Complex fluids, colloids and condensed matter

Injectivity in geological formations is a well documented factor in fields related to new energies and the climate (geothermal energy, underground CO2 storage, etc.). The clogging of geological formations, a recurrent problem causing injectivity losses, is associated with the fact that reinjected water frequently carries a high concentration of suspended organic and mineral elements, in the form of colloidal particles. To attempt to overcome this clogging, or at the very least minimize it, it is important to have a clear understanding of the mechanisms at work. Such was the aim of this PhD research conducted using a microfluidics approach (Figure 1) combining two visualization techniques: optical imaging and laser-induced fluorescence.

Processes using heterogeneous catalysis require the design and development of innovative materials, with controlled mechanical and textural properties, to produce effective catalyst supports. The porous microstructure of these supports has a significant impact on the performance of the supported catalyst, since it strongly affects the support’s mechanical resistance and transport phenomena...

Injectivity in geological formations has long been an important factor in oil production (enhanced recovery) but it is now just as important in fields related to new energies and the climate (geothermal energy, CO2 storage, etc.). Injectivity losses, which result from the clogging of geological formations, are a recurrent problem associated with the fact that reinjected water often carries a high concentration of organic and mineral elements in suspension, in the form of colloidal particles...

By combining battery, electric machine, power electronics and mechanical transmission, the electric vehicle is an example of an application that combines a range of constraints for the formulation of technical fluids. In recent years, there has been renewed interest in the study of the latter for the transport sector...

In the context of the energy transition, it is expected that oil production will decrease at the same pace as the development of low-carbon energies and people’s evolving needs in this area...

​​​​​​​Numerous IFPEN applications, from liquid-liquid extraction for biofuel production to the flotation process for the separation of microplastics, bring into play interactions between a fluid and the large number of inclusions (bubbles, drops) it contains...

IFPEN uses numerous fluids in its fields of innovation for a variety of applications, ranging from renewable energy production to sustainable mobility. Many of the fluids are complex mixtures and the chemistry of their components (hydrocarbons, alcohols, esters, etc.) varies depending on the target application: combustion, cooling, lubrication, electrical insulation, etc.

The transport of colloidal particles in porous media is relevant to a number of fields, including geosciences and environmental engineering. Particle-matrix interactions can lead to deposit formation and accumulation, potentially damaging the medium and altering its permeability. (...) At IFPEN, the problem was originally studied for oil and gas production, but research has now been extended to include the fields of geothermal energy and geological storage of CO2.