In a world that is constantly in need of a continuous, reliable and sustainable energy supply, concentrating photovoltaic technologies have the potential to become a cost effective solution for large scale power generation. In this light, important progresses have been made in terms of cell’s design and efficiency, but the concentrating photovoltaic industry sector still struggles to gain market share and to achieve adequate economic returns. The work presented in this thesis is focused on the development of innovative solutions for high concentrating photovoltaics receivers. The design, the fabrication and the characterization of a large cell assembly for high concentrations are described. The assembly is designed to accommodate 144 multijunction cells and is rated to supply energy up to 2.6kWe at 500 suns. The original outline of the conductive copper layer limits the Joule losses to the 0.7% of the global power output, by reducing the number of interconnections. All the challenges and the issues faced in the manufacturing stage are accounted for and the reliability of the fabrication has been proven by quality tests and experimental investigations conducted on the prototype. An indoor characterization shows the receiver’s potential to supply a short-circuit current of 5.77A and an open circuit voltage per cell of 3.08V at 500×, under standard test conditions, only 4.80% and 2.06% respectively lower than those obtained by a commercial single-cell assembly. An electrical efficiency of 29.4% is expected at 500 suns, under standard conditions. A prototype’s cost of $0.91/Wp, in line with the actual price of CPV systems, has been recorded: a cost breakdown is reported and the way to further reduce the cost have been identified and is accounted. In a second approach, the design of a natural convective micro-finned array to be integrated in a single cell receiver has been successfully attempted. Passive cooling systems are usually cheaper, simpler and considered more reliable than active ones. After a detailed review of micro-cooling solutions, an experimental investigation on the thermal behaviour of micro-fins has been conducted and has been combined with a multiphysics software model. A micro-finned heat sink shows the potential to keep the CPV temperature below 100°C under standard conditions and the ability to handle the heat flux when the cell’s efficiency drops to zero. Moreover, a micro-finned heat sink demonstrates the potential to introduce significant benefits in terms of material usage and weight reduction: compared to those commercially available, a micro-finned heat sink has a power-to-weight ratio between 6 and 8 times higher, which results in lower costs and reduced loads for the CPV tracker.

L'objectif des travaux présentés dans cette thèse est de développer des méthodes d'élaboration et de caractérisation de matériaux piézoélectriques en vue de leur intégration dans des capteurs acoustiques pour des applications en milieu hostile. Les aspects mesures en hautes températures et sous irradiation étant d'un grand intérêt pour nos partenaires du CEA.Dans ce contexte, l'étude et la réalisation de capteurs acoustiques fonctionnant à haute température offre une grande diversité d'applications possibles. Ce travail inclut la recherche de matériaux piézoélectriques adéquats, leurs technologies de mise en œuvre ainsi que le mode de couplage du transducteur sur une paroi métallique ou céramique. En plus des techniques traditionnelles de brasure, une autre voie de technologie est envisagée à travers l'utilisation de la sérigraphie. Des bancs de test spécifiques ont été développés dans le but de déterminer les caractéristiques intrinsèques des matériaux, et les performances obtenues après leur intégration comme éléments sensibles d'un système de mesure. La sérigraphie comme méthode transfert de matière offre des avantages indéniables en termes de facilité d'utilisation, de rapidité de prototypage et de reproductibilité. De l'encre piézoélectrique a été élaborer à partir de poudre de piézoélectrique, de verre de frittage et de véhicule organique ESL400. Cette encre a été déposée par sérigraphie. L'empilement technologique réalisé est composé de deux électrodes d'Argent-Palladium et de plusieurs couches d'encre piézoélectrique. Dans un premier temps, un dépôt d'empilement de Plomb Zirconate Titanate (PZT) entre deux électrodes d'argent palladium sur substrat alumine a permis de réaliser une grande quantité de tests sur les différentes potentialités d'optimisations. Les couches ont été caractérisées de manière systématique en mesurant le coefficient piézoélectrique d33, la permittivité relative et les pertes diélectriques par mesure direct. Le facteur de couplage kt et la constante de fréquence ont été déterminé par ajustement de la courbe d'impédance à partir de modèles. Ces modèles ont été développés afin de remonter de manière indirecte à différents paramètres complétant les mesures directes. Les couches épaisses de PZT ont présenté des potentialités d'utilisation jusqu'à 200°C.Enfin, des poudres de matériaux piézoélectriques de base bismuth ont été synthétisées et incorporées à des encres pour des dépôts par sérigraphie. Le titanate de bismuth (BIT) non dopé ou dopé niobium n'a pas permis de mettre en évidence un important caractère piézoélectrique macroscopique à cause des difficulté de polarisation. D'un autre côté, le sodium bismuth titanate (NBT) présente une grande potentialité dans le cadre de future étude. En effet sous forme de couche épaisse il présente un d33 de 9pC.N-1 et une courbe d'impédance qui ne révèle pas de réelle évolution même à des températures de l'ordre de 350°C. / The goal of the work presented in this thesis is to develop methods of preparation and characterization of piezoelectric materials for inclusion in acoustic sensors for applications in hostile environments. Measurements aspects in high temperatures and under radiation are of great interest to our partners of the CEA.In this context, the study and the realization of acoustic sensors operating at high temperature provide a wide range of possible application. This work includes research of optimal piezoelectric material, their technologies of implementation as well as the pairing mode of the transducer on a metallic or ceramic wall. In addition to the traditional techniques of solder, another technological way is envisaged through the use of screen printing. Specific test devices have been developed in order to determine the intrinsic characteristics to the materials, and the performances after their integration as sensitive elements of a measurement system. This screen printing as method of material transfer offers undeniable advantages in terms of use, a rapid prototyping and good reproducibility. Piezoelectric ink was developed from piezoelectric powder, glass sintering and organic vehicle ESL400. This ink has been made by screen printing. The realized technology stack consists of two electrodes of silver-Palladium and multilayered piezoelectric ink. As a first step, a deposit of stacking of Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) between two electrodes of silver palladium on alumina substrate allowed a lot of tests on the various optimizations potentialities. Layers have been characterized in a systematic way by measuring piezoelectric coefficient d33, relative permittivity and dielectric loss as a direct measurement. The coupling factor kt and frequency constant was determined by fit of the impedance curve from models. These models have been developed to indirectly determine different parameters from the direct measurement. Thick layers of PZT showed potential to be used up to 200 ° C.Finally, piezoelectric materials based on bismuth powders have been synthesized and incorporated in inks for screen printing deposits. Bismuth Titanate (BIT) niobium doped or undoped did not highlight significant macroscopic piezoelectric character because of the polarization difficulties. On the other hand, Sodium Bismuth Titanate (NBT) presents a great potential for future study. In fact in the form of thick layer it presents d33 of 9pC.N-1 and an impedance curve that does not reveal evolution even at temperatures in the range of 350 ° C.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(理学) / 甲第19475号 / 理博第4135号 / 新制||理||1595(附属図書館) / 32511 / 京都大学大学院理学研究科物理学・宇宙物理学専攻 / (主査)講師 市川 正敏, 教授 佐々 真一, 教授 山本 潤 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

L’eau est une ressource vitale, indispensable à la vie sur terre. A l’instar de nombreuses autres ressources naturelles, l’eau propre à la consommation est soumise à une forte pression à cause de l’impact de l’activité humaine d’une part et de l’augmentation continue de la population mondiale d’autre part. Une pression tellement forte que l’eau propre représente l’un des 17 objectifs de développement durable des Nations Unies. Dans ce contexte, une gestion rationnelle et durable de la ressource s’avère indispensable. Dans ce but, un système intelligent de supervision des réseaux d’eau potable peut s’avérer très utile. Les systèmes existant sont toutefois peu intégrés et compacts, nécessitent souvent une alimentation externe, et restent relativement chers pour un déploiement massif sur les réseaux. La présente thèse s’inscrit dans le cadre d’un projet de recherche européen, PROTEUS, visant à pallier ces différents problèmes en mettant au point un système de mesure pour la supervision de la ressource en eau permettant la mesure de 9 paramètres physico-chimiques, reconfigurable, et énergétiquement autonome. La contribution de la présente thèse à ce projet porte sur la conception et l’optimisation des différents capteurs physiques (conductivité électrique, pression, température et débit) ainsi qu’à leur co-intégration sur une même puce. Le système proposé montre des performances au moins égales à celle de l’état de l’art en ce qui concerne la robustesse, assurée par la redondance de nombreux éléments sensibles, le domaine de sensibilité et la consommation énergétique. Le présent manuscrit est par conséquent construit comme suit : le premier chapitre est une introduction générale à la supervision de grandeurs environnementales et à la puce multi-capteurs. Le second chapitre décrit la structure de la puce multi-capteurs ainsi que les méthodes de fabrication utilisées, avec une attention particulière accordée aux capteurs de pression et de conductivité électrique. Le troisième chapitre porte sur l’utilisation de résistances électriques pour la mesure de diverses grandeurs physiques, notamment la température. Le dernier chapitre s’attarde plus particulièrement sur l’utilisation de ce type de résistances pour la mesure de débit avant de conclure et de proposer des perspectives pour des travaux futurs / Water is a vital element for every living being on the earth. Like many other dwindling natural resources, clean water faces a strong pressure because of human activity and the rapid growth of global population. The situation is so critical that clean water has been identified as one of the seventeenth sustainable development goals of the United Nations. Under these conditions, a sustainable management of water resources is necessary. For this purpose, a smart solution for water networks monitoring can be very helpful. However, commercially available solutions lack compactness, self-powering capabilities cost competitiveness, necessary to enable the large rollout over water networks. The present thesis takes place in the framework of a European research project, PROTEUS, which addresses these different problems by designing and fabricating a multi-parameter sensor chip (MPSC) for water resources monitoring. The MPSC enables the measurement of 9 physical and chemical parameters, is reconfigurable and self-powered. The present thesis addresses more precisely physical sensors, their design, optimization and co-integration on the MPSC. The developed device exhibits state of the art or larger performances with regard to its redundancy, turn-down ratio and power consumption. The present manuscript is split into two main parts: Part-I and Part-II. Part-I deals with non-thermal aspects of the MPSC, the pressure and conductivity sensor for instance, as well as the fabrication process of the whole device (Chapter 1 and 2). The background of environmental monitoring is presented in Chapter 1 along with the State of Art review. Chapter 2 describes fabrication methods of the MPSC. Preliminary characterization results of non-thermal sensors are also reported in this chapter. Chapter 3 and 4, included in Part-II, deal with thermal sensors (temperature and flow-rate). Chapter 3 describes the many possible uses of electric resistances for sensing applications. Finally, in chapter four, we focus on flowrate sensors before concluding and making a few suggestions for future works

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird ein Mikroresonator für die kernmagnetische Resonanzspektroskopie kleinster Probenvolumen entwickelt. Der Resonator besteht aus einem Mikrodetektor und einer elektrisch steuerbaren Kapazität für den Resonanzabgleich. Beide Bauteile sind speziell an die Anforderungen des Messverfahrens angepasst. Der Mikrodetektor, welcher die Funktion der Erregung der Kernspins und die Detektion des Messsignals erfüllt, weist aufgrund seiner besonderen Geometrie ein weitgehend homogenes statisches Magnetfeld im Bereich des Probenvolumens auf. Daraus resultieren eine Verbesserung der spektralen Auflösung und eine Steigerung der Empfindlichkeit. Die elektrisch steuerbare Kapazität weist eine hohe elektrische Güte und eine hohe Spannungsfestigkeit auf, wodurch die Verwendung von hohen Pulsleistungen möglich ist. Der Nachweis der Funktionalität des Systems erfolgt durch die Integration des Mikroresonators in einen Probenkopf, welcher zur Messung von Test- und Referenzsignalen eingesetzt wird. Anhand der Messwerte wird gezeigt, dass die neue Entwicklung eine sehr hohe Empfindlichkeit und eine deutlich höhere spektrale Auflösung als andere Detektorsysteme dieser Art aufweist und somit besonders gut für die Messung von sehr kleinen Probenvolumen geeignet ist. / The thesis describes the development of a micro resonator for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of very small sample volumes. The resonator consists of a microcoil and an electrically adjustable capacitance for resonance tuning. Both components are specially designed for the purpose of NMR. The microcoil excites the nuclear spins and detects the measurement signal. Due to the special cylindrical geometry, the detector provides a very homogenous spatial distribution of the static magnetic field at the location of the sample. This leads to improved spectral resolution and increased sensitivity. The electrically adjustable capacitance provides a high quality factor and high voltage stability. Hence, short excitation pulses with high bandwidth can be applied. The components are integrated into a specially designed probe. The functionality of the system is demonstrated by test and reference measurements. The measurement results verify the high sensitivity and the high spectral resolution. Hence, the system is applicable and well suited for NMR measurements of small sample volumes.

A novel surface structure comprising dendritically ordered nano-particles of copper was developed during the duration of this thesis research project. A high current density electrodeposition process, where hydrogen bubbles functioned as a dynamic mask for the materials deposition, was used as a basic fabrication method. A post processing annealing treatment was further developed to stabilize and enhance the mechanical stability of the structure. The structure was studied quite extensively in various pool boiling experiments in refrigerants; R134a and FC-72. Different parameters were investigated, such as; thickness of the porous layer, presence of vapor escape channels, annealed or non-annealed structure. Some of the tests were filmed with a high speed camera, from which visual observation were made as well as quantitative bubble data extracted. The overall heat transfer coefficient in R134a was enhanced by about an order of magnitude compared to a plain reference surface and bubble image data suggests that both single- and two-phase heat transfer mechanisms were important to the enhancement. A quantitative and semi-empirical boiling model was presented where the main two-phase heat transfer mechanism inside the porous structure was assumed to be; micro-layer evaporation formed by an oscillating vapor-liquid meniscus front with low resistance vapor transport through escape channels. Laminar liquid motion induced by the oscillating vapor front was suggested as the primary single-phase heat transfer mechanism. The structure was applied to a standard plate heat exchanger evaporator with varying hydraulic diameter in the refrigerant channel. Again, a 10 times improved heat transfer coefficient in the refrigerant channel was recorded, resulting in an improvement of the overall heat transfer coefficient with over 100%. A superposition model was used to evaluate the results and it was found that for the enhanced boiling structure, variations of the hydraulic diameter caused a change in the nucleate boiling mechanism, which accounted for the largest effect on the heat transfer performance. For the standard heat exchanger, it was mostly the convective boiling mechanism that was affected by the change in hydraulic diameter. The structure was also applied to the evaporator surface in a two-phase thermosyphon with R134a as working fluid. The nucleate boiling mechanism was found to be enhanced with about 4 times and high speed videos of the enhanced evaporator reveal an isolated bubble flow regime, similar to that of smooth channels with larger hydraulic diameters. The number and frequency of the produced bubbles were significantly higher for the enhanced surface compared to that of the plain evaporator. This enhanced turbulence and continuous boiling on the porous structure resulted in decreased oscillations in the thermosyphon for the entire range of heat fluxes. / QC 20111111

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird ein Mikroresonator für die kernmagnetische Resonanzspektroskopie kleinster Probenvolumen entwickelt. Der Resonator besteht aus einem Mikrodetektor und einer elektrisch steuerbaren Kapazität für den Resonanzabgleich. Beide Bauteile sind speziell an die Anforderungen des Messverfahrens angepasst. Der Mikrodetektor, welcher die Funktion der Erregung der Kernspins und die Detektion des Messsignals erfüllt, weist aufgrund seiner besonderen Geometrie ein weitgehend homogenes statisches Magnetfeld im Bereich des Probenvolumens auf. Daraus resultieren eine Verbesserung der spektralen Auflösung und eine Steigerung der Empfindlichkeit. Die elektrisch steuerbare Kapazität weist eine hohe elektrische Güte und eine hohe Spannungsfestigkeit auf, wodurch die Verwendung von hohen Pulsleistungen möglich ist. Der Nachweis der Funktionalität des Systems erfolgt durch die Integration des Mikroresonators in einen Probenkopf, welcher zur Messung von Test- und Referenzsignalen eingesetzt wird. Anhand der Messwerte wird gezeigt, dass die neue Entwicklung eine sehr hohe Empfindlichkeit und eine deutlich höhere spektrale Auflösung als andere Detektorsysteme dieser Art aufweist und somit besonders gut für die Messung von sehr kleinen Probenvolumen geeignet ist. / The thesis describes the development of a micro resonator for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of very small sample volumes. The resonator consists of a microcoil and an electrically adjustable capacitance for resonance tuning. Both components are specially designed for the purpose of NMR. The microcoil excites the nuclear spins and detects the measurement signal. Due to the special cylindrical geometry, the detector provides a very homogenous spatial distribution of the static magnetic field at the location of the sample. This leads to improved spectral resolution and increased sensitivity. The electrically adjustable capacitance provides a high quality factor and high voltage stability. Hence, short excitation pulses with high bandwidth can be applied. The components are integrated into a specially designed probe. The functionality of the system is demonstrated by test and reference measurements. The measurement results verify the high sensitivity and the high spectral resolution. Hence, the system is applicable and well suited for NMR measurements of small sample volumes.