Reverse engineering of an internal permanent magnet synchronous electrical machine and modelisation of evolutions based on new new magnet technologies developped in CEA

The study aims at studying and modeling a synchronous electric motor with magnet buried in the rotor. This study begins with a preliminary phase of retro engineering and modeling of an existing machine. A second phase will focus on the design and the modeling of a new machine integrating a new technology of magnets developed in the CEA.

In the context of electric transportation, if batteries and energy storage are still the weak point of the energy chain, the electric motor remains a central part that has to be optimized to raise efficiency. For twenty years, all motor structures have been studied and tested: dc motors, synchronous machines with permanent magnets, asynchronous machines and switched reluctance machines. This study will focus on a synchronous machine with magnets buried into the rotor. This type of machine offers a natural ability of delivering at full load a constant power along a wide speed range, associated with a high efficiency. Moreover, power density can be improved by increasing maximal speed range.

The Post doc will be split into three parts:

1st phase:
Testing of an existing commercial electrical synchronous machine with magnets buried in the rotor and characterization of its components. These tests will be done on a motor test bench situated in the CEA

2nd phase:
Modeling of the commercial machine tested on the test bench and comparison of modeling results with experimental measurements from the first phase.

3rd phase:
Design and modeling of evolution of the machine tested and modeled in phases 1 and 2, integrating new technologies of magnets developped by the CEA.

Modelling of actinide electrorefining

Modelling of an actinide electrorefining process

In the frame of the SACSESS European project CEA, ITU and CNRS are studying jointly a pyrochemical process for the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuels by electrolysis in molten chloride salts.

The main objective of the proposed post-doctoral work concerns the modelling of electrorefining runs onto aluminium cathodes using U-Pu-Zr-Am-Gd-Nd-Ce-Y metallic alloy. The modelling aims to evaluate the efficiency of this electrolytic process in terms of separation factors and to optimize the process flow sheets for a safe nuclear materials management.

Compensation methods (for magnetic perturbation) for shape capture via orientation sensors

Our laboratory works for several years on shape capture (curves, surfaces) in static and moving positions, via inertial sensors - e.g. accelerometers ans magnetometers - able to provide information about their own orientation. In fact, in real conditions, sensors do not exactly provide their orientation, the measure is disturbed with external contributions (own motion acceleration, vibrations, magnetic perturbations). This work consists in analysing these disturbances, proposing preprocessing to clean data to obtain "denoised" tangential information to allow the reconstruction of these curves and surfaces.

First, we study the case of the reconstruction of a metallic pipe: we want to reconstruct a curve with magnetic sensors disturbed (the surface reconstruction will be explored afterwards). This work consists in finding the best methods allowing to extract the needed information from these "noised" signals (data fusion, source separation, model of perturbations, adding a new sensor modality,... are domains to explore). In this goal, a bibliographic study will be done firstly by the Post Doc student, then he will have to implement the different methods found, and test the performances with real signals acquired with our system of shape capture in a disturbed environment.

Reliability of the copper (Cu) direct bonding interconnects for 3D integration

Copper direct bonding is one of the most promising approaches for 3-D integration. The process is mature as shown in the literrature for wafer to wafer (W2W) approach [1-3] but also in the case of a die to wafer one (D2W). However, its reliability is yet to be demonstrated even if the initial results from the PhD thesis of R. Taibi seem to be promising [4].
The purpose of this post-doc position will be first, to consolidate the results obtained by R. Taibi with the W2W approach and secondly, to study the reliability of the D2W approach from the electromigration and stress-induced voiding point of view.
The candidate will be responsible for all the reliability study, starting with the tests and the results’ analysis, failure analysis (optical, IR, SEM, FIB...), the determination of the degradation’s mechanisms.

1. Gueguen, P., et al. Copper direct bonding for 3D integration. in Interconnect Technology Conference, 2008. IITC 2008. International. 2008.
2. Taibi, R., et al. Full characterization of Cu/Cu direct bonding for 3D integration. in Electronic Components and Technology Conference (ECTC), 2010 Proceedings 60th. 2010.
3. Di Cioccio, L., et al., An Overview of Patterned Metal/Dielectric Surface Bonding: Mechanism, Alignment and Characterization. Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 2011. 158(6): p. 81-86.
4. Taibi, R., et al., Investigation of Stress Induced Voiding and Electromigration Phenomena on Direct Copper Bonding Interconnects for 3D Integration, in 2011 IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM). 2011: Washington, DC.

Electrical Study of Conductive Bridge Random access Memory (CBRAM)

CBRAM memories are among the most promising technologies as alternative to Flash technologies which face strong problems of scaling. CBRAM have a capacitor-like stack, where a chalcogenide material is sandwiched between a silver anode and an inert cathode. Biasing the cell, silver ions diffuse in the chalcogenide matrix and reach the cathode where they reduce. A conductive bridge is formed between the electrodes causing a drop of resistance. Reversing the bias yields to a back-migration of silver, interrupting the conductive bridge. This kind of device can be operated at very low voltage (below 1 V) and can lead to extremely low power consumption.
The main objective of this postdoc position will be the electrical characterization aiming to a better comprehension of the physics involved in the device, with the final goal of a strong improvement in device characteristics, in particular concerning data retention. For this aim, in-depth characterization on particular features (i.e. conduction mode, failure mechanisms) will be performed, as much as possible linked to a first level of physical modelling linking current conduction and diffused ions in the matrix. The candidate will address both hardware & methodology issues, and particular attention will be devoted to pulsed measurements. Various process, geometries and architectures will be studied. A strong interaction with the specialists of materials characterizations (nano-characterization platform) will be promoted for a better physical knowledge of the structures.

Model reduction in dynamics : application to earthquake engineering problems

The complexity and refinement of the numerical models used to predict the behavior of structures under seismic loading often impose computation times of several days for solving the partial differential equations of the reference problem.
Furthermore, in the context of optimization , model identification, or parametric and stochastic analyses, the aim is not to predict the response of a unique model but of a family of models.
To reduce the computation time, model reduction techniques (Proper Orthogonal/Generalized Decomposition) may be considered. This post-doctoral study proposes to define and implement (especially in the FE code CAST3M) a technique suitable for the reduction of reinforced concrete type models subjected to seismic loading.

Droplets motion through modulation of surface energy gradient

Droplet motion through electro-wetting is nowadays largely studied and used in several systems and applications. In order to be useful, this technique needs an electrical field to monitor the droplet. For this post-doctoral fellowship, the main objective is to define an alternative method to the using of the electro-wetting technique in order to generate a droplet motion. The elaboration of surfaces with energy gradients conceived by thin film deposition or by laser ablation will be realized inside this study. The main difficulty is related to the patterns realization in order to obtain the appropriate hydrophilic/hydrophobic resolution. Apart from these “classical” techniques, an innovative method will be studied here by using switchable molecules. These molecules could modify the contact angle between a surface and a droplet, when acting on the potential of hydrogen (pH) or the wall temperature. For all the defined surfaces, the post-doctoral fellow will also analyze the coupling effect between the surface energy gradient and a thermal energy gradient on the droplet motion dynamics.

Study of aerosol transport through degraded materials

Radioactive Waste (RW) are produced during nuclear activities and are categorized as a function of their activities and their half-life in order to manage their conditioning, transport, storage… Mortar can be used in order to immobilize and/or create a safe barrier forming a Radioactive Waste Package (RWP) in order to protect the environment. It is important to study the efficiency of this mortar barrier for long term and safety assessment have to investigate the case of crack mortar formation as radioactive particles could then migrate in the cracks.
The LECD laboratory investigated this problematic by measuring the migration of CeO2 particle in mortar cracks using X-Ray microtomography. The cracks were synthesized by dissolving plastic molds (designed by 3D printing). This study showed the influence of particle interactions with tortuosity and roughness of the crack, but was limited to 40 µm particle diameter.
The aim of the postdoctoral work is to develop an experimental approach similar to the method developed to study the efficiency of HEPA filters, with particles of 0.05 - 5 µm diameter. Quantitative measurements will be performed on the particle flows on both sides of the cracked mortar sample. LECD has acquired an aerosol generator, a light-scattering aerosol spectrometer system for particle size analysis and concentration determination and an Universal Scanning Mobility Particle Sizers. The researcher will also develop modelling work using numerical tools as STARCCM+.
This project will be carried out under the format of an 12-month fixed-term contract at the Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies Commission (CEA), at the Cadarache site (Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, 13) at the Expertise and Destructive Characterization Laboratory (LECD) of the Expertise and Characterization CHICADE Service (SECC).
Contacts: ingmar.pointeau@cea.fr (R&D engineer) – Olivier.vigneau@cea.fr (Head of the Laboratory)

Porous layer integration for advanced temporary substrates

Double transfer of thin single crystalline processed layer can be very interesting for all technologies that require front and back side engineering of the silicon active film. With the increase of the electronical system complexity, this alternative technology can offer new opportunities to miniaturize the semiconductor devices. To fulfill such requirements, a recent alternative technology was developed at the CEA-LETI, based on the use of porous silicon substrates [1]. This new technology will be of a great interest for 3D integration, back-side imager but also MEMS or photovoltaics applications. This technology should now be validated at a larger scale, and we need to focus on all involved mechanisms such as the porous silicon layer rupture.
In a first place, the applicant should comprehend the specification of porous materials in thin film configuration, including elaboration steps and distinctive properties of transferred porous layers. Subsequently he/she may need to interact with Leti’s technological experts to determine process improvements to be implemented to reach pre-established specifications of desired prototypes. In order to evaluate and recommend appropriate materials and equipments, he/she may need to extensively focus on the behaviour of porous material under specific stress conditions such as chemical, thermal or mechanical solicitations. The purpose is to ensure compliance to Smart Cut or Smart stacking technologies that involve amongst others processes molecular bonding technology.
Later, the effort should be focused on the development of a specific technology to induce the mechanical separation inside the buried porous silicon layer. One line of approach would be to trigger the mechanical separation by ultrasound solicitation. Understanding the mechanisms of the splitting and characterising the resulting structures are part of the expected work to be completed in this project.
[1] A-S.Stragier et al., JECS,158 (5) H595-H599 (2011)

Unsupervised Few-Shot Detection of Signal Anomalies

Our laboratory, located at Digiteo in CEA Saclay, is looking for a postdoc candidate working on the subject of anomaly detection in manufacturing processes, for a duration of 18 months starting from Feburary 2022. This postdoc is part of HIASCI (Hybridation des IA et de la Simulation pour le Contrôle Industriel), a CEA LIST project in an internal collaboration which aims at building a platform of AI methods and tools for manufacturing applications, ranging from quality control to process monitoring. Our laboratory contributes to HIASCI by developping efficient methods of anomaly detection in acoustic or vibrational signals, operating with small amounts of training data. In this context, the detection of signal anomalies (DSA) consists of extracting from data the information about the physical process of manufacturing, which is in general too complex to be fully understood. Moreover, real data of abnormal states are relatively scarce and often expensive to collect. For these reasons we privilege a data-driven approach under the framework of Few-Shot Learning (FSL).

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