PhD in indoor air quality : individual exposure and thermal comfort

Design, Instrumentation and validation of a multi-instrumented manikin to improve Thermal comfort and Reduce exposure to pollutants Indoor

University: LILLE , Faculty of Sciences and Technologies // BUCAREST, UTCB
Scientific field: Environnemental Sciences
Co-supervisors: Frédéric THEVENET (IMT Nord Europe), Marie VERRIELE-DUNCIANU (IMT Nord Europe), Ilinca NASTASE (UTCB Bucarest, Romania)
Funding: ½ from UTCB / ½ expected funding from IMT Nord Europe

General description of the host institutions

IMT Nord Europe – CERI EE/ The Centre for Education, Research and Innovation in Energy and Environment (CERI EE) of IMT Nord Europe, France conducts academic and technological research at the crossroads of ecological and energy transitions. It has ongoing research activities focused on air quality and the impacts of human activities on atmospheric composition. Research projects aim at a better understanding of the physical and chemical processes involved in the formation, transport and aging/transformation of gaseous and particulate pollutants in the outdoor and indoor atmosphere.

UTCB – CAMBI/ The Advanced Research Center for Ambient Quality is an entity integrated into the Faculty of Engineering Installations of the Technical University of Construction Bucharest. CAMBI research center brings together both the UTCB teachers and collaborators outside the University. It gathers members with interests in Environmental Quality and Heat Transfer Phenomena in Building Physics. The Centre’s activities include experimental studies, detailed energy audit analysis, acoustics studies, specialized software development and other studies related to thermal comfort, visual or indoor air quality.

General description of Thesis subject

The ventilation strategy of tertiary premises (especially open-plan offices) interconnects with

• thermal comfort,
• exposure of occupants to air pollutants
• energy consumption

Therefore, it represents a crucial issue for the ecological transition and the building facility design in the future. In this context, this PhD project proposes to develop a multi-instrumented human manikin in order to assess both thermal comfort and exposure to indoor air pollutants. The manikin design, instrumentation and validation is a first milestone before its integration to indoor air quality experimental platforms. The proposed manikin aims at simulating the thermal regulation mechanism of the human body and determining its heat loss to the environment. Real sized and weighted, equipped with articulations, an integrated respiratory system, covered with an elastomeric thermal insulation membrane similar to the skin, the manikin interacts thermally with its environment like a human. Beyond thermal considerations, the advanced design of the proposed manikin will include five zones equipped with sensors to assess its exposure to pollutants in its vicinity; as well as a sampling system for inhaled air.

This thesis focuses on the development of an advanced and innovative humanlike metrological instrument. Beyond the design of the manikin, efforts are oriented to its experimental validation prior to a deployment in real conditions. The manikin will be exposed to typical indoor events and pollution scenarios in order to gain a large and representative database corresponding to various conditions of ventilation and exposure. On this basis, a simulation model of the indoor environmental quality will be developed, encompassing air quality and thermal comfort.

We are looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate with solid background in physical chemistry or building engineering, ready to work on challenging, multidisciplinary and innovative topics. The successful candidate will be a member of a dynamic team of international researchers and get a unique expertise in operating state-of-the-art experimental techniques and instrumentation available in the host institutions.

Required qualifications

• Solid backgrounds in physical measurements, and/or electronics, and/or. analytical chemistry
• Or Solid backgrouns in building engineering, or HVAC engineering.
• Experience in data collection, or data analysis, or processing of datasets.
• High level of communication and interpersonal skills
• High level of organizational, analytical and problem solving skills.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.

Additional skills considered as an advantage:

• Ability to adapt to a multicultural/international environment.
• Experience in thermal, aeraulic, or pollutant transport simulations.
• Author or co-author of at least one (1) publication in peer-review journals or one scientific communication.

The PhD student will share its working time between the two host institutions: UTCB (Romania) and IMT Nord Europe (France).

The Starting date of the PhD is October 2021. Applicants have to send

• a motivation letter and detailed Curriculum Vitae,
• a recommendation letter or at least one reference of previous or current employer(s)/supervisor(s)

Planned recruitment date: October 2021

Marie VERRIELE-DUNCIANU (IMT Nord Europe)