Postdoctoral Researcher in Comparative Study of Process Intensification Techniques for Phase Change Material (PCM) Melting–Solidification

General Context

As a school under the supervision of the French Ministry of the Economy, Finance, Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, and a member of the Institut Mines-Télécom, IMT Nord Europe pursues three main missions: training responsible engineers capable of addressing the major challenges of the 21st century; conducting research leading to high value-added innovations; supporting regional development, notably by facilitating innovation and entrepreneurship. Its objective is to train the engineers of tomorrow, equipped with both advanced digital technologies and industrial expertise. Ideally located at the crossroads of Europe—1 hour from Paris, 30 minutes from Brussels, and 1h30 from London—IMT Nord Europe[1] aims to become a major player in the industrial, digital, and environmental transformations of the 21st century, combining engineering sciences and digital technologies in both its teaching and research activities.

With two main teaching and research sites in Lille and Douai, IMT Nord Europe[2] benefits from over 20,000 m² of laboratory facilities supporting high-level education and world-class research in the following fields:

• Digital Systems
• Energy & Environment
• Materials & Processes

The position is based within the Energy Environment Teaching, Research and Innovation Center (CERI EE) (website: research.imt-nord-europe.fr/energy-and-environment/). The Center hosts around 60 PhD candidates and post-doctoral researchers, 30 faculty members, 12 engineers and technicians, and 2 administrative assistants.

The position is hosted within the Energy and Environment Teaching, Research and Innovation Center (CERI EE). The successful candidate will join the thematic research group Energy, Fluids, and Heat Transfer, which focuses on the intensification of transfer phenomena in thermo-fluidic systems, thermal energy storage, and complex fluids, with applications in process engineering and energy systems, particularly in the context of societal decarbonization.

This research project is conducted in partnership with a major company in the Hauts-de-France Region specializing in sustainable solutions for the preservation and transport of thermo-sensitive products.

Scientific Project

Background

Several industrial cold-chain applications currently rely on vapor compression refrigeration cycles using refrigerants whose environmental impact is not negligible. This is particularly the case for mobile refrigeration systems, which require continuous operation supported by onboard mechanical or electrical energy sources. Due to the environmental concerns associated with conventional refrigerants, increasing attention is being paid to so-called natural refrigerants such as air, CO₂, and ammonia, particularly within sorption-based refrigeration cycles.

The COLDWAY technology is based on the sorption–desorption of ammonia within a solid adsorbent matrix, enabling the simultaneous production of cooling and heating with negligible ozone depletion potential and near-zero global warming potential.

Objectives and missions

The ECOWAY project, funded by the Hauts-de-France Region and the above industrial partner, is part of Thematic Axis 3 of the CPER[1] ECRIN[2] program. Its objective is to enhance the performance of the COLDWAY mobile refrigeration system through the integration of latent thermal energy storage units and the optimization of sorption processes.

The project combines numerical and experimental approaches. After the identification, selection, and thermo-physical characterization of phase change materials (PCMs), the postdoctoral researcher will develop numerical models to simulate and intensify the melting–solidification processes of these materials. The goal is to design and optimize latent heat thermal energy storage units to be integrated into the system at both the hot and cold sources.

The numerical models w be validated at the local scale using dedicated experimental setups involving melting front visualization and local thermometric measurements. Finally, the researcher will analyze and propose heat and mass transfer intensification strategies within the system to improve its overall cooling performance.

In addition to research activities, the postdoctoral researcher may contribute up to 25 equivalent TD hours per year of teaching within the institution.

The position is open to candidates holding a PhD in Fluid Mechanics and Energy Engineering. The required competences include :

• Numerical modeling and thermo-fluidic simulations
• Thermo-fluidic experimentation at both local and global scales
• Strong scientific rigor and excellent scientific writing skills
• Proficiency in English for scientific dissemination (journal publications and conference presentations)

Experience with one or more of the following software packages is highly desirable: Star CCM+, ANSYS Fluent, or equivalent. Knowledge of adsorption/desorption phenomena is not mandatory but will be considered an asset.

The postdoctoral position is available starting April 1st, 2026, for a duration of 13 months under a fixed-term contract. The research activities will be carried out within the CERI Energy and Environment center. Travel to the industrial partner’s facilities is expected as part of the project.