UTC Ecole Doctorale

PhD Thesis : Study of the effects of High Voltage Electrical Discharges in complex liquid
and Scale up of this technology at the pilot scale

Financial support: Public ( 1400 euros/month)

Start date of : October 2014

Areas of expertise :
Process engineering
Physics of plasma/dielectric components

Workplace : University of Technology of Compigne (Laboratory of Process Engineering,
www.utc.fr/timr) University of Grenoble (Laboratory of Electrical Engineering)

Subject description :
Over the past three decades, a large number of works related to dielectric breakdown was
made. Note that an electrical discharge leads to the formation of an electric arc. This phenomenon
results from the formation and propagation of a plasma channel (also called streamer) between
two electrodes. Several secondary phenomena are also generated such as shock waves, active
species, ozone and formation of ultraviolet rays. Models were proposed to understand and
interpret these mechanisms. Although these phenomena are well understood in the gases, they are
less understood in the liquid in which the reactions are more complex.
The electrical discharges were generated in water for various applications such as
insulation systems electric, disinfection of liquid effluents and pasteurization/sterilization of food
liquid or medical equipment. More recently, this technology has also been used to improve the
extraction of valuable biomolecules from food industry products. This thesis will focus on this
last application.

This PhD subject aims at studying the mechanisms of action of high voltage electrical
discharges in complex liquid medium. The study will be divided into two parts: (1) the study of
the physical and electrical phenomena occurring during an electrical discharge and their actions
on the effectiveness of the treatment (laboratory scale); and (2) a second study on the technical
adaptations to provide electric discharges and ensure continuous treatment with the possibility of
scaling-up. Two raw "models" materials have been selected: (1) a suspension of microorganisms
such as microalgae and commercial yeasts ("microscopic particles"); and (2) dried grape seeds
for the treatment of a liquid solid mixture ("macroscopic particles").

The scientific objectives of this study include the following:
A better understanding of the main mode of action of electrical discharges in a complex
liquid medium: effect of the presence of solid particles (macroscopic (eg grape seed) or
microscopic (eg micro-organisms)) on the effects of the pre-disruptive (streamers) and disruptive
(arc) phenomena
Study of the impact of secondary physical phenomena of electrical discharges on the
disruption of cellular tissue: effect of shock waves, cavitation bubbles, turbulence...
Study of the synergies that can occur between the physical, chemical and electrical
phenomena during the electric discharge: analysis of their influence on the treatment
effectivessness.
UTC Ecole Doctorale


Several analysis are planned to characterize the electrical discharges: measure of the
electrical conductivity, particle size, microscopic study, measure of voltage, current, pressure,

Key-words: electrical discharges, optimisation, modeling, physics of plasma

Requires expertise areas of the student :
Education : Master degree in Physics and Applications or in Process Engineering
Language : English (B2 level required)

Contact :
Please send a CV and a cover letter to:
Nadia Boussetta Olivier Lesaint
03 44 23 44 42 04 76 88 78 81
nadia.boussetta@utc.fr olivier.lesaint@g2elab.grenoble-inp.fr

Adress : Universit de Technologie de Compigne, Centre de Recherches de Royallieu, dpartement Gnie
des procds Industriels, rue personne de Roberval, 60200 Compigne