PhD Candidate (M/F): Engineering sciences (process engineering, thermodynamics). Automatic design of thermodynamic cycles for the energy transition.

Job Description

Thesis Subject

SCIENTIFIC CONTEXT:
The energy transition requires the design of new energy conversion systems that are more efficient, flexible, and adapted to renewable energy sources. Thermodynamic cycles (power generation cycles, refrigeration cycles, heat pumps) play a central role in this transformation, but their optimal design remains a complex scientific problem. The ATHENA project (intelligent Automation of THErmodynamic cycles for a New energy Approach) aims to develop a new generation of digital tools capable of automatically designing innovative thermodynamic cycles by combining two complementary approaches:
- Generative models derived from artificial intelligence, capable of proposing new process architectures;
- Superstructure-based optimization methods, which make it possible to identify the optimal configuration of a process among a large number of alternatives.
The project is funded by the ANR and brings together four complementary partners: LRGP (University of Lorraine – CNRS), LPSM (Sorbonne University – CNRS), the utility EDF R&D, and the process simulation software provider Fives ProSim.

PHD DESCRIPTION:
The PhD is part of Work Package 3: Generation of energy conversion processes, led by LRGP and EDF R&D. The objective is to develop a methodology capable of automatically determining the best thermodynamic cycle and the best working fluid for a given application (power generation, refrigeration, heat pumps, or combined cycles).
The PhD work will include in particular:
- Automatic generation of process superstructures
-- Construction of a superstructure combining cycles from the literature and cycles generated by AI models.
-- Use of process representation formalisms (graphs, SFILES) and process synthesis tools.
- Solving the “Product Design” problem applied to working fluids
-- Selection and screening of candidate molecules from thermodynamic databases.
-- Analysis of thermodynamic, environmental, and safety properties of fluids.
- Joint process & fluid optimization
-- Development of a multi-objective optimization methodology to simultaneously determine the optimal cycle architecture, its operating parameters, and the most suitable working fluid.

The developments will be applied to various case studies such as supercritical CO₂ Brayton cycles, refrigeration cycles, and heat pumps.

Your Work Environment

The PhD will be carried out at LRGP (Laboratoire Réactions et Génie des Procédés) in Nancy (University of Lorraine – CNRS), within a research environment recognized for its expertise in Process Systems Engineering (PSE) as well as in applied thermodynamics. The doctoral candidate will work in close collaboration with EDF R&D.

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