Research doctorate: “Modelling and development of a thermal conductivity based ortho-para H2 se[...]

Mines Saint-Etienne; France; Sur place; EUR 40 000 - 60 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A research and engineering institution in France seeks a PhD candidate for a project in cryogenic hydrogen measurement. The successful candidate will conduct experiments, develop analytical models in Python, and perform measurements in both cryogenic and non-cryogenic conditions. Applicants should have an engineering or master's degree and a strong interest in experimental research. This position offers an opportunity to be involved in innovative research impacting energy management.

Qualifications

• Strong interest in experimental research.
• Experience from internships or professional experience in research.
• Familiarity with multidisciplinary subjects.

Responsabilités

• Conduct tests under non-cryogenic conditions.
• Develop analytical models using Python.
• Perform measurements at various temperatures.
• Test and validate measurement solutions in industrial settings.

Connaissances

Fluid mechanics

Python coding

Understanding of transfers

Experimental work

Good communication skills

Formation

Engineering degree or master's degree

Description du poste

Organisation/Company Mines Saint-Etienne Department SPIN/PTSI Research Field Engineering » Chemical engineering Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Country France Application Deadline 1 May 2026 - 00:00 (Europe/Paris) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

As a doctoral student, you will be at the heart of our research and innovation missions and, to a lesser extent, our teaching missions. You will be assigned to the SPIN – LGF center. At this center, you will combine your passion for science with a desire to make a societal impact.

The SPIN (Science des Procédés Industriels et Naturels) center, which will be heavily involved in the thesis, is developing its expertise at Mines Saint-Etienne in the field of process engineering applied to dispersed systems: grains, particles, droplets, bubbles, and porous media. It also has expertise in sensor and instrumentation development.

The PhD will be carried out in collaboration with the NEEL Institute (Grenoble), where regular visits will be made during the second part of the thesis. The NEEL Institute is a condensed matter physics research laboratory located in Grenoble. It is a CNRS research unit (UPR 2940) created in 2007 with research themes focusing on magnetism, photonics, quantum electronics, quantum fluids, and superconductivity. The institute has particular expertise in cryogenics and the technical framework for conducting hydrogen measurement tests under cryogenic conditions.

ALFA LAVAL, a world-renowned expert in the design, manufacture, installation, and maintenance of brazed heat exchangers, cold boxes, core-in-drums heat exchangers, and Cryomec® cryogenic pumps, will also be involved in the project. In particular, it will contribute its expertise in the field of cryogenics and enable the sensors to be tested in industrial facilities.

Context: Liquid hydrogen has several significant limitations and challenges that restrict its current use. One of these is the energy loss through cryogenic boiling associated with the storage, transport, and handling of liquid hydrogen, which can consume up to 40% of the available combustion energy. Molecular hydrogen exists in two allotropic forms (spin isomers), ortho-hydrogen and para-hydrogen, differentiated by the nuclear spin state of the protons in each hydrogen atom. For a given temperature, the equilibrium ratio between the concentrations of ortho-hydrogen and para-hydrogen is: [𝑯𝟐, 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒂]𝒆𝒒 and [𝑯𝟐, 𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒐]𝒆𝒒 can be calculated, but the kinetics of the exothermic conversion can take weeks when the temperature is rapidly lowered. This is why it is important for the hydrogen industry to have a reliable method for measuring this concentration in situ.

Tasks:

• The tests will initially be carried out under non-cryogenic conditions and with binary gas mixtures that are easier to implement. Using a gas bench capable of generating binary mixtures (O2/N2 or CO2/N2), a measurement solution based on the indirect measurement of the thermal conductivity of this binary gas mixture will, after calibration and the establishment of a knowledge or behaviour model, enable the composition of the mixture to be predicted.
• These analytical models will be used to extract the parameters that will enable relevant calibration and will be coded in Python:
  • The knowledge model will be based on fluid mechanics and heat transfer equations.
  • The behaviour model is based on automatic system identification methods.
• The measurement solution is based on an actuator (microheater) and a sensor (RTD type) manufactured using a combination of screen printing and laser engraving. In the final version of the measurement solution, these two elements are fixed to a ceramic support, the influence of which on the measurement will be evaluated. To do this, gas bench tests will be carried out with and without the ceramic support.
• Furthermore, as thermal conductivity is a parameter that depends on temperature, and, in order to approximate cryogenic test conditions, measurements will also be taken at different temperatures (Tamb down to -80°C).
• In a cryostat to be built at the NEEL Institute, and after calibration, modelling, and uncertainty assessment phases, tests to predict the ortho/para (o/p) ratio of a liquid H2 solution will be performed:
  • Test on a normal o/p H2 composition at Tamb
  • Test on any o/p ratios between 0 and 75%
• These tests will be compared with reference results obtained using a RAMAN analyser, which will confirm the absence of systematic errors in the predicted ratios
• The measurement solution thus developed, comprising the actuator, the sensor with its support, and the prediction algorithms, will finally be deployed under industrial conditions at a cryogenic H2 storage site.
• You hold an engineering degree or master's degree i n the following fields: Physical Sciences, Fluid Transfer/Mechanics, Engineering Sciences
• You performed an internship or professional experience in research (strong interest in the experimental aspect)
• Junior applicants accepted: yes

Your additional strengths:

• As the subject matter is highly multidisciplinary, solid knowledge of fluid mechanics, transfers, engineering, and automation would be appreciated.
• Solid numerical skills (particularly Python coding)
• Interest in experimental and digital work
• Good oral and written communication skills (particularly in English)