Missions

Solar energy is particularly relevant due to its abundance, low cost and sustainability, but it must be stored for its use due to its intermittence (day/night). This can be done using Thermal Energy Storage (TES) systems, which are actually 100 times cheaper than Electrochemical Systems (e.g. Li-ion batteries). Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants are one of most efficient and promising methods for the storage of solar energy, where the current TES materials are salts that can operate up to 800 °C. Efficiency of the energy production increases with the operating temperature, so new TES materials systems that can work at higher temperature are highly demanded as well as containers that can keep them.
In the framework of a European project (Clean Energy Transition Partnership), we will investigate the development of new TES materials and their containers to operate at temperatures higher than 1100 °C.
The main objective is to develop a digital twin model of the TES materials and their containers, simulating all the thermal and mechanical phenomena during the operation at high temperatures. The modelling will be performed by CFD (computational Fluid Dynamics) model, while the experimental data (such as heat transfer, capacity, temperature, etc.) will obtained in our laboratory and/or through our European partners of the project. This will allow accurate predictions of the heat transfer efficiency between the different materials as well as facilitating the scaling up and the transfer to a CSP plant. The numerical results will also be used for FE (finite Elements) computation of the mechanical response of the container.

Activities

- 2D et 3D modeling using Computation Fluid Dynamics such as Ansys, Abaqus, COMSOL, etc.
- Optimization of the developed modeling.
- Experimental work with ovens at high temperature for validating and acquiring the data for the modeling
- Correlation experimental/modeling

Skills

- PhD in Process Engineering, Thermal Engineering, Multiphysics Numerical Simulation, or similar fields.
- Basic knowledge of CFD modeling (Abaqus, Ansys, COMSOL, etc.)
English language: level B2
- Personal qualities: Rigorous, independent, analytical, able to work in a team, and good communication skills. An interest in research and innovation is essential.

Work Context

LCTS is a joint lab of CNRS, Bordeaux University, CEA and Safran, located on the Bordeaux Campus. It has 36 years of experience in basic science research on refractory composites. These high-performance materials are used in aviation, space, energy & industrial applications. LCTS is single research team working in project-oriented mode, in strong relation with its non-academic stakeholders. Currently it includes 34 permanent staff members, plus some 15 PhD candidates and 4 post-doc researchers.

The position is located in a sector under the protection of scientific and technical potential (PPST), and therefore requires, in accordance with the regulations, that your arrival is authorized by the competent authority of the MESR.

Constraints and risks

- Chemical risks
- Working alone