Research project title
Tracking the birth of metal powders: Mesoscale simulation of high-purity cadmium powder production
Education level
Master (research-based)
Director/co-director
Director: Fabian Denner
End of display
December 15, 2025
Areas of expertise
Modelling, simulation and finite element methods
Primary sphere of excellence in research
Modeling and Artificial Intelligence
Secondary sphere(s) of excellence in research
Unit(s) and department(s)
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Conditions
The successful candidates have:
- A strong academic background in fluid dynamics and numerical modelling.
- Programming experience, preferably in C++, related to numerical modelling.
- A proactive, team-oriented and curiosity-driven work attitude.
- An affinity for fluid mechanics, numerical modelling and scientific computing.
- Willingness to work closely with our industrial partner.
- Good written and verbal communication skills in English.
- French skills are a strong benefit.
The successful candidate will commence their studies in January or May 2026.
Detailed description
The production of high-purity metal powders plays a critical role in advanced technologies such as photovoltaics, semiconductors, and battery systems. Understanding and controlling the condensation and solidification of individual metal droplets in turbulent flows is key to improving powder quality and process efficiency. This project combines advanced numerical modeling with industrially relevant applications to investigate the dynamics of cadmium particle formation in evaporation-condensation processes. By simulating the flow and thermodynamic environment experienced by individual particles, the project provides insight into the mechanisms governing particle size distribution—an essential parameter for downstream processing and material performance.
This research project focuses on the detailed modeling of individual cadmium particles as they nucleate, condense, solidify, and move through the flow inside an industrial metal powder condenser. The project will develop a mesoscale model for cadmium powder, which will capture the evolving particle properties as a function of local flow and temperature conditions. Coupled with a state-of-the-art Euler-Lagrange framework implemented in an in-house CFD code, the project will apply this mesoscale model to simulate the flow and particle dynamics in two representative geometries: a canonical condenser for academic insight and a proprietary design from an industrial partner. The student will generate computational meshes for both setups and run simulations involving up to one million particles. Special attention will be paid to particle-turbulence interactions, which play a critical role in particle clustering, residence time distribution, and heat/mass transfer efficiency. Understanding these interactions is key to explaining and ultimately controlling the particle-size distribution of the resulting cadmium powder. The outcome will be a high-resolution picture of the flow field, particle trajectories, and the thermodynamic and mechanical conditions experienced by cadmium particles throughout the condensation process.
More information on our research can be found on the website of our group: www.polycfd.com
Interested candidates should please contact Fabian Denner by email, using the subject line "Tracking the birth of powders".
Financing possibility
The successful candidate will be offered a competitive bursary. Funding to attend scientific conferences and visit our project partners is also available.
Fabian Denner
Associate Professor
