Description du poste

Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) conversion consists in placing a photovoltaic (PV) cell in front of a high-temperature thermal emitter. Such systems convert heat to electricity radiatively while naturally enabling energy storage—an attractive pathway to mitigate solar intermittency. In solar-driven TPV, the storage material is heated to ~1000–1500 °C by concentrated sunlight; the stored energy is later re-emitted as thermal radiation and converted by TPV cells.
A key challenge is efficiently absorbing and storing concentrated solar energy. Conventional opaque media can develop strong internal temperature gradients, limiting performance. At PROMES-CNRS, we explore optically transparent storage materials (e.g., quartz and transparent PCMs) that let sunlight pass through the storage and be absorbed at the cavity walls, inverting the thermal gradient and improving storage efficiency.


Ongoing work combines predictive models to capture the principles of transparent storage with experiments on a 6-kW solar concentrator. A growing focus is on transparent phase-change materials (e.g., certain molten salts and glasses) to leverage latent heat for higher performance. We are offering 2–3 internship positions within this research program, covering complementary aspects from modeling to experiments:
• Predictive modeling of solar TPV systems employing transparent PCMs using 1D implicit heat-transfer models coupled to TPV conversion models (MATLAB).
• Experimental demonstration of a solar TPV system with transparent thermal storage using the existing prototype operated under the 6-kW solar concentrator at PROMES.
• Radiative exchange modeling and optimization between a hot emitter and a TPV cell in a mirror-based cavity using Monte-Carlo ray tracing (Ansys Zemax OpticStudio).

Description de l'employeur

The internship takes place at PROMES-CNRS in Odeillo (Font-Romeu), in the French Pyrenees at high altitude (1600 m), combining a unique mountain setting with world-class solar research infrastructure. PROMES hosts one of the largest solar facilities worldwide, including the 1-MW solar furnace and a 6-kW solar concentrator for lab-scale experiments. Expect clear skies, abundant sunshine, and immediate access to outdoor activities (hiking, skiing, climbing)—all alongside cutting-edge high-temperature energy research.
You will join a small, dynamic team (two researchers, one postdoc, one PhD student, two internship students) and interact daily with other interns, PhD students, engineers, and researchers. The atmosphere is collaborative and multidisciplinary, with strong encouragement for initiative and curiosity.

Descriptif du profil recherché

• Background in thermal / optical / materials science, or energy engineering.
• Strong motivation for renewable energy challenges.
• Rigor, initiative, teamwork.
• Experience with MATLAB/Python/COMSOL and/or laboratory work is a plus (not mandatory).
What we value most: motivation, curiosity, and a growth mindset. Your motivation letter should be specific to this position and clearly state which aspects excite you most—theory vs. experiments, and TPV conversion vs. thermal storage.

Continuation: Outstanding interns may be offered a PhD starting ~October 2026.

Conditions particulières d'exercice

No particular constraint

Langues

French/English