Bulane: dyomix® technology is flying high
The company, located in Fabrègues near Montpellier in the south of France, has developed a completely new and innovative technology in collaboration with the AIME research group of the Charles Gerhardt Institute of Montpellier (ICGM) and the Chimie Balard Cirimat Carnot Institute.
Collaboration to product, looking back on 8 years of a partnership
“Yes, my friends, I believe that water will one day be employed as a fuel”. Jules Verne wrote these words in 1874 in his novel The Mysterious Island. His prescient statement is perfectly illustrated by the dyomix® technology developed by Bulane for soldering torches. The company has developed a technology unlike any before: a clean flame is produced by the electrolysis of water.
Back in 2009 the young company contacted the Aggregates, Interfaces and Materials for Energy (AIME) team. Their objective: improve the energy efficiency of their process AND the industrial electrode fabrication process. The collaboration took on many forms: meetings, studies, thesis research projects, publications, patents, and continues to this day. The two partners, academic and industrial, have kept the flame burning for 8 years and counting.
This flame is unique. It is a rare example of the industrial use of hydrogen as an energy source. In addition, the process responds to real concerns about security and sustainable development, as there is no need to stock or transport the gas, and no carbon is emitted. In this flame, hydrogen replaces acetylene or butane.
Two former AIME group members who worked on the project are now employed by Bulane. A former Ph.D. student is an R&D engineer in the company and a process engineer is in charge of production.
Mobile and portable, scaling down dyomix® technology
Continuously pushing the limits of innovation by replying on industrial and R&D partners (CNRS, Chimie Balard Cirimat Carnot Institute), Bulane has adapted its technology to make it mobile, easy-to-use and clean, with the aim to expand the pool of users.
Miniaturising the technology requires optimisation of the process to maintain performance. A challenge met by dyomix® Mobile, a smaller, lighter and more mobile apparatus. Designed for use by a wide range of professionals, dyomix® Mobile will be launched at the Salon Batimat Paris 2017 as part of a partnership with Castolin, a leading company in the brazing business sector.
Gold Medal in the Batimat Innovation Contest and winner of ArtinovArt’s Innovation Trophy, the technology developed by Bulane has already convinced professionals.
To learn more about the expertise of the Chimie Balard Cirimat Carnot Institute related to Energy, check out our website.