Sensor system for the detection of fire in biomass storage, step 2
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | APR TECHNOLOGIES AB - APR TECHNOLOGIES AB, Västerås |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 400 000 |
| Project duration | December 2012 - July 2013 |
| Status | Completed |
Purpose and goal
The project focused on reaching further towards our first version of the sensor system on the market. However, we have not yet received orders from any of the two possible customers we have been (and still are) in close contact with. A second test/reference system has been installed and production technology is improved with respect to costs, robustness / lifetime and we have also developed a wireless version for easier installation. We have contacted organizations and journal editors for newsletters, articles and advertising. This fall, we will have a info and sales campaign in Sweden.
Results and expected effects
As we are aiming to become the natural supplier of sensor systems for bioenergy market, we have joined the SIS standardization group developing international standards in safety etc, for solid biofuels. Being dependent on self-heating processes, the evaluation of our reference system takes time, but the results give us more and more credibility. The hardware is updated and parts of production can now be outsourced, ideas for less expensive installations are in mind but is not tested. The enormous amount of data being collected will need improved ´smart functions´ in the database.
Approach and implementation
We chosed to build a more extensive test installation with researchers from SLU. From there we get correlations between different heights in the piles, and we test the system to identify limitations. We have during the project visited SP, Svebio and pellet conference. The company management will be strengthened with new skills to the company Advisory Board and we have learned about diligence, company valuation, other succesful stories, business plan and investor pitches. After UIC lab business and investor meetings, we decided to do the first attempts with the market ourselves.