PhD position in District heating and Cooling

PhD topic
Analysis of Performance Improvements and Environmental Impact Reduction in District Heating and Cooling Pipelines under Varying Environmental Conditions

This PhD position focuses on the performance, reliability, and lifetime of district heating and cooling (DHC) pipelines and their insulation. The project investigates pre-insulated and non-insulated pipe systems under reallife and extreme laboratory conditions, with the aim of reducing thermal and cooling losses, understanding material degradation, and supporting the transition to next-generation (5GDHC) networks. The candidate will work with advanced experimental setups, including climate chambers, and collaborate with utilities and industry partners.

Research field: Chemical, materials and energy technology

Supervisors:
Dr. Igor Krupenski
Prof. Dr. Anna Volkova

Offered by: Department of Energy Technology

Application deadline 20th October

The research

District heating and cooling systems are a backbone of sustainable urban energy. Their performance depends strongly on the quality, durability, and placement of pipelines and insulation. In Estonia, some of the oldest pre-insulated pipes in Europe (over 40 years in service) provide a unique research opportunity. At the same time, 5th generation low-temperature networks raise the question of whether insulation is still necessary, with potential trade-offs in efficiency and corrosion risks.

This PhD project will:

• Investigate the long-term durability of pre-insulated pipes, including degradation processes and reliability
• Conduct climate chamber experiments on insulation behaviour under extreme heat, cold, and humidity
• Assess heat and cold losses in insulated vs. non-insulated networks, considering placement (tunnels, soil, urban hot spots)
• Analyse corrosion risks and material choices when insulation is absent
• Critically evaluate the role of insulation in future DHC networks (e.g., LTDH, ULTDH)

Responsibilities and tasks

• Develop analytical and experimental frameworks for studying pipeline insulation and durability
• Collect and analyse data from real networks (Estonian utilities) and laboratory facilities (climate chambers)
• Conduct case studies on lifetime and performance of existing DHC pipelines
• Compare efficiency and risks of insulated vs. non-insulated solutions in low-temperature grids
• Publish findings in high-level international journals and present results at conferences
• Contribute to joint activities with industry partners and international research projects

Applicants should fulfil the following requirements:

• Master's degree in energy technology, thermal engineering, materials science, or related field
• Strong interest in sustainable energy systems, thermal networks, and materials performance
• Solid analytical and experimental skills; willingness to work with both lab experiments and field data
• Excellent written and spoken English
• Ability to work independently and in an interdisciplinary team.

The following experience is beneficial:

• Master's degree in energy technology, thermal engineering, materials science, or related field
• Strong interest in sustainable energy systems, thermal networks, and materials performance
• Solid analytical and experimental skills; willingness to work with both lab experiments and field data
• Excellent written and spoken English
• Ability to work independently and in an interdisciplinary team
• Experience with thermal modelling, corrosion analysis, or insulation materials is considered beneficial

The candidate should submit a research plan for the topic, including the overall research and data collection strategy. The candidate can expand on the listed research questions and tasks, and propose theoretical lenses to be used.

About the department

The activities of the Department of Energy Technology include chemical engineering, environmental engineering, thermal engineering, thermal power plants, heat economy and thermal energy. The research is divided into two main directions: oil shale technologies and small energy.

The department has three research groups:

1. Research Group of Sustainable Energy and Fuels (Prof. Alar Konist)
2. Research Group of Smart District Heating Systems and Integrated Assessment Analysis of Greenhouse Gases Emissions (Prof. Anna Volkova)
3. Chemical Engineering Research and Development Center (Prof. Oliver Järvik)

The Laboratory of Energy Technology at the department is an applied research center developed to carry out various thermochemical studies.