Experimental study of the formation of nitrogen monoxide in plasma-assisted combustion of hydro[...]

CNRS LABORATOIRE EM2C; France; Sur place; EUR 20 000 - 40 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A leading research institute in France is seeking an experienced researcher to join their team focusing on plasma-assisted combustion. The successful candidate will study NOx formation using advanced laser-induced fluorescence techniques in both methane-air and hydrogen-air flames. This role requires a strong experimental background and collaboration with doctoral researchers to validate numerical simulations through experimental data. This full-time, temporary position begins March 2026 in Gif-sur-Yvette.

Qualifications

• Requires strong experimental background in plasma-assisted combustion.
• Demonstrated expertise in laser-induced fluorescence is essential.
• Experience in analyzing combustion data is beneficial.

Responsabilités

• Use laser-induced fluorescence on academic plasma-assisted burner.
• Study formation of NOx in methane-air and hydrogen-air flames.
• Collaborate with a doctoral researcher on experimental data collection.

Connaissances

Plasma-assisted combustion

Laser-induced fluorescence

Experimental research

Description du poste

Organisation/Company CNRS LABORATOIRE EM2C Department UPR288 Research Field Engineering » Mechanical engineering Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Positions Research Support Positions Country France Application Deadline 15 Jan 2026 - 12:00 (Europe/Paris) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week "( Offer Starting Date 1 Mar 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - ERC Reference Number 101021538 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Background: Answering the pressing challenge of climate change requires rapid changes in energy production methods. Today, more than 80% of the primary energy production is based on the combustion of fossil fuels, which generate most anthropogenic CO2 emissions (IEA, 2020). Combustion also produces pollutants (nitric oxides-NOx, sulphur oxides-SOx, unburned hydrocarbons, soot) that must be kept below increasingly stringent limits. The applications cover aeronautical chambers, power generation turbines, as well as domestic and industrial furnaces.

Because electrification cannot massively replace combustion in the short term, gas turbine manufacturers are developing plans to switch to CO2-neutral or CO2-free combustion. CO2-neutral combustion can be obtained by burning sustainable fuels (made from waste, sustainable crops, or from CO2 and renewable electricity) and CO2-free combustion is achieved by burning hydrogen or ammonia. Although these combustion strategies reduce or eliminate CO2 emissions, the reduction of NOx emissions remains a major issue. A promising strategy to reduce NOx is to lower the temperature of flames by operating in the lean combustion regime. However, lean flames are prone to instabilities and extinction, thus causing important safety issues and mechanical damage. It should be underscored that stoichiometric H2-air flames burn at higher temperatures than hydrocarbon-air flames, and therefore ultra lean flames are required for H2.

An emerging solution to stabilize lean flames is to assist combustion by means of high-voltage electrical discharges. The discharges locally generate a plasma that enhances combustion by producing active species in the flame. A particularly promising type of discharge is the Nanosecond Repetitively Pulsed (NRP) discharge [1,3], which has been shown to be particularly efficient in a wide range of conditions [4-7] with a plasma power typically less than 1% of the power released by the flame. These NRP discharges are the focus of ongoing studies at EM2C.

The position is open for an experienced researcher, whose primary responsibility will be to use an already-functioning laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) setup on an academic plasma-assisted burner to study the formation of NOx in both a methane-air flame and a hydrogen-air flame. The objective is to acquire data lacking in the plasma-assisted combustion research community. The data will be used to compare with the results of a 3D LES numerical simulation of the same facility, performed by other members of the team, in order to validate a phenomenological model. In particular, these data will help identify the main mechanisms at play in the formation of NOx in plasma-assisted combustion. This experimental study will be complemented by temperature measurements performed by Rayleigh scattering, as NOx formation is highly dependent on the temperature. This work will be carried out in collaboration with a doctoral researcher.

Requirements: A strong experimental background and demonstrated expertise in plasma-assisted combustion and laser-induced fluorescence are required.

Where to apply

E-mail [e-mail]

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute CentraleSupélec / University Paris Saclay Country France City Gif-sur-Yvette Postal Code 91190 Street 8-10 rue Joliot Curie Laboratoire EM2C