PhD position in "Development and Optimization of a Gas/Liquid Contactor Applied to Atmospheric CO2 Capture" - MSCA Cofund SEED programme

2 Feb 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

IMT Atlantique

Department

Doctoral division

Research Field

Engineering

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

France

Application Deadline

14 Feb 2024 - 12:00 (Europe/Paris)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

37

Offer Starting Date

1 Sep 2024

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

HE / MSCA COFUND

Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number

101126644

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description
The PhD position is offered under an industrial track (2 years at IMT Atlantique + 9 months at Maia, Paris, France + 3 months at an academic partner.)
1.1. Domain and scientific/technical context

Atmospheric CO2 capture (DAC for Direct Air Capture) is a fast-growing sector that has been identified by the IPCC and the IEA as one of the essential solutions for combating climate change (expected capacity of 980 MtCO2/year by 2050).

One of the technological branches of DAC is based on an absorption stage to solubilize the CO2, followed by solvent regeneration using various methods (thermal, electrochemical, hybrid, etc.). This stage presents a number of challenges:

• Minimization of specific energy consumption (kWh/tCO2), and therefore of pressure drop;
• Treatment of an air stream, which is not an effluent, enabling lower capture rates to be envisaged compared with treatment of gaseous effluents;
• Air volume flow is much higher than the solvent volume flow required;

However, traditional gas/liquid reactor equipment manufacturers have mainly developed counter-current contactors, and for flue gas CO2 capture applications, with higher concentrations (8 - 20%CO2).

Since 2020, the strong development of DAC technologies featuring an absorption stage has highlighted the need to develop gas/liquid reactors adapted to the challenges of capturing diluted CO2 at low concentrations in atmospheric air.

1.2. Scientific/technical challenges

This thesis aims to address the scientific and industrial challenges associated with the development of a gas/liquid contactor for atmospheric CO2 capture applications.

The transfer mechanisms and reactions involved (mass transfer, evaporation, heat transfer) are well studied in the scientific literature, but knowledge of their application to atmospheric CO2 capture remains sparse.

This thesis proposes to answer the following questions:

• Which contactor configuration is best suited to atmospheric CO2 absorption?
• How can operating parameters be optimized to minimize energy consumption?
• How can we model coupled mass and heat transfers for these specific contactor configurations?
• How can we extrapolate and scale up a gas/liquid absorption reactor?

1.3. Considered methods, targeted results and impacts

The research involves experimental and modeling components. Experimental work includes designing and building a laboratory-scale cross-current contactor test bench. Testing will explore various parameters, including solvent type, structured packing, gas-liquid flow ratio, temperature, and recirculation stages. Modeling will encompass CO2  absorption, water and solvent evaporation, and heat transfer. The model will be validated at laboratory and pilot scales, aiming to represent phenomena in atmospheric gas/liquid reactors, conduct sensitivity studies, and aid in the design of industrial units developed by Maia.

The work will include both experimental and modelling aspects:

• Experimental
  • Design and construction of an experimental bench to carry out absorption tests in a laboratory-scale cross-current contactor.
  • Conducting test campaigns to test various parameters: nature of solvent, type of structured packing, gas-liquid flow ratio, temperature, number of recirculation stages, etc.
• Modeling
  • Development of a model to account for the following phenomena :
    • absorption of CO2  into the solvent (and associated chemical reactions)
    • evaporation of water and solvent into the air stream
    • heat transfer
  • The model developed can be validated on 2 scales:
    • laboratory test bench
    • pilot developed by non-academic partner Maia
  • The objectives of this modeling tool will be:
    • represent the phenomena involved in a gas/liquid crossflow reactor under atmospheric conditions
    • carry out sensitivity studies to optimize the absorption unit (specific energy consumption, CAPEX/OPEX capture cost)
    • be used to size industrial units developed by Maia

1.4. Environment (partners, places, specific tools and hardware)

Laboratory experiments will be conducted at IMT Atlantique. This requires a dedicated installation with an absorption stage featuring an instrumented contactor coupled with fluid flow control and analysis systems. Maia and IMT Atlantique will jointly develop simulation models. IMT Atlantique will contribute expertise in reactive solvent flow in porous media and mass and heat transfer, using Comsol and Matlab. Pilot testing and techno-economic analysis will involve collaboration with a secondary academic partner.

2. Partners and study periods
2.1. Supervisors and study periods

• IMT Atlantique: Prof. Pascaline Pré  and Assoc. Prof. Denys Grekov , IMT Atlantique, Nantes, France

  The PhD student will stay 2 years at @name@'s lab.

• International partner: Dr. Valentin Fougerit , Maia, Paris, France

  The PhD student will stay 9 months at Dr. Fougerit's lab.

• International academic partner(s): not yet determined but several European universities are under consideration

2.2. Hosting organizations
2.2.1. IMT Atlantique

IMT Atlantique , internationally recognized for the quality of its research, is a leading French technological university under the supervision of the Ministry of Industry and Digital Technology. IMT Atlantique maintains privileged relationships with major national and international industrial partners, as well as with a dense network of SMEs, start-ups, and innovation networks. With 290 permanent staff, 2,200 students, including 300 doctoral students, IMT Atlantique produces 1,000 publications each year and raises 18€ million in research funds.

2.2.2. Maia

Maia  is a teachnology-based startup in the domain of Direct Air Capture. It pioneers electrochemical processes aiming to drastically reduce current limits in terms of resource-consumption in energy, land, water and materials.

Requirements

Research Field

Engineering

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

This topic is interdisciplinary and multiscale, addressing process engineering, technological, economic, and environmental challenges. The research develops both experimental and modeling skills.

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Research Field

Engineering

Additional Information
Benefits
A PhD programme of high quality training : 4 reasons to apply

• SEED is a programme of excellence that is aware of its responsibilities: to provide a programme of high quality training to develop conscientious researchers, including training in responsible research and ethics. 
• SEED’s unique approach of providing interdisciplinary, international and cross-sector experience is tailored to work in a career-focused manner to enhance employability and market integration.
• SEED offers a competitive funding scheme, aiming for an average monthly salary of EUR 2,000 net per ESR, topped by additional mobility allowances as well as optional family allowances.
• SEED is a forward-looking programme that actively engages with current issues and challenges, providing research opportunities addressing industrial and academic relevant themes.

Eligibility criteria

Eligibility criteria. In accordance with MSCA rules, SEED will open to applicants without any conditions of nationality nor age criteria. SEED applies the MSCA mobility standards and necessary background. Eligible candidates must fulfil the following criteria

• Mobility rule: Candidates must show transnational mobility by having not resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in France for more than 12 months in the three years immediately before the deadline of the co-funded program's call (Jan 31, 2024 for Call#1). Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not taken into account.
• Early-stage researchers (ESR): Candidates must have a master’s degree or an equivalent diploma at the time of their enrolment and must be in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research career. Moreover, they must not have been awarded a doctoral degree.
  Extensions may be granted (under certain conditions) for maternity leave, paternity leave, as well as long-term illness or national service.

Selection process

The selection process is described on the guide for applicants available here: https://www.imt-atlantique.fr/en/research-innovation/phd/seed/documents

Additional comments

Applications can only be provided through the application system available under the SEED website: https://www.imt-atlantique.fr/seed

Website for additional job details

https://www.imt-atlantique.fr/en/research-innovation/phd/seed

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

IMT Atlantique

Country

France

City

Nantes

Postal Code

44307

Street

4, rue Alfred Kastler - La Chantrerie

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://www.imt-atlantique.fr/en/research-innovation/phd/seed

Contact

City

Nantes

Website

https://www.imt-atlantique.fr/en/research-innovation/phd/seed

Street

4, rue Alfred Kastler

E-Mail

[email protected]

STATUS: EXPIRED