Intern in the Electrical Department

Our team and mission

The Electrical Department is responsible for executing activities in the following domains: electromagnetics, antenna systems, space environment, power system, data handling for payloads and platforms, computers and microelectronics, communications and navigation payloads and end-to-end systems. The Department manages the corresponding technical laboratories and facilities, elaborates Engineering Standards and is responsible for technology activities for the technical discipline areas of the Department.

The Power Systems, EMC and Space Environment Division is responsible for all aspects of power systems required for ESA spacecraft and payloads. These include: 
- Power sources such as solar generators and nuclear devices; 
- Electrical energy storage devices such as batteries, super capacitors and fuel cells; 
- Power management and conditioning systems; 
- Power distribution and protection techniques & technologies; 
- Electrical harness design and engineering; 
- EMC modelling, engineering and related testing; 
- Analysis and modelling of space environments and their effects on space systems; 
- Supporting ECSS and ISO standardisation for all the above listed technologies. 

The Power Systems, EMC and Space Environment Division activities also encompass system trade-offs and detailed assessment of the related technologies, as well as bread-boarding and testing in the associated laboratory facilities: Solar Generator Laboratory, Power Laboratory, Battery Test Centre and Electromagnetic Laboratory.

For further information visit our web site: http://www.esa.int

Field(s) of activity for the internship

You can choose between the following topics:

1) Topic 1: Fuel Cell Stack Testing for Space Applications

The internship aims towards assessing the suitability of different fuel cell stack technologies for a given set of requirements. The most relevant technologies for this internship are Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) and High Temperature PEM (HT-PEM). You will test different fuel cell stacks in the newly procured fuel cell test rig. He will define the test plan, test procedures and conduct the actual tests together with his tutor and laboratory team. You will also elaborate the steps needed to initiate the fuel cell test execution as well as the risk analysis. The test data will be processed and analysed in detail and the results communicated via dedicated presentations and a comprehensive test report. Any lessons learned will be implemented in the overall documentation to support an efficient and effective improvement loop.

2) Topic 2: Digital control of DC/DC converters

This topic will be hosted in the Power Management and Distribution section in the P Division. An FPGA will be used to design a control system for a DC/DC converter. The idea is to implement innovative control and monitoring systems, like peak and valley current mode, stability monitoring, failure prediction, etc. The topic involves practical work in the laboratory building a DC/DC converter and programming the control system in an FPGA.

3) Topic 3: Design process of DC/DC converters with python
This topic will be hosted in the Power Management and Distribution section in the Division. The design process of a DC/DC converter includes the selection of the topology, selection of semiconductors and losses calculation, design of the magnetic components and the control system. It is a long process involving multiple topics. Python will be used to implement this design process in order to obtain a detailed converter model. 

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking

Education

You must have student status and be enrolled at university for the entire duration of the internship. You should preferably be in your final or second to last year of a university course at master’s level in a technical or scientific discipline.

Additional requirements

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.

1) Topic 1:
You shall have a demonstrated knowledge of fuel cell technologies along with relevant hands-on experience in fuel cell testing, data processing and analysis. The knowledge and background of the risks in performing fuel cell testing especially in the context of using H2 and pure O2 instead of air would is an asset.

2) Topic 2:
Knowledge and background in DC/DC power conversion, FPGA programming, python programing is an asset 

3) Topic 3:
Knowledge and background in DC/DC power conversion, FPGA programming, python programing is an asset