Simulating on screen with a 3D image very explicitly, the explosion of a flammable chemical and its impact on the neighborhood is the goal of software developed by the french cleantech company named Sillages Environment. Coached by the public incubator Crealys based in Lyon, the company was created last September by Lionel Soulhac. Lecturer at the Ecole Centrale de Lyon,he is the author of a thesis from which the laboratory of fluid mechanics and acoustics of this institution of higher education has developed software Sirane, already used by six French cities (including Paris, Lyon and Rouen) to model air pollution.
PRESENTATION
Dispersion models of air pollution are already operating to study this phenomenon at large scales, for global monitoring of air quality, across a region for example. Needs exist for a more detailed knowledge at a local level. This is the niche where the company stand. Sillages Environnement was created by Lionel Soulhac, research professor at the Laboratory of Fluid Mechanics and Acoustics, a research unit of Ecole Centrale de Lyon working on turbomachinery and acoustic turbulence and complex flows.
PRODUCT & INNOVATION
Sillages Environnement not deliver data acquisition sites. It will integrate these data to calculate the plume evolution to predict pollutant dispersion. The models will also trace the source of polluting emissions. The model allows to take into account chemicals, toxic or otherwise, of micro biological and even radioactive waste.
MARKET
This specific tool is mainly targeting the interest from large companies in many sectors, particularly chemistry, to take into account potential emissions on large sites. But SMEs will occasionally use the expertise of Wakes through an internet service on which the calculation tool will be continually updated. The provision on the Internet, more convenient, less expensive, opening new markets, communities, various institutions, consultancy firms who need a supply point sharper. The provision on the Internet also opens markets without geographic limitation. This software environment allow people in positions of “decision” to understand, visualize and map an area of risk, by ensuring the rigor of scientific data. With this innovation, for example it is possible to anticipate, given the location and exposure to winds from a business developments in a cloud of toxic product.
In the case of a chemical company, the software calculates the risk areas and help to define areas to be protected. It may also be useful in the field of civil protection, for example by simulating the consequences of the explosion of a tanker truck in downtown.
STRATEGY
Sillages environnement operate under licenses knowledge produced by the laboratory of the Ecole Centrale. The company has four shareholders, Lionel Soulhac, and Patrick Mejean, research engineer at the laboratory, but also Pierre Béal and Emmanuel Buisson, society NUMTECH (Clermont-Ferrand) already specialized in the modeling of atmospheric dispersion. NUMTECH and expand its range of services, alongside its subsidiaries CEIES (study of the health impact) and Weather Measures (Data Acquisition local weather).
Sillages environnement enjoy the support of Crealys, business incubator Rhône-Alpes, and the status of winning the national contest of innovative departmental research in the emerging category.
FINANCIALS
At a time when it is increasingly difficult to accept such facilities by local residents, these solutions are valuable for educational work among the population, but also to lessen the disadvantages. They can also be used to build scenarios for intervention relief. Prospects are promising for a start-up, which started with two employees and 25,000 euros in capital.
SOURCES
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