Ph.D. position in Fluid Mechanics at the Polytechnic University of Bari (Italy), LIC – Coastal Engineering Laboratory

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Michele Mossa

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Jul 18, 2022, 8:14:32 PM7/18/22

to coastal_list, Prof. Michele Mossa

Prof. Michele Mossa’s research group at the Polytechnic University of Bari (Italy), LIC – Coastal Engineering Laboratory (https://www.michelemossa.it/en/) invites applications for a Ph.D. position in Fluid Mechanics (GRANT N. 4 - Area: NRRP; Topic: “Hydrodynamic study of turbines for the production of energy from marine currents - IDROTURB”).

The prospective Ph.D. student will conduct research as reported below.

RESEARCH PROPOSAL

With this research project we intend to develop a horizontal axis hydraulic turbine for the exploitation of sea currents equipped with a diffuser capable of increasing the flow rate of water with the same rotor size.

The prototype will be sized considering the main sea current parameters. This configuration requires a peculiar hydrodynamic design to maximize the performance of the system.

The project will be developed at the DICATECh - Dpt. of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry – LIC Coastal Engineering Laboratory (prof. Michele Mossa) in collaboration with the DMMM - Department of Mechanics, Mathematics and Management. In particular, the first phase of the project is devoted to the "Design, prototype realization and experimentation". In this phase, the structural design of the prototype will be carried out, followed by the turbine construction. The second phase is devoted to the “Hydrodynamic Design”. In this phase, the hydrodynamic design of the prototype will be carried out with the aim of maximizing the performance of the integrated horizontal axis turbine and diffuser system. An appropriate analytical model will be assessed for the preliminary design and the performance of the turbine will be analyzed using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulations. The result of this activity will enable us to define the best geometry of the axial turbine and diffuser. Through the CFD simulations we will obtain the best technical solution of the prototype which will be tested also with a physical model. On this point experimental tests will be carried out at the hydraulic laboratory of the DICATECh, using a channel able to simulate sea currents. During different experimental tests, we will assess the velocity flow field close to the turbine also using a Laser Doppler Velocimeter (LDA) and Particle Image Velocimeter (PIV).

Finally, the third phase is that of "Design, prototype construction and experimentation". During this phase, the structural design and construction of the prototype will be carried out. The prototype will be tested also in situ, assessing fundamental data that will be compared with the results of the numerical simulations and the laboratory tests.

The new scientific knowledge, obtained thanks to the realization of the IDROTURB project, will be disseminated in a way that also interests the stakeholders. The dissemination of the project results will be carried out through:

• diary of the project's activities, constantly updated with the main results, inserted in an open data

repository such as Zenodo;

• papers published in international scientific journals;

• participation in conferences and workshops;

• dissemination of results with social media.

Minimum Qualifications

· Master’s degree in Civil or Mechanics Engineering or a closely related field.

· Research experience in CFD numerical modeling and hydraulic laboratories

· Coding and lab experience skills

· Good written and oral communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

· Programming skills in at least one of the following: Matlab, Python, or Fortran

· Research background in fluid flow modeling and simulation of wave-sea currents-structure systems

The call file with all the information both in Italian and English can be downloaded from this link (RISK AND ENVIRONMENTAL, TERRITORIAL AND BUILDING DEVELOPMENT PH.D. XXXVIII cycle):

https://www.poliba.it/it/dottorati-di-ricerca (see (GRANT N. 4 - Area: NRRP; Topic: “Hydrodynamic study of turbines for the production of energy from marine currents - IDROTURB”).

Interested applicants should send an email to prof. Michele Mossa (e-mail: michel...@poliba.it) with a CV.

In any case, applications to Ph.D. programs can be made exclusively online from the day of call publication until 09:00 (Italian time) on 5 Sept 2022, using the procedures available on the Politecnico di Bari’s website Esse3 portal https://poliba.esse3.cineca.it

Best regards,

Michele Mossa

_________________________________

Prof. Michele Mossa, PhD
Professor of Hydraulics – POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF BARI
Chief Scientist of the LIC (Coastal Engineering Laboratory)

Member of the Board of Directors of the Co.N.I.S.Ma. for the Polytechnic University of Bari

www.michelemossa.it
e-mail: michel...@poliba.it
skype name: michele.mossa

DICATECh - Dpt. of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry
Via E. Orabona, 4 - 70125 Bari - Italy
ph.: +39 080 596 3289
fax: +39 080 2209969
www.dicatech.poliba.it

LIC – Coastal Engineering Laboratory
Area Universitaria di Valenzano
Strada Provinciale Valenzano - Casamassima, Km 3, 70010 Valenzano, BA - Italy
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ph.: +39 080 4605 204
fax: +39 080 4605 243
http://www.michelemossa.it/en/research/some-laboratory-facilities/24