PhD Position : Experimental Study and Modeling of Cell Pair Behaviors for Osmotic Energy

Collaboration : University of Montpellier (Institut Européen des Membranes) and Sweetch Energy (Rennes)

Funding : European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 674979.

Keywords : Osmotic energy, ion exchange membrane, spacers, diffusion control, polarization.

Project:

Osmotic energy represents a promising renewable and non-intermittent energy source, harnessed from the salinity gradients between fresh (river) and salty (sea) water. Sweetch Energy, a pioneer in this field with unique and patented technology, stands as the world leader in developing this untapped energy resource. To enhance and adapt its technology across various environments, a thorough understanding of the complex physical phenomena at the cell pair unit scale (comprising anion exchange membranes, spacers, and cation exchange membranes) is essential. This research will focus on how these phenomena are influenced by factors such as salinity gradients, fluid dynamics, and material properties.

Research Goals:

The primary objectives of this PhD project include:

• Identification and Modeling: Investigate the interactions among key parameters influencing osmotic energy generation.

• Simulation: Develop computational models to simulate the behaviors of cell pair units under varying conditions.

• Optimization: Propose strategies to enhance the power output and energy yield of the osmotic energy system.

Methodology:

The research will employ a combination of methodologies, including:

• Electrochemistry: Investigating electrochemical processes at the membrane interfaces.

• Fluidic Analysis: Analyzing fluid dynamics within the system.

• Surface Chemistry Characterization: Characterizing the chemical properties of the membranes and spacers.

• Digital Simulation: Utilizing computational tools to model and simulate the behavior of the system.

Practical Information:

The candidate will primarily be based at the Sweetch Energy Laboratory in Rennes, with regular training sessions and reporting obligations at the University of Montpellier. This PhD project is part of the Fluxionic initiative, promoting innovative research in osmotic energy. The project will be supervised by Mikhael Bechelany (University of Montpellier), Bruno Mottet (Sweetch Energy), and Lydéric Bocquet (CNRS).