PhD position Quantifying the sensitivity of thermal comfort control to system uncertainty
il y a 4 jours
Functie PhD Beschrijving Advanced control strategies, and model predictive control (MPC) in particular, are gaining widespread interest for building energy management systems, since they can systematically save energy and/or costs with simultaneous thermal comfort improvement, as well as adapt the energy demand according to the available renewable/residual supply. The performance of any MPC strategy is dependent on the accuracy of the model describing the system and on the quality of the forecasts of disturbances, such as weather and occupant behaviour. Deviating model parameters and inaccurate disturbance predictions are shown to give rise to increased energy costs and comfort violations if not properly accounted for, and require real-time corrective actions, thereby voiding a possibly consented demand response (DR) strategy. The question on how accurate the controller model should be in order to obtain a performant optimal controller remains unanswered. As reinforcement learning (RL) techniques are expected to bring an added value in systems subject to uncertainties, the hypothesis is that hybrid control methods, combining the strengths of MPC and RL, might lead to better control performance. A distinction can be made between (i) uncertainties that can be improved (though not fully eliminated) by adaptation through learning (e.g. model parameters, where the model remains an approximation of the real system), i.e. the parametric uncertainty (p) and (ii) uncertainties that cannot be improved (e.g. weather forecast) but that can be better dealt with in the decision-making process, i.e. the additive uncertainty (a). On-line learning/update of controller model parameters, objective function weights for conflicting objectives, controller hyperparameters, … can improve the handling of uncertainties. This PhD will focus on two main aspects: (i) explore and integrate different modelling paradigms (black, grey and white box) in the MPC framework to evaluate the impact of model accuracy on controller performance. Analysis of the sensitivity of MPC with respect to the different modelling paradigms will be performed. The key performance indicators required for this analysis will be defined in the course of the PhD; (ii) build on existing variants of MPC such as adaptive MPC, stochastic MPCap and RL- MPC to tackle the challenge of system uncertainties. The proposed solutions will be applied in optimal control with the aim of achieving a pre-set thermal comfort level in a building. The variants of MPC developed will be compared with recent multilevel (quasi-) Monte Carlo optimization algorithms (results of another PhD running in parallel). Meer info: Profiel You hold a M.Sc. degree in electrical engineering, software engineering, computer science, mathematical engineering or data science. You are fluent in English, both oral and written.
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PhD position Towards a future-proof electricity market design
il y a 8 heures
Genk, Belgique EnergyVille Temps pleinFunctie PhD Beschrijving The current design of the European electricity markets is being challenged, especially in terms of its ability to cope with spot price volatility. Indeed, renewable dominated electricity systems are expected to generate electricity prices that are volatile and difficult to predict. The recent geopolitical crisis has moreover...
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Genk, Belgique EnergyVille Temps pleinBeschrijving Within the Electrical Energy & Computer Architectures (Electa) research division and EnergyVille, the research team led by prof. Jef Beerten focuses on the combined modelling and control of power electronic converters and power systems with a focus on DC systems. The group of PhD students and postdocs consists of about people. Within the team,...
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R&D Professional
il y a 8 heures
Genk, Belgique EnergyVille Temps pleinFunctie R&D & Engineering Beschrijving You will be involved in several research and knowledge-intensive projects as expert on advanced design of future-proof DHC-systems based on pre-existent PathOpt - research. You will use your modelling and simulation skills to use/apply and further develop relevant models/concepts/solutions using and enhancing the...
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Team Leader Energy System
il y a 6 heures
Genk, Belgique EnergyVille Temps pleinFunctie Team Leader Energy System Bedrijfsgegevens Imec’s photovoltaic group, which is closely linked to Hasselt University, aims to help accelerating the renewable energy transition, and is an internationally recognized research group thanks to its expertise, track record, extensive industrial network, and new state-of-the-art photovoltaic lab facilities....
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Cost Controller
il y a 6 heures
Genk, Belgique NITTO DENKO CORPORATION Temps pleinCost Controller Aug 31, 2025 Genk, BE Regular Full Time Nitto Belgium was established in 1974 in Genk and is the largest production site in the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East & Africa) of the Japanese Nitto Group. With more than 500 employees, we develop and produce sealing materials and various industrial adhesive tapes such as double-sided tapes and...
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Genk, Belgique EnergyVille Temps pleinFunctie PhD: Towards sustainable materials for PV technology at multi-TW levels Beschrijving You will contribute to make PV technology maximally sustainable and increase chances of a rapid transition to a % renewable energy system. To keep the Earth average temperature rise to less than 2˚C, the world needs to rapidly transition to a (near) % renewable...
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Genk, Belgique EnergyVille Temps pleinFunctie Postdoc Beschrijving As a Belgian and internationally recognized applied research center, VITO aims to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world. The activities of our experienced and driven energy technology team cover cutting-edge technology evolutions, such as battery energy storage systems, renewable systems, electrification of heating,...
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Purchase & Operations Scheduler
il y a 6 jours
Genk, Belgique Nitto Temps pleinJan 30, 2025 - Genk, BE - Regular Full Time Nitto EMEA is much more than just a company. We aspire to be a top irreplaceable Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) leader. To achieve this, we can count on our uniqueness to make a difference and anticipate change. Our journey is marked by long-term engagement with our stakeholders, built on a...
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Operational Excellence
il y a 7 heures
Genk, Belgique NITTO DENKO CORPORATION Temps pleinOperational Excellence & Transformation Manager Sep 2, 2025 Genk, BE Regular Full Time Nitto Belgium has been a trusted name in Genk for more than 50 years and is one of Nitto’s largest manufacturing sites in the EMEA region. We aim to be an irreplaceable leader in the fields of environment, society, and governance. Our products go beyond functionality;...
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R&D Engineer Power Electronics
il y a 6 heures
Genk, Belgique EnergyVille Temps pleinFunctie R&D & Engineering Beschrijving As a Belgian and internationally recognized applied research center, VITO aims to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world. The activities of our experienced and driven energy technology team cover cutting-edge technology evolutions, such as battery energy storage systems, renewable systems, electrification of...
