Modeling and design of a very high temperature heat pump
As part of a research project, the LCST laboratory is studying the concept of a “Carnot battery”, a system for storing electricity as thermal energy, an alternative to other types of electric batteries. Such a process includes thermodynamic machines and thermal storage.
You will be involved in the part related to the development of the very high temperature heat pump. Such development also corresponds to industrial and societal expectations of decarbonization. In more detail, the missions that will be entrusted to you are:
- Definition of the heat pump concept in line with the other subsystems
- Modeling of the heat pump with the EES tool
- Follow-up of the realization of the heat pump demonstrator
- Experimental validation of heat pump performance and digital readjustment
- Definition of the actions to be carried out for the transition to scale 1
- Coupling of the heat pump demonstrator with the other components
A particular effort on publications and scientific communications is requested
Jet Fuel production plant powered by a nuclear reactor and coupled with a CO2 direct air capture system
As part of the many innovative research projects aiming at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, one prospective concept is to use a nuclear power plant to produce synthetic jet fuels by sourcing carbon dioxide from the air.
This postdoctoral proposal aims at predesigning an integrated energy conversion system coupling a nuclear energy source with electrochemical and thermochemical processes dedicated to the production of kerosene from water and atmospheric CO2 (Direct Air Capture system). Important considerations for such a system are its energy efficiency, its capacity to meet projected industrial needs and its competitiveness in a future decarbonized energy market.
The postdoctoral fellow will first perform numerical simulations in order to sketch an optimized process flow configuration coupling the DAC system with the nuclear power plant. He/She will also define the operational conditions of the system. In a second step, in association with another postdoctoral fellow working on the chemical transformation processes, he/she will perform a global integration of the various processes involved, from the atmospheric dioxide carbon to the final jet fuel, taking into account the required flows of heat and electricity. The design drivers will be the optimization of the overall plant efficiency and the operational conditions. Finally, he/she will propose a preliminary balance of plant accounting for regulatory constraints in order to evaluate the main design factors such as the required CO2 capture surface area for example.
The postdoctoral fellow will be based in a research unit specialized in innovative nuclear system studies. He/She will develop a technical understanding of prospective nuclear and decarbonization technologies combined.
Wood modifications by supercritical CO2
In order to replace current high environmental impact construction materials, CEA leads research work on chemical functionalization of wood (from French local forests) to improve its properties and make them a viable substitute of these construction materials or imported construction wood.
In this frame, chemistry under supercritical CO2 appears to be an efficient way to carry innovative chemistries while liùmiting the environmental impact & VOCs emissions of such processes.
Thus, you will be in charge of the development of new processes of chemical modification of local wood species under supercritical CO2. You will lead the research project by perfroming the state of the art, making technical propositions (around the adapted functionalization chemistries), carrying out the eperiments & the characterizations and will be in charge of respecting the deadlines & redacting the associated deliverables.