PhD student - Wind Power Installations

The research and responsibilities

The goal of the project is to increase our understanding and address the impact of extreme weather conditions such as heavy rain, hail/dust, and gusts on wind turbines and their components. Mitigating the effects of harsh weather is likely to lead to decreased operational and maintenance costs, more efficient turbine control, and increased power production. This will be accomplished by conducting controlled physical experiments simulating the aforementioned conditions and to develope and assess strategies to reduce or prevent damage.

The focus of the research project is to perform wind tunnel and water tank experiments of flow systems mimicking the crucial features of wind turbines in harsh environments.
For these experiments, optical PIV and LPT methods will be used, along with point measurements of velocity, temperature or other important variables.
Wake characteristics, gusty or unsteady wind conditions, and fouling due to weather or environmental conditions will be simulated.
The PhD project is a part of a collaboration between the Department of Engineering at Reykjavik University (Iceland) and Portland State University. While the main part of the project is carried out in Reykjavik, some components of the work may be performed at the collaborating laboratory at Portland, Oregon USA.

Qualifications

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated student with good communication skills to join our research team in turbulence/wind energy. The PhD candidate should have:

Master’s degree (or comparable) in Physics or relevant field of Engineering, with some foundation in Fluid Mechanics.
Experience in conducting experiments, knowledge of image processing and statistical analysis of experimental or numerical data.
Applications process

Applications should be submitted through the university's online applications website and should include the following:

Submit a cover letter, your CV, transcript, as well as contact information of two references. Your cover letter should briefly describe your research interests and why you are interested in joining this project. Applications received before May 1 of 2024 will be given full consideration.

Inquiries by email: armann@ru.is

About the Department of Engineering

The Department of Engineering offers engineering education at both BSc and MSc levels. In total, about 750 students are enrolled in our programs. The Department of Engineering strives for excellence in teaching and research and an interdisciplinary experience for our students. It offers a lively and collegial working environment with good facilities and an international faculty.

About RU

Reykjavik University aims to create an international workplace that celebrates diversity and is characterized by respect for the individual. Equal opportunities for progression and salaries are essential values at RU as stated in our HR policy. We especially welcome international applications and applications from women.

The university has seven departments: Business Administration, Law, Psychology, Sport Science, Computer Science, Engineering, and Applied Engineering. Education and research at RU are based on strong ties with industry and society. We emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration, international relations, and entrepreneurship. Reykjavik University currently has around 3900 students and 300 faculty and employees, and numerous adjunct faculty members.