Stellenausschreibung Nr. 396/2025
PhD Position on Microfluidic Elastocaloric Cooling
Part time 75%
In Germany, cooling comprises around 20% of total electricity consumption. A promising alternative to conventional cooling methods is elastocaloric cooling, which utilizes stress-induced temperature changes in superelastic shape memory alloys (SMAs). Unlike traditional systems, elastocaloric cooling avoids the environmental risks associated with refrigerant leakage, as it relies on solid-state materials. Moreover, it offers high efficiency potential, with material-level performance approaching thermodynamic limits.
This project aims to develop a next-generation high-performance elastocaloric cooling device based on microfluidic-integrated shape memory alloys. The objective is to design and fabricate microchannels within superelastic SMA materials and use them to build an elastocaloric cooling device. By enhancing heat transfer through these microchannel structures, the project seeks to improve cooling performance and enable new opportunities for sustainable cooling applications. This interdisciplinary research lies at the interface of materials science, mechanical engineering, and microtechnology, and is highly relevant for various applications, including battery thermal management in electric vehicles and the cooling of critical electronic components.
Tätigkeitsbeschreibung
You have the following tasks:
- Design and fabricate microchannels within superelastic SMA materials
- Material characterization of refrigerants superelastic shape memory alloys (mechanical, thermal, fatigue life)
- Modelling, design and characterization of test structures and devices (FEM multiphysics, lumped element modelling)
- Rapid prototyping (optical lithography, 3D printing, laser technology)
- Development, characterization and control of cooling demonstrator variants
- Simulation-based design optimization
The IMT is equipped with an array of state-of-the-art facilities, including a 600 m² clean room, advanced rapid prototyping capabilities like lithography, 3D printing and laser cutting, construction and connection technology labs, as well as various metrology laboratories. The position is within the ZEco Thermal Lab of Dr. Jingyuan Xu.
The activity offers the opportunity for a part-time doctorate.
Persönliche Qualifikation
- Excellent degree (MSc) in mechanical engineering or a related field
- Knowledge of mechanical engineering, thermodynamics, heat transfer, microsystems technology
- Experience in CAD, Lumped element modelling and/or FEM simulation and/or MATLAB programming, thermal characterization, mechanical testing
- High proficiency in spoken and written English
Salary
Salary category 13, depending on the fulfillment of professional and personal requirements.
Organisationseinheit
Institut für Mikrostrukturtechnik (IMT)
Eintrittstermin
baldmöglichst / as soon as possible
Contract duration
3 years with the possibility to extend for one year
Application up to
31.10.2025
Contact person in line-management
For further information please contact Dr. Jingyuan Xu, email: jingyuan.xu@kit.edu
Bewerbung
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