Heat and Power

Administrative framework
The team is managed by Jaona RANDRIANALISOA.

Workforce

16 permanent teacher-researchers (members)

Research areas

Multiscale thermophysical instrumentation and characterization

The scientific objectives of this axis focus on the multi-scale thermophysical characterization of materials, as well as on the development of dedicated experimental techniques (local probe thermal microscopy, photothermal radiometry, infrared thermography, etc.), and the determination of their field of application. It is worth noting the original scientific positioning of this axis, at the crossroads of thermal characterization and aspects linked to physics and instrumentation.

The local characterization activity (study of small-scale heat transfer, thermal resistance of interfaces, etc.) initiated during the previous contract will be continued, but extended to nanomaterials in thin or nanostructured films, phase-change materials and composite materials of plant origin (biopolymers, composite materials), for which the problem of the influence of humidity will also be addressed. The recent addition to the team of a physicist specializing in electrical properties will also enable us to address the effects of electrical and thermal coupling in near-field instrumentation. Continuing our investigations into metrology will enable us to respond, among other things, to requests for materials and micro-systems of interest to the aerospace industry.

The second family of scientific operations under this theme deals with issues of thermophysical characterization in situ, and not just under “laboratory” conditions. In addition to continuing our contribution to the improvement of NDT using pyrometry and infrared thermography (passive or stimulated) for “classic” applications such as the detection of defects in walls, works of art or even wind turbine blades, with our current partners (LRMH, SupAirVision, Engie Green...), we wish to develop new methods, both more sensitive and more quantitative, dedicated more specifically to the diagnosis of green energy production devices (wind power, solar thermal, photovoltaic. ..). Indeed, the recent development of these technologies, and the difficulties of recycling their components, should lead us to reflect on their predictive maintenance, in order to improve their lifespan and therefore their overall environmental impact. Finally, in addition to the local-scale studies presented in the previous item, these techniques will contribute to the multi-scale thermal analysis of nanostructured materials, phase-change materials and plant-based composite structures.

Optimizing heat transfer in thermal and energy systems

This area covers the optimization of heat exchangers, on both conventional and microscopic scales (microchannels, microexchangers, etc.). It comprises a number of complementary scientific operations.

Firstly, this area involves optimizing heat exchangers for energy recovery in industrial environments and individual buildings, in collaboration with industrial partners (Valeo, Reccal, Univeristé Dikyz-Eylul, etc.). Depending on the application, these may be single-phase, two-phase or phase-change systems. In addition to the purely geometrical aspects, the intensification of exchanges can also involve the use of nanocarrier fluids, which leads us to focus both on the synthesis of nanopowders (synthesis by phase-shifted pulsed sono-electrochemistry, for example), and the search for suitable anti-agglomerate dispersants. Finally, this area includes modeling, thermophysical characterization and studies of the hydraulic performance of thermo-fluidic systems (pressure drop, friction coefficient, thin film deposition, etc.).

Still on the subject of building applications, we are working on the development of building cooling systems using new plant-based phase-change materials. This requires thermophysical and hydric characterization of this new material (Cp, latent heat, conductivity, of the different phases)...

Energy recovery from renewable resources

The activities of this research area focus on the transformation of renewable resources and the optimization of their uses, with a view to contributing to sustainable development. They are part of the “Energy and environmental transition” approach, one of the three priority areas of the Schéma Régional de l’Enseignement Supérieur, recherche, innovation 2020-2030 (SRESRI) of the Grand Est region.

These research projects concern
– Converting renewable resources (biomass, solar radiation) into energy (heat, recoverable biogas);
– Design and diagnosis of renewable energy systems;
– Improving the energy efficiency of walls made from bio-sourced materials (hemp-starch plant walls and others),
– Optimizing the use of renewable energies in building and industrial applications,
– Characterization of the physico-chemical properties of agro-sourced materials, for the aforementioned applications, but also for “ecological” packaging materials (in collaboration with UMR FARE).

These research activities have already led to the development of close collaborations with national (ULCO) and international academic institutions (EPFL, ANU), as well as with manufacturers of wood-burning appliances (INVICTA), which are set to continue and even expand.