Master Thesis: Investigation of heat and moisture transport mechanisms in novel high-performance concrete materials for the use in large-scale thermal water storage systems
AEE INTEC
AEE – Institute for Sustainable Technologies (AEE INTEC) is a non-university research institute founded in 1988. AEE INTEC currently employs around 80 scientists from eleven nations and continuously awards dissertations, master’s theses and internships. AEE INTEC works in the fields of “Buildings”, “Cities and Networks”, “Technology Development” and “Industrial Systems” on fundamental and application-oriented research in national and international R&D projects in cooperation with universities, colleges, other research institutions and industry.
Research Project
Energy storage systems create a balance between energy supply and demand and are of essential importance for future energy systems with high shares of volatile renewable energies. The focus is not only on electricity storage, but also on heat storage, which enables not only short-term but also long-term (seasonal) heat storages. In particular, large-scale thermal energy storages (LTES) with volumes of up to 100.000 m³ could play a central role in increasing the share of renewable energy in local and district heating networks and in industry.
The “HighCon” project aims to develop innovative high-performance concrete for hot water exposure as a thin-layer sealing element for use in LTES and novel testing methods of these materials. As experiences from research and implementation projects have shown, one of the most significant, still open key questions of LTES technology is the cost-effective production and guarantee of the permanent functionality of the sealing layer in direct hot water contact.
Outline of the Master Thesis
The master’s thesis is part of an ongoing research project of AEE INTEC and should be conducted in close cooperation with the project team. The content of the master’s thesis focuses on two major topics after an introductory phase in which the student is given a comprehensive insight into the state-of-the-art of LTES-technology:
- Support in laboratory testing, result evaluation and interpretation to determine the permeability rates of the novel high performance concrete formulations.
- Physical and mathematical description of the heat and moisture transport mechanisms for the developed high-performance concrete material.
We expect…
- Interest in sustainable energy technologies
- Solution-focused, independent, motivated and responsible working practices
- Current/finished studies in the field of technical physics, building physics, mechanical engineering or similar.
We offer…
- Paid Master’s thesis, embedded in a current research project
- Intensive support from experienced employees in the field of thermal energy technologies and construction engineering
- Planned duration: 6 months, Start: immediately, Place of realization: Gleisdorf, Austria
Contact
DI Thomas Riegler
Tel.: +43 (0)3112 5886-256
E-Mail: t.riegler@aee.at