Post-doctoral position opened at PROMES, 2009-2010

Contract duration : 12 month
Start : October or November 2009

URGENT: deadline for application September 30, 2009

Program of work

The proposed research work will contribute to the project PEGASE at Themis (Production of Electricity with Gas Turbine and Solar Energy), which is developed under the umbrella of a national public program funded by the Government and by the private sector. The project PEGASE consists of designing, installing and operating a 2 MW hybrid solar gas turbine demonstration plant at the Themis solar site (former molten salt tower solar plant, Targasonne, France).

The proposed subject is to investigate the integration of the solar receiver into the gas cycle. The turbine is a 2 MW gas turbine provided by General Electric. The solar receiver is being designed with the objective to deliver air at 750°C, working pressure about 8 bar. The purpose is to estimate the performance of the whole system (power generated, solar-electricity conversion efficiency, fuel consumption, solar share) according to the operating conditions (solar direct normal irradiation, concentrated solar power delivered to the receiver, ambient temperature and pressure). Another important issue will be the analysis of the technical constraints and requirements for the physical integration of the receiver between the compressor stage and the combustion chamber, and for the installation of the components in the tower.

The work will be done in conjunction with other partners of the project, e.g. General Electric (France and Italy): provider of the power block and modifications of the combustion chamber, CNIM (France) and Bertin Technology (France): manufacturing of the receiver and operation of the cycle.

The post-doc holder will be integrated in the PEGASE research team at PROMES laboratory (7 persons). The location of the work is PROMES laboratory, Font-Romeu, France.

Salary: 36 k€ annual gross.

Degree: PhD.

Education and training: Mechanical engineering, energy and transfers, fluid dynamics, skill in numerical simulation. Skill in the field of combustion appreciated.

Education and training: Minimum 3 years in a public or private research laboratory. Experience in gas turbine industry or research highly appreciated.

Information and application :

Send CV + letter of motivation (+ any relevant references or recommendation letters) to :
Gilles Flamant, Director : , phone : +33 468 307 758
Alain Ferriere, Project manager : , phone: +33 468 307 749

Address: Laboratory Processes, Materials and Solar Energy (PROMES), CNRS
7 rue du Four Solaire
66120 Font-Romeu, France.

Website: http://www.promes.cnrs.fr