Technological Offers

Four Irstea projects were funded by the ANR (French National Institute for Research) in the framework of the call for projects
"Emergence of products, technologies and services with high potential for recovery".

The aim is to transfer these technologies to complete projects. If you are interested in one of them, please contact the DVT.

• Pelican: radar perception localisation and mapping for the natural environment
• Froiloc: consolidation and extended validation of the technology of localised ultraclean cold air
• Optichaux: to optimise the mix and reduce reagent consumption: development of a pre-industrial prototype of the principle of co-rotating twin-screw extrusion for the liming of sludge
• Sapphire: innovative pH analysis system for water resources

Pelican Project (2010-2012): perception localisation and radar mapping for the natural environment

Project Leader: Marie-Odile Monod

Perception in the external environment is subject to constraints related to climatic conditions that disrupt optical systems such as lasers and cameras. Radar technology has undeniable strengths to overcome these disadvantages: increased range, operating in all weather day and night, etc. Based on this, Irstea has developed a unique radar imager. Placed on a ground vehicle or boat, this rotating antenna radar, using specially developed software, is capable of combining trajectory and 2D mapping of the environment by using the movement of the wearer.

The valuation strategy involves the Irstea valuation cell for the Protection of the results (DVT) on one hand and, on the other, the competitive cluster ViaMéca involved in market research and providing knowledge of industrial networks for the transfer of technology.

The Froiloc Project (2011-2013): extended consolidation and validation of the technology of localised cold ultra-clean air.

Project Leader : Georges Arroyo

FROILOC technology was developed by Cemagref up to the first stage of facility validation (TRL7 maturity). It is a clean cold system easily installed in production facilities, particularly food production:

• to maintain an ultra-clean and cold atmosphere around food
•  to improve occupational health by enabling operators to work at more than 13°C.

The current state of technology is the result of a regional research project from 2006-2008, launched on the basis of functional specifications developed with the industry. Final testing on the production line established full compliance of results in two cases of the CDCF: Case No. 1 "conveyor belt type transformation station with operators" and part of the case 6 "packaging stations", that is, the stretch wrapping and thermoforming machines. A patent has been filed by Irstea to protect these assets for the first applications in these cases, very generic to the food industry, but only a part of the potential applications already identified.
The FROILOC-C project aims are:

• the consolidation of scientific and technical solutions for an expansion of capacity transfer to industry;
• the extension of Industrial Property and the preparation of the transfer.

This project is divided into five tasks, of which the first three consist primarily of experimental work designed to strengthen the scientific basis of technology and to establish the technical elements of its future development. The fourth task aims to establish the technical support of the transfer. The fifth task, conducted by the valuation service of Irstea, will be to prepare the industrial transfer. The industrial development is proposed on the basis of the existing patent, completed at the end of this project, the transfer taking place by licensing to original equipment manufacturers and installers and rights to food manufacturers and similar industries for use.

Optichaux Project (2011-2013): to optimise the mix and reduce reagent consumption: development of a pre-industrial prototype based on the principle of co-rotating twin-screw extrusion for the liming of sludge

Project Leader : Jean-Christophe Baudez

France produces 1.1 million tonnes of sewage sludge solids of which 60% are recovered by agriculture, usually after liming, which biological stabilises sludge. In practice, this step is often coarse and mixtures obtained are not sufficiently stable. To overcome this situation, sludge processors are used to overdose using lime, up to double the dose and this generates increased costs and a premature saturation of storage areas.

In order to optimise the dispersion of the lime and achieve a homogeneous mixture while reducing the amount incorporated, Irstea has successfully based its work on the principle of co-rotating twin-screw extrusion and patented a prototype.

The project Opti-Chaux is to develop and produce a mobile prototype, less sophisticated, but just as effective as a co-rotating twin-screw extruder and adapted to technical and economic wastewater treatment plants. The mobility of the demonstration model is an important project as it will allow for an objective comparison, on-site with the tools already installed, using the same sludge and same lime. To achieve this finalised tool, transferable to a manufacturer, several steps will be required from the simplification of the extruder to the development of the demonstration model and by the drafting of specifications as well as the development and optimisation of the prototype. This technical work will be supported by the establishment of a specific approach designed to enhance the know-how developed. At the end of the project, we will obtain a mixer resembling the finished product in design and principle, used for demonstrations and trials. A technical and economic assessment of different methods has been completed and the agronomic value of sludge has been assessed. A strategy for enhancing the concept has also begun (including technology transfer and protection of the knowledge developed).

To achieve this goal, the project will be based on a scientific consortium composed of Irstea (UR TSCF), the French Institute of Advanced Mechanics   (IFMA) and will be based on the valuation structure of CEMAGREF (DVT).

Sapphire Project (2011-2013): innovative pH analysis system for water resources

Project Leader : Marie-Odile Monod

Qualitative monitoring of water resources requires the measurement of many parameters usually including conductivity, temperature and pH. The SAPHIRE project aims to show the potential for the industrial application of a new pH sensor for water, based on a measurement of concentration of H₃O ⁺ ions. This concept is totally different from the conventional principle that measures the activity of the H₃O ^{+ ion.} The device, which does not use a sensitive membrane electrode and requires no calibration, offers decisive advantages over the existing models. The first objective of the project will be to validate the concentration measurement provided by the sensor relative to the active reference measurement. The second objective is the integration of the sensor and its validation.

Supported in this procedure by the French National Metrology and Testing laboratory (LNE) and by the valuation structure of V (DVT), the results will be considered for licensing of patents to companies in the water analysis sector or the creation of a company.