Postdoc researcher on developing decarbonization strategies for fossil-free hisarna

An exciting opportunity to work on developing decarbonization strategies and make an impact on transition of steel industry at MPRR group of TU Delft. Come join us!

The climate policy for net-zero CO2 emissions of the Paris Climate Agreement imposes governmental pressures on steel industry. Customer pressure is simultaneously arising in the steel producers as they are also committed to reducing their environmental impacts. As a result, Tata Steel Netherland is going through a significant transition, particularly for upstream processes to decrease their CO2 footprint and increase their circularity. The Metals Production Refining and Recycling (MPRR) group within the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), TU Delft strongly supports the steel industry in this transition.

The HIsarna process is a coal-based bath smelting process producing a liquid carburised hot metal suitable for the production of high quality steel in a Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF). The use of coal is under increasing pressure from NGO's and from the public opinion. Therefore, the HIsarna process should switch from coal to non-fossil energy and reductants such as, green electricity, biomass, and hydrogen. To be economically viable the overall energy consumption must be minimised by energy integration and utilisation of waste heat. By (partial) replacement of iron ore by steel scrap and steelmaking reverts the circularity can be improved.

We are looking for a self-motivated researcher to help developing new technologies for green steel production. For this position, we are expecting the candidate with the following qualifications:

• You hold a PhD degree in metallurgical or materials engineering.
• You have sound knowledge in pyrometallurgical fundamentals including thermodynamics and reaction kinetics, and are acquainted with ironmaking and steelmaking technologies.
• You have experienced with process and flowsheet modeling. Particularly, a knowledge on the following modeling tools; Factsage, Thermocalc, Python, Matlab, and Fluent is a big plus.
• You have minimum two years of industrial experience related to the metals production.
• You are familiar with designing and conducting high temperature experiments and are familiar with using furnaces and reacting gases (in particularly O2, strong, CO/CO2 and natural gas).
• You are independent but also a good team player, and are willing to cooperate closely with other researchers and our industry partners.

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.

• CV
• Motivational letter

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• . We carry out this check on the basis of legitimate interest.