Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) - PhD Mechanical Engineering

PhD Mechanical Of this project is part of the Great Dutch research program "Climate Proof Cities ", in which a large number of universities and research institute involved Sindh. The goal is to know about this program in the amount bid die, know that adapting to the environment Can be built, with climate change are ready to.

In this project, a wide range of interior cavity for adaptation measures evaluated Building Environmental Performance (Thermal Comfort - overheating) As well as heating and cooling energy consumption. The PhD Mechanical focus is on adaptive reuse and die building envelope incorporation behavior. "High-resolution whole-building simulation for IS Different climate scenarios and for building a classification Typological busy. High-resolution whole-building simulation on the combination of building energy simulation (BES), Moisture building envelope heat-air models (Beham) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models. This combination is particularly important for the evaluation of overheating conditions.PhD Mechanical in the present project, the high-resolution whole-building approach is expanded to take into account user behaviour, which is integrated in BES. Both the traditional idealistic and random distribution behaviour models as well as more powerful activity-based models will be employed. Activity-based modelling assumes that behaviour is driven by the activities that individuals want to perform. It consists of modelling real-life behaviour in all its complexity as closely as possible, which is a particular expertise of the Chair of Urban Planning at the Unit UMDS. PhD Mechanical in this project, activity-based models (ABM) for residential and office buildings will be developed for integration in BES. For thermal comfort and overheating evaluation, the adaptive approach will be used.

The PhD Mechanical building envelope adaptation measures that will be evaluated include comfort ventilation (openings for ventilation in overheating episodes) as well as passive cooling measures, which should enable the buildings to be free-running throughout the summer. The passive measures include thermal insulation, thermal capacity (including phase-change materials), reduced glazed fraction, solar shading by eaves and blinds, solar reflectance (albedo), long-wave emissivity, evapotranspiration, direct and indirect evaporative cooling, roof geometry, etc. Note that roof geometry is important as the convective removal of heat and water (evaporation) from the surface is an important factor to limit overheating.

The project consists of the following steps:

Literature review

Development of an activity-based model (ABM) for user behaviour in residential and office buildings and integration of this model in the BES program.

Measurements of outdoor and indoor environmental parameters in a set of buildings with and without adaptation measures (solar reflectance and vegetated roofs) implemented, for BES-CFD-ABM model validation.

BES-CFD-ABM model validation.

Model application for evaluation of adaptation measures, for the buildings in the typological classification and for different meteorological data sets based on different climate scenarios.

Establishing a classification (prioritization) of adaptation measures for buildings in the Netherlands. A distinction will be made between measures for new and for existing buildings. For existing buildings, it should be noted that they can progressively be adapted to climate change, in different refurbishment cycles: (1) redecoration (<> 50 years).

The project will be executed in close collaboration with the other PhD students and with the postdocs that are working in the programme 'Climate Proof Cities', both at Eindhoven University of Technology and at the other universities involved.

Requirements

Requirements:

We are looking for an excellent and highly motivated candidate with an MSc degree in Building Science, Building, Civil, Mechanical or Environmental Engineering, or equivalent. Interest in modelling human behaviour and physical processes (heat, air, moisture and pollution transfer) in the built environment is essential. Experience in human behaviour and climate adaptation modelling, and/or in Building Performance Simulation, Computational Fluid Dynamics and/or Building Envelope Heat-Air-Moisture transfer modelling is a plus.
We offer a stimulating and ambitious research environment. To complement this environment and for the specific project mentioned above, we are looking for an outstanding candidate that meets the following requirements:
× You are highly motivated, talented and enthusiastic
× You received an MSc degree in Building, Civil or Mechanical Engineering, Physics or a related field.
× You have an independent and well-structured working style
× You are interested in guiding master students
× You have strong communication skills and the attitude to participate successfully in a multidisciplinary team
x You have a very good knowledge of the English language, both in speaking and writing.

Conditions of employment

Salary:

The duration of the project is four years. The project is expected to start in May 2011. The gross monthly salary increases from € 2042,- in the first year to € 2612,- in the fourth year.Besides this, the TU/e has an excellent package of attractive benefits for employees, a child-care facility, and a modern sports complex. Assistance for finding accommodation can be given.

Additional information

Information:

More information may be obtained from: Prof.dr. Harry Timmermans (h.j.p.timmermans@tue.nl), Prof. dr. ir. Jan Hensen (j.l.m.hensen@tue.nl), (URL = http://www.bwk.tue.nl/bwk/hensen) or Dr. ir. Bert Blocken (b.j.e.blocken@tue.nl), (URL = http://sts.bwk.tue.nl/UrbanPhysics)

Application:

We can not accept applications by email!