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Simulation of flow in centrifugal extractors: the impact of viscous solvents on operation


Thesis topic details

General information

Organisation

The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) is a key player in research, development and innovation in four main areas :
• defence and security,
• nuclear energy (fission and fusion),
• technological research for industry,
• fundamental research in the physical sciences and life sciences.

Drawing on its widely acknowledged expertise, and thanks to its 16000 technicians, engineers, researchers and staff, the CEA actively participates in collaborative projects with a large number of academic and industrial partners.

The CEA is established in ten centers spread throughout France
  

Reference

SL-DES-26-0253  

Thesis topic details

Category

Engineering science

Thesis topics

Simulation of flow in centrifugal extractors: the impact of viscous solvents on operation

Contract

Thèse

Job description

Within the framework of nuclear spent fuel reprocessing, the CEA co-developed with ROUSSELET-ROBATEL liquid/liquid extraction (ELL) devices aimed at bringing two immiscible liquids into contact, one of which contains the valuable metals to be recovered and the other an extractant molecule. The multi-stage Centrifugal Extractor is one of the devices used to perform ELL at the La Hague plant. The future use of solvents potentially more viscous than current industrial standards may pose performance issues that need to be studied in advance in the laboratory to provide the necessary recommendations to restore the expected performance levels for the plant. The nuclear environment in which these devices operate makes in situ studies nearly impossible, thus depriving R&D of valuable information that is nevertheless essential for a deep understanding of the physicochemical mechanisms at the heart of the issues involved. To address this, the proposed study will rely on a numerical approach that will have been previously validated by comparison with either historical experimental data or data acquired from more recent ad hoc pilot systems. Thus, following a phase of literature review and capitalization of recent measurements, it is proposed to first create test cases that will be used to validate the numerical models. Based on this validation and in light of the knowledge acquired from previous theses concerning the effect of viscosity on flows, it is proposed to numerically explore the impact of an increase in solvent viscosity on centrifugal extractors. This will pave the way for a better understanding of the operation of the devices as well as operational or geometric improvements. The student will work at CEA Marcoule, in a research environment at the crossroads between a team of experimentalists and a team of numerical simulators. This experience will enable the student to acquire important skills in modeling liquid-liquid flows as well as solid knowledge on the development of liquid-liquid contactors.

University / doctoral school

Sciences et Ingénierie des Molécules, des Produits, des Procédés, et de l’Energie (SIMPPE)
Université de Lorraine

Thesis topic location

Site

Marcoule

Requester

Position start date

01/10/2026

Person to be contacted by the applicant

Randriamanantena Tojonirina tojonirina.randriamanantena@cea.fr
CEA
DES/DMRC
CEA Marcoule BP 17171 30207 Bagnols sur Cèze Cedex
0466796534

Tutor / Responsible thesis director

OLMOS Eric eric.olmos@univ-lorraine.fr
Université de Lorraine
LRGP - Laboratoire Réactions et Génie des Procédés - UMR 7274
2, avenue de la forêt de Haye BP20163 | 54505 Vandoeuvre les Nancy | France

0372743972

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