nir-vana innovation network

- Current technology offer of the company:
The company has a proven track record in the field of highly innovative sensors. It has been able to use the non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) technology to produce gas sensors for industrial safety market. A commercial deal has already been signed with Honeywell, the market leader. A ready-for-market solution is in place and operational.
The company has also developed a pollution map for smart cities using complex patented sensors. A commercial deal has also been signed with Daikin

- Project for further development under a research agreement:
The company would like to work on a "gas leak map". This map will be a tool to monitor in real time a gas production site, for example for an innovative biomethane production site. This kind of mapping tool requires a new generation of non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) sensors that need to be much more accurate than state-of-art sensors. These sensors could be integrated in a network of connected gas leak stations, distributed over the industrial site. They will monitor and perform local and regular measurements of gas leak. These local measurements will then be processed in order to compute a gas leak map in real time.

The technology development to support this new product line is just starting but it will build on significant previous achievements, such as the production scheme already achieved during the previous innovation projects.
The company is interested in developing this "gas leak map" solution in the framework of a European research and innovation project.
Horizon Europe call "HORIZON-CL5-2021-D3-02-16" has been identified, but the company is open to discussion on other topics or funding schemes where its technology could be useful .

Advantages & innovations

The general advantages of this technology are the quickest identification of leak source, an improved safety for the site and for the employees (Explosive atmospheres - ATEX risk), a reduction of gas quantity lost in air and hence reduction of global warming, and also reduction of economic lost. However regarding a biomethane production site, other advantages can be highlighted. In particular, and in opposition to "classic" gas production site, these sites are operated by people who are not expert of gas transportation and production. Moreover, the sector is an emerging one, which mean that there is room for process improvement. In addition, leaks are in general not continuous but can occur because of external events such as weather, or due to internal activities such as the current process step. In this context, by providing a simple, responsive and visual tool to monitor the site status is very helpful to have a better understanding of the processes inside the site and support the development of this sector by providing very useful insights.

Stage of development

Under development/lab tested

Partner sought

The partners sought are primarily organisations involved in the biomethane production and/or research organisations working on this topic. The company is especially interested in partners that would be able to prepare a proposition for the call HORIZON-CL5-2021-D3-02-16 dedicated to innovative biomethane production, or for any other call for which its technology could be useful. The company might be able to lead a work package if required, but doesn't want to be a coordinator.