Apply Now

The Division of Energy Science, Luleå University of Technology (LTU) has an open position in the subject of Energy Engineering. In your research, you will develop fast pyrolysis processes for effective and sustainable conversion of biomass. You will both work with researchers from different fields (energy and chemical engineering), universities/institutes (national and international), Bio4Energy and with equipment/process technology owners.

Your PhD project will be part of an ongoing project funded by the Swedish Energy Agency. The overall objective of your research is to reduce the production costs of fast pyrolysis bio oil (FPBO) from forest residues, through increased liquid yield and quality using efficient ash-related management concepts. This will enable the use of feedstock of lower grades, thus broadening the feedstock base and reducing the production costs. By doing so, it will increase the implementation of FPBO in the biofuel production chain.

The specific objectives of your research will be to 1) determine the ash layer formation process and resulting characteristics of the heat carrier (bed particles) in fast pyrolysis of biomass, 2) determine the way in which the bed particle layer characteristics influence the FPBO yield and quality, and 3) develop efficient countermeasures. These can be ash-related management concepts for the purpose of avoiding or suppressing the undesired catalytic activation of the heat carrier.

The successful candidate will perform pyrolysis experiments in laboratory scale and pilot plants. He/she will also characterise the produced bed-particle layers and the FPBO with different chemical and physical analytical methods. The successful candidate will collaborate with researchers from LTU, Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Bio4Energy, Technical University in Wien/BEST and the technology owner BTG/BTG-BTL.

For further information, please visit https://www.ltu.se/ltu/Lediga-jobb?l=en or contact Chaired Professor This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Head of Division, phone + 46 920 491 977 or; Visiting Professor This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., phone +46 8 790 8995.