For the Thermal Technology department we are looking for interns! The following internships / graduation assignments are available. Apply using the apply button and select the (graduation) internship you are interested in.
Mechanical design optimization
Suitable for BSc or MSc in Mechanical Engineering
In the combustion plants of HoSt several components are designed and optimized. For some parts a detailed study with use of FEA is required. Analysis of the present mechanical design is an important part of this assignment. Focus is on lowering risk of damages and simplification of the design where possible.
Your tasks:
- Familiarize yourself with all components of a Biomass Plant;
- Select a component/issue for optimization in consultation with HoSt engineers;
- Study construction details of present design;
- Analyse critical points and present improvements supported by FEA;
- Present and document improved design.
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Heat pumps at Biomass fired heat and powerplant
Suitable for BSc or MSc in Chemical Engineering / Mechanical Engineering / Sustainable Energy
HoSt is building biomass energy installations, but also explore own plants producing renewable gas, CO2, heat and power. At the HoSt biomass fired heat and powerplant in Andijk, HoSt is looking for the option to install a heat pump (or pumps). At this moment the flue gasses are already cooled very well (to 35 -40 C ) with the water coming from the green houses. The greenhouse can use more sustainable heat, therefor HoSt is looking to recover more heat from the flue gasses by cooling it to approx. 10 C. An other option is to use a part of the electricity of the wood fired CHP to supply electricity to a heat pump extracting energy from the air.
Your tasks:
- Calculate how much heat is available in the flue gas at several temperatures;
- Compare several integration options (parallel or in series with FGC);
- Investigating the options of heat pumps: type of medium (CO2, Ammonia, propane), efficiency of the heat pumps;
- One or to stage heat pumps heating based on return temperature;
- Investigate the practical boundaries of implementing a heat pump;
- Calculate the investment cost;
- Calculate the economy of the options.
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Heat pumps at Klazienaveen
Suitable for BSc or MSc in Chemical Engineering / Mechanical Engineering / Sustainable Energy
HoSt is building biomass energy installations, but also explore own plants producing renewable gas, CO2, heat and power. For the greenhouse project in Kalzienaveen, HoSt want to investigate the possibility to integrate heat pumps. We have several options to supply heat. The heat could be produced with a wood fired heat (and power) plants. An alternative is to use heat pumps and use the air or water from a channel to supply heat to a district heating system. The green house will use the heat at 45 up to maximal 50 C. A large influence will be the electricity price. So a model must be made where the heat pump is shut off during peak electricity prices and investigating the size of a heat storage. Also the availability of local gas engines in combination with tariff structure should be taken in to account.
Your tasks:
- Calculate how large the heat pump should be in relation to the heat demand;
- Investigating the options of heat pumps: type of medium (CO2, Ammonia, propane), efficiency of the heat pump , one or to stage heat pumps heating based on return temperature, investment costs;
- Calculate the economy of the options.
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Syngas cleaning for gasification technology
Suitable for BSc or MSc in Chemical Engineering / Mechanical Engineering / Sustainable Energy
Biomass gasification is a key technology for the development of advanced sustainable fuels and materials. This includes the synthesis of products such as methanol, methane, sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), plastics or Hydrogen. Power to X will become increasingly important in the upcoming years, as the demand for sustainable synthetic fuels and materials will increase, in line with the needs for the sustainable energy transition.
HoSt Group is a European leader in bioenergy solutions and has the ambition to become a world leader in biomass gasification technology for Power to X. HoSt wants to supply a complete, cost-competitive solution for scales up to 20MWth, from biomass reception to biofuel synthesis. HoSt group counts at the moment with all in-house expertise and technology to achieve this (See following diagram).
HoSt offers with this MSc thesis proposal a motivating and challenging project in which the student will participate in the product development of a syngas cleaning solution, based on water scrubbing.
Within this MSc thesis, you will partake in all steps of product development, such as R&D, process engineering and project engineering. You will also need to collaborate with different departments within the HoSt group. By the end of this thesis you will be an expert in a state-of-the-art technology in syngas cleaning. To help you in this process you will receive guidance from skilled professionals throughout this thesis work.
The content of this thesis is confidential and cannot be publicly disclosed. Further information will be supplied during the application process.
Your tasks:
- Making mass and energy balances with ASPEN
- Making design condition lists, P&IDs, operation manuals;
- Troubleshooting existing designs;
- Writing reports
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