Master Thesis Work in Plant Systems (m/f/d)

Job Description Summary

Master Thesis Work for Carbon Capture R&D Programs

Job Description

Master Thesis proposal Abstract.
As the power plant markets move toward more sustainable energy sources, a key challenge persists: the intermittent nature of renewables can compromise energy security and grid stability. For instance, Spain serves as an illustrative case, where a significant reliance on renewables contributed to a blackout, highlighting the lack of adequate backup systems to restore stability. On the other hand, a well developed energy generation technology like Cycle Combined Power Plant (CCPP), can enhance the stability of the grid while proposing a solution that is relatively fast to install, dispatchable and ultimately efficient (64%). However, this technology can be further improved to be more carbon friendly. The current challenge is to develop a Carbon Capture Solution (CCS) that could allocate the carbon to other usage instead of directly releasing it into the atmosphere, Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) is a technology, which take the exhaust gas of the gas turbine to re-inject it at the compressor level, enriching the total CO2 flowing out of the turbine by 67,5%. We will verify what the impact of this technology for CCS improves its viability for CCPP. On another end, we will also analyze the total cost impact of such investment for a potential customer, and in particular, we will tentatively estimate what can we expect CCS to impact carbon friendliness of CCPP in 5 to 10 years? With regards to existing or under construction CCPP, what would be the conditions to make an upgrade with CCS and EGR viable? And finally, how does the system answer active and upcoming changes in the energy policy framework in line with net carbon zero objectives by 2050.
Focus of the Master Thesis Work: solve one major technical challenge of the EGR which is the separation of impurities coming generated by the contact to HRSG the surface and by the combustion. The validation of the measurement method for the impurities (in a laboratory or in real conditions) shall be necessary to verify the efficiency of the separation methods (DCC and WESP) and potentially offer cost saving potentials in the long term by reducing the size/ eliminating these equipment.

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