Modelling, supervision and control of a hydrogen system

The team Perennisation of Industrial Systems of the CRISTAL Laboratory of Lille (Research Center in Computer Science and Automatic Control) works on the modelling of dynamical multiphysics systems, their prognosis, diagnosis and control. They focus on the production of green hydrogen with renewables. The PhD thesis is funded by a National Agency Research program, in collaboration with a laboratory of the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) in Grenoble (French Alps) who works on new electrolyzer technologies.

The topic of this PhD thesis is to integrate a new electrolyzer technology in a green hydrogen refueling station and to operate it in order to mitigate the degradation phenomena (the degradation phenomena will be investigated by the CEA).

The PhD thesis will be divided in three parts:

First , a multiphysics modelling step will be completed, including validation of  previous AEMWE models with data. From this multiphysics model, one will design prognosis algorithms (estimation of remaining useful life). The model will be coupled with mechanistic degradation models from the CEA. An algorithm will be designed to recalibrate the model with real-time data.

Second, a representation of a stand-alone (not connected to outside refilling) hydrogen station will be done, and coupled with the previous model. From the full model, one will be able to design prognosis and control algorithms .

Third, using realistic scenarios, one will design an optimization of the remaining useful life of the electrolyzer, depending on its control and operating modes. Finally, the algorithms will be tested online, on a real-time device, at least on the electrolyzer side.

The PhD candidate MUST have a background in modelling and control of dynamical processes (applications with no background in advanced control or prognosis will be rejected; a knowledge of the state space representation is mandatory), and at least a basic knowledge in engineering (fluid mechanics, thermodynamics,  chemistry). He is able to program in Matlab/Simulink.

The PhD will be inserted in a team of 5 researchers. A post-doc student works in a European project on the degradation patterns of electrolyzers.  The work will be done in close collaboration with the CEA, so some short stays at the Grenoble Lab to be familiar with experimental devices are scheduled.

CRISTAL Laboratory of Lille (Research Center in Computer Science and Automatic Control) is the main laboratory of informatics, automatic control and signal north of Paris. All researchers share a new building close to public transportation facilities. The team Perennisation of Industrial Systems of the works on the modelling of dynamical multiphysics energy systems, their prognosis, diagnosis and control. They focus on the production of green hydrogen.

The candidate  has an education in Automatic control , ideally in Process control.

A knowledge in thermodynamics or in machine learning will be appreciated but is not mandatory.  The candidate will start as soon as possible.