In situ analytical device based on the LIBS technique for the characterization of hard environment liquid media
The proposed research project aims at developing an in situ analytical device based on the LIBS technique for the characterization of hard environment liquid media such as high temperature melting materials or highly volatile liquid metals used for development of low carbon energy production. The project involves two CEA teams specialized in LIBS instrumentation, analytical developments and high temperature environments.
At high temperature, the molten metals have a high surface reactivity leading to processes of oxidation, slagging … Non-intrusive analysis of this surface by traditional LIBS tools leads to a non-representative results of the molten metal chemical composition. In this project, a new-patented concept based on a mechanical stirring coupled to the LIBS device is developed in order to have a renewable and stable surface of the liquid metal. The aim is to have an on-line representative composition of the metal during the treatment process. The developed demonstrator will be validated for the analysis of impurities (at ppmw ranges) in liquid silicon (T> 1450 °C) during the purification process and the crystallization one for photovoltaic applications. At the end of the project, recommendations for in-situ analysis of liquid sodium (used as cooling fluid in nuclear reactors) will be given.
Developement of a simulation platform for the energy systems
The evolution of power systems towards smart-grids, including a high share of renewable generation which can be combined with storage systems, lead to an increased complexity for designing and optimizing these systems. This leads to a need for new modeling and simulation tools, which have to manage different energy sources, different energy vectors and different technologies for energy conversion. Moreover, such simulation tools will be used to optimize the system sizing and to design energy management strategies.
The objective of this project is to design the software architecture for the simulation platform, which will be in ad equation to the previously mentioned needs. Such software will be organized in order to maximize the transfer towards industrial partners. The software will be able to support multi-energy systems, and will leave the possibility for the user to implement its own component models or energy management strategies.
The project is focused on the simulation platform architecture, and on the architecture model. This architecture will be used as a base for the development of a software. The objective of the given project is not to cover all the applications but rather to validate the architecture through a given application.
Development and characterization of concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) receivers for high-efficiency CPV modules
Concentrator photovoltaics (CPV) arises as a promising technology capable of economically justify the use of highly efficient (and highly expensive) monolithically stacked multijunction solar cells (MJSC). CPV takes advantage of low-cost optical elements, such as mirrors or lenses, to capture the sunlight and concentrate it into small-size cells, exchanging solar cell surface by optical elements. This technology, which is at an industrial stage, uses state-of-the-art triple junction (3J) solar cells with efficiencies up to 45%.
The postdoc position here proposed will deal with novel architectures of CPV receivers conceived from high-efficiency MJSC that will be integrated in next-generation CPV modules. The research engineer will also need to learn how to characterize these systems, for which he/she will use the tools available at the CPV Lab at INES (CEA). Novel characterization techniques may also be required.
The candidate must have a M.S. in Physics or Engineer with specialization on solid state physics, electronics, electrical engineering, mechatronics or similar. He/she must be a PhD, preferably in the field of photovoltaics and particularly on CPV. Good language skills and laboratory experience are required.