD Position for HV GIS Real-Time Decision Support System » Get Scholarship

Netherlands - Delft University of Technology PhD Position for HV GIS Real-Time Decision Support System

September 27th, 2007

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High-Voltage Technology and Management (HTM) is a research unit within the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science of Delft University of Technology. HTM’s mission is to acquire further knowledge of existing and emerging high-voltage technologies, enabling improved and sustainable solutions in the energy and non-energy sector. Underlying research starts with physics of the materials, whose properties form the basis of equipment performance, management and diagnostics. This is investigated on a large scale in the HV laboratory for its practical feasibility. R&D items are focused on electrical ageing, electrical design, diagnostics, database techniques and expert systems applications.

The Electrical Power Engineering High-Voltage Technology and Management (HTM) research unit has a PhD position vacancy for a real time decision support system for HV GIS.

Project and job description
Gas-insulated systems form important nodes in the high-voltage transmission grid. They operate both as distribution hubs and as protection in case of grid failures. In the Netherlands, three are located at the 420 kV voltage level and many more at lower voltage levels. These gas-insulated systems consist of a metallic or aluminium enclosure in which the high-voltage conductor is centred by means of supporting insulators. In modern installations, SF6 is used as an insulating medium. Because SF6 is a greenhouse gas, other gases hold future promise, and further research investigations into N2, CO2 or SF6-N2 mixtures are thus currently of great interest.

Although this type of equipment is said to be almost maintenance-free, some maintenance is still required over the long term. In the past decade, TU Delft has conducted research into one of the on-line diagnostic techniques for condition assessment, which is based on partial discharge phenomena. The Dutch TSO TenneT is now interested in the development of a real-time decision support system based on on-line insulation condition assessment techniques (e.g. partial discharge detection). Using this support system, the asset manager is able to recognise upcoming failure modes due to operation and ageing of the system, allowing him to respond timeously and accurately. This of course increases the availability and reliability of the electricity grid.

The PhD candidate has to perform research to develop a real-time decision support system. Investigations will take place in the full-scale laboratory setup available at TU Delft, in the high-voltage GIS of TenneT and possibly in the factory of the suppliers. On-line monitoring systems also have to be installed in two important 420 kV GIS in the Netherlands to evaluate and interpret trends in the time-behaviour of present ageing indicators.

The goal of this PhD research is to produce a better understanding and obtain scientific insights underlying the risk analysis for GIS. The appointee’s main tasks will thus be to develop knowledge rules and norms for insulation condition assessment; to develop a decision support system; to integrate the system into a continuous on-line monitoring system; and finally to investigate the risk for failure estimation of GIS insulation within data analysis techniques.

Requirements
Those applying should be university graduates with an MSc degree in electrical engineering. She/he should have an affinity with, and knowledge of, electrical power engineering, risk assessment, gaseous insulation, failure processes and practical work. The candidate should be a creative scientist and needs to have developed social and communicational skills, while being able to cooperate well with the project’s participants.

Conditions of employment
This position has a temporary employment basis of 4 years (48 months). The maximum number of working hours per week is 38 (1 FTE). The estimated starting salary for the PhD student is € 1,956 per month gross, with a maximum of € 2,502 gross (based on a full-time appointment and depending on experience). Benefits and other employment conditions are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.

The successful candidate will be employed by Delft University of Technology for a fixed period of 4 years within which he/she is expected to write a doctoral thesis.

Delft University of Technology strives to increase the number of women in higher academic positions; women are therefore especially encouraged to apply.

Information and application
For further details on the position, please contact Dr Sander Meijer, telephone: +31 (0)15-278 62 10, email: s.meijer@tudelft.nl; or contact Prof. Johan J. Smit, telephone: +31 (0)15-278 42 31, email: j.j.smit@tudelft.nl.

To apply, please send a detailed CV together with a letter of motivation before November 15, 2007 to

Delft University of Technology
Faculty of EWI
attn.Mrs J. Eddini
Mekelweg 4
2628 CD Delft
the Netherlands;

or apply online to peno-ewi@tudelft.nl.

When applying for this job, please mention the vacancy number: EWI 2007.38.

For more information about Delft University of Technology, please visit www.tudelft.nl

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