Masters

To reach the Carbon neutrality target in 2050 as announced Europe in its Green Deal, the electricity demand will be strongly increased for energy, transport and heating/cooling systems. For that, most countries consider clean and renewable energy resources (as wind and solar) as the main energy resources for the future. However, due to their intermittency and the need to keep a secure electricity supply, the energy storage will be an integral part of the modern electricity smart grid. One solution to store the renewable energy excess is what is commonly named ‘electro-fuels’. Hydrogen is often considered as the best candidate but suffers up to now from some drawbacks such as its storage capacity and safety. Another alternative is Ammonia (NH3), which can be considered as a ‘mere’ hydrogen (H2) carrier. Even if these carbon-free fuels are attractive, there are still lot of difficulties to overcome.

Both e-fuels are very attractive in marine transportation, engines and gas turbines applications. Besides their physical chemistry restrictions (such as the low ignition temperature of NH₃, or the low density for H₂…), the question concerning their pollutant emissions (nitric oxides and N₂O) requires still careful attention. To improve the knowledge, pilot laboratory experiments are needed. At the PC2A lab, we are performing species measurements in premixed stabilized flames. The species profiles obtained on a wide range of flame conditions provide an indispensable database for the development of chemical mechanisms representative of NOx formation in flames.

The work program of this Master internship will consist in measuring the species involved in the NH₃/H₂ blend oxidation in premixed flames. Species will be detected and quantified using spectroscopic laser-based diagnostics (Laser-Induced Fluorescence and absorption), and InfraRed spectroscopy (FTIR). Experimental results will be compared to simulated ones using kinetic modeling tools (ChemkinPro or CANTERA).

 

 

Laboratory:

PC2A pc2a.univ-lille.fr

Supervisors: Nathalie Lamoureux, Pascale Desgroux

Contact e-mail: nathalie.lamoureux[chez]univ-lille[point].fr, pascale.desgroux[chez]univ-lille[point].fr

Sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), produced from renewable resources such as lignocellulosic biomass [1,2], are a key opportunity to reduce the carbon footprint of the aviation industry while maintaining the necessary safety
standards of airbourne transportation. Understanding the combustion chemistry of SAFs is a priority objective and a hot topic in the combustion energy research community. The proposed internship will contribute to this
topic by investigating the combustion chemistry of a selected component representative of SAFs by measuring its ignition delay times in a rapid compression machine (RCM) and pollutant emissions in a flame using gas
chromatography (GC).
The selected fuel component will be among alkylbenzenes or alkylcyclohexanes, which are two of the main chemical families of SAF and still in need of better study. The expected results will be used to validate a kinetic
model developed for this component, and then to analyze the combustion kinetics of the studied fuel. This study will provide a solid basis for a longer-term study on more complex surrogate fuels and mixtures for lignin-
based SAFs within the framework of the CDP LILLEGNIN project (Cross-Disciplinary Project: “Lignin valorization: Pushing further the concept of biorefineries”) at University of Lille.
References:
[1] Lv X, Zhao C, Yan N, Ma X, Feng S, Shuai L. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from lignin: Pathways, catalysts, and challenges.

Bioresource Technology 2025;419:132039. doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132039.

[2] Kumar A, Bell DC, Yang Z, Heyne J, Santosa DM, Wang H, et al. A simultaneous depolymerization and hydrodeoxygenation process
to produce lignin-based jet fuel in continuous flow reactor. Fuel Processing Technology 2024;263:108129.

doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2024.108129.

Keywords: Sustainable aviation fuels, combustion, kinetic modeling, autoignition, flame
Contact e-mail: guillaume.vanhove()univ-lille.fr, luc-sy.tran()univ-lille.fr

Title: Atmospheric reactivity of anthracene

 

Summary:

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are generated during incomplete combustion processes and are strongly linked to human activities. Many of them are considered potential carcinogens and exhibit toxic as well as mutagenic effects. Their oxidation in the environment often leads to compounds that are more toxic and more water-soluble than the original molecules. Assessing the risks PAHs pose to environmental health therefore requires considering not only their concentrations but also the kinetics of their oxidation reactions. Photodegradation is an important oxidation pathway in the environmental gas phase.

 

The main goal of this internship is to investigate the atmospheric degradation processes using different theoretical approaches unravelling their most favorable pathways and their atmospheric fate. This work will be conducted in close collaboration with the experimental works performed in the group led by Professor Tara Kahan at the University of Saskatchewan (Canada). This project will be performed within the framework of a larger research program (CPER Ecrin and CDP AREA). The internship will take place at PC2A laboratory, Lille University.

 

Key words: Atmosphere; Anthracene; Reactivity; Molecular Simulations

 

* Send to yeny.tobon-correa[chez]univ-lille[point].fr before September 12, 2025