Research topics

The purpose of LIA-LSE is to develop common research projects according to the scientific topics described below, in order to increase the scientific knowledge in the domains identified in the Summary, and to promote concretely French-Chinese cooperation in the field of general  interest of sustainable energy.

1. Energy efficiency: intensification of transfers, thermodynamic analysis

  • New research paths toward a better use of energy in processes.
  • Implementation of size reduction (and possibly miniaturisation) and increase of energy density through microtechnologies, microfluidics, transfer intensification, acceleration of kinetics, increase of selectivities and optimisation of multi-scale phenomena.
  • Development of evaluation methods  and energy management through thermodynamic, functional and environmental analysis (life cycle assessment).

2. Solar energy

  • Development of innovative, environment friendly thermal solar systems, and their integration in buildings.
  • Integration between photovoltaic and thermal energy.
  • Electricity production through concentrated solar energy and thermodynamic systems.
  • Management of heat and cold.
  • Storage through thermal and thermochemical systems, their management and optimisation.

3. New energy vectors and new systems of conversion and transport: hydrogen and fuel cells, biomass and its transformation into biofuels, long distance transport through reactive fluids

  • Processes for hydrogen production (reforming, solar and biochemical pathways).
  • Improvement of certain aspects of fuel cells.
  • Thermo-transformation of biomass (slow and rapid pyrolysis for the production of gases, liquids and solids; densification for efficient transport).
  • Low level heat recuperation using thermo-chemical cycles; long distance transport using reactive fluids.

4. Clean combustion of coal and of biomass

  • Combustion of solids (coal) and complex mixtures stemming from biomass transformation, and on effluent processing downstream of the combustion
  • Modeling flow, transfer and reaction processes in combustion, in particular in circulating fluidised beds.
  • Role and fate of trace-components, in particular of heavy metals.
  • Gaseous effluent treatment: capture, destruction, storage of VOC, dioxins, sulphur compounds and CO2.