Experimental Investigation and Modelling of Foam-Flow Cleaning in Milking Systems
Investigate and model foam-flow cleaning processes to improve hygiene and resource efficiency in dairy equipment.
Best for:Best for graduate researchers with a background in process engineering, fluid mechanics, or physical chemistry interested in multiphase flows and CFD modelling.
Overview
This PhD position at Université de Caen Normandie within the ABTE laboratory focuses on developing alternative cleaning methods for milking systems using foam flow. The project combines foam physical chemistry, millifluidic experiments, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to optimize cleaning performance while reducing water and energy consumption. The successful candidate will perform surfactant characterization, design circulation systems, build CFD models, and validate findings through pilot-scale trials. The research is conducted in partnership with industrial and institutional collaborators including ACTALIA and Institut de l’Élevage.
What you'll do
- Formulate and characterize surfactant systems, measuring bubble size, liquid fraction, drainage, stability, and rheology.
- Design and instrument experimental foam generation and circulation test rigs representing dairy equipment geometries.
- Develop and execute numerical CFD simulations using COMSOL Multiphysics to model near-wall hydrodynamics and foam rheology.
- Assess cleaning performance, residue removal, and resource consumption during pilot-scale validation trials.
- Analyze scientific results, write research papers, present findings at conferences, and contribute to industrial recommendations.
Requirements
Degree required: Master’s degree or equivalent engineering qualification in process engineering, fluid mechanics, physical chemistry, or a closely related discipline
Degree offered: PhD
Language: English proficiency sufficient to read scientific literature and communicate research findings
Instruction: English
- Strong interest in experimental research, instrumentation, and quantitative analysis
- Solid knowledge of fluid mechanics and physical chemistry
- Scientific rigor, autonomy, and collaborative multidisciplinary skills
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2026-12-20
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