My Name

Born and raised in Fribourg (CH), I joined IPESE group for a PhD in September 2023, after my master thesis here in Sion. My initial background is Physics, before I applied to EPFL for the master in Energy Science & Technology. There, I had the chance to get a very comprehensive overview of the energy sector in terms of physical concepts, energy management and environmental challenges. I developped a special interest for fuel cells and electrolyzers and decided to deepen my knowledge in this domain - in particular in Solid Oxide Cells - during these 4 years of research.

In my spare time, I play ice hockey, badminton and tennis. Sport helps me to clear my head and (hopefully) work more efficiently :) I also enjoy playing the piano and chess.

My research

Solid oxide cells are known to be very efficient and provide high thermal quality, which underlines the need for system integration and optimization for promising applications. Moreover, they can work in both directions and oxidize (reduce) a wide variety of fuels thanks to the high operating temperature (>700°C). Starting from the general picture of reversible solid oxide cells (rSOC) for seasonal storage purposes, the goal is to propose a modular approach promote their compactness, reduce costs and increase efficiency. In addition, the critical phases (start-up, shutdown, mode switching) should also be considered for a complete and functional system. This requires zooming in on the technology considering its inherent limitations and developing a dynamic model to capture the transient behavior.

I work mainly on Aspen Plus, gPROMS and OSMOSE and in close collaboration with Xinyi Wei, Shivom Sharma and the Group for Energy Materials (GEM) led by Prof. Jan Van Herle.

Graphical abstract

References

• UEBCE 2023: Optimal Integration of the Clean Carbon Conversion (CCC) Gasifier in a District Heating Network (DHN). Master Thesis. Authors: Arthur Waeber, Xinyi Wei, Shivom Sharma, Jan Van Herle, François Maréchal.
• ESCAPE 2024: Refining SOFC Performance: Parameter Estimation and Model Validation for Dynamic Energy System Optimization. Arthur Waeber, Xinyi Wei, Shivom Sharma, Jan Van Herle, François Maréchal
• EFCF 2024: Dynamic analysis of a validated reversible Solid Oxide Cell system using gPROMS Arthur Waeber, Xinyi Wei, Shivom Sharma, Jan Van Herle, François Maréchal