PhD Student (M/F)

Job Description

Thesis Subject

Electromagnetic and Thermal Modeling of High-Performance REBCO Magnets..
This topic is part of the project: Suprafusion PC 3 SF-Protection
Descriotion :
HTS (High-Temperature Superconducting) conductors are available in the form of thin layers (a few micrometers thick) deposited on wide tapes (a few millimeters wide). An initial modeling tool has been developed at G2Elab within the MIPSE platform (MAGE team) to predict and interpret the evolution of current density distribution in windings, making it possible to accurately forecast both the voltage evolution and the magnetic field produced. This tool is based on an innovative approach: a formulation using the finite volume method, which provides strong conservation of magnetic fluxes and currents, as well as a natural coupling with electrical circuits.
The objective of this PhD project will be to contribute to the development of modeling tools for superconducting applications within the MIPSE platform, in both 2D axisymmetric and 3D configurations. This research will be carried out through close collaboration between researchers working on superconducting applications at G2Elab (MADEA team) and Institut Néel, as well as researchers specializing in electromagnetic modeling within the MAGE team at G2Elab.

Missions :
A first objective will be to couple the existing 2D and 3D electromagnetic models with a thermal model in order to account for the temperature dependence of the E(J) constitutive law and to study the impact of this dependence on the behavior of conductors and their applications. This will make it possible to evaluate the transient losses in REBCO superconducting coils and to investigate thermal runaway dynamics when the critical current is locally exceeded (the quench phenomenon). The targeted applications range from highly compact high-field magnets to multi-tape cables used in very large-scale systems such as fusion magnets. Validation will be carried out in collaboration with other French laboratories, including GeePs and GREEN, as well as international groups developing similar tools, and through comparison with experimental data obtained within the team on simplified test cases.
The second objective will be to implement these modeling tools to improve the analysis of complex experimental data generated by the experimental characterization activities conducted in parallel by the team in Grenoble. The PhD candidate will participate in measurement campaigns and may also propose additional experiments to further validate the models. The models will also be applied to the simulation of devices developed by partners of the PEPR Suprafusion project, particularly at the CEA with regard to very high-current conductors, as well as through other international collaborations.
Finally, an investigation will be carried out into incorporating local-scale effects in very large windings through a multiscale approach. Conductor-scale 3D simulations could be used to derive equivalent constitutive laws, which would then be applied to macroscopic winding models where the conductor's detailed structure is not explicitly represented.
The field of applied superconductivity is currently experiencing rapid growth, driven by the increasing availability of high-performance high-temperature superconducting (HTS) conductors in kilometer-scale lengths and at steadily decreasing costs. In recent years, this greater availability has enabled the construction of large-scale magnets (with diameters exceeding 1 meter) capable of generating magnetic fields of around 20 T, thereby opening new possibilities for the design of more compact fusion machines.
However, the design of such magnets requires accurate and reliable modeling tools capable of handling extremely large-scale systems, and the development of these tools is only just beginning.

Activities :
The software development work will be complemented by cross-validation activities with other modeling tools developed by partner teams involved in the PEPR Suprafusion, within which this doctoral project is conducted.
The PhD candidate will also participate in experimental measurement campaigns, working in continuous interaction with other PhD students and researchers from the Joint Applied Superconductivity Team of G2Elab and Institut Néel. These activities will support the validation of the models and contribute to the interpretation and analysis of experimental results.

Your Work Environment

The G2elab Grenoble Electrical Engineering Laboratory is a joint research unit (UMR 5269) of Grenoble INP - UGA, Grenoble Alpes University and CNRS, in the field of Electrical Engineering Research.
It covers a scientific spectrum ranging from materials and components to the design and control of electrical energy systems. Its activities can be summed up in the following key words: electrical energy, materials, innovative processes and systems, modelling and design.
With more than a hundred permanent staff, around a hundred doctoral students and 70 other members of staff such as masters, post-docs and visiting professors, G2Elab is a major national and international player in these fields, at the heart of the energy efficiency of components and systems.

Professional skills/expertise: Master's degree in electrical engineering, numerical methods, applied mathematics or thermodynamics

Constraints and risks

nothingness

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

2300 € gross monthly

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

The research professions