Project description
Software to optimise aluminium melting
Recycling aluminium results in big energy savings. As a result, aluminium is among the high-demand materials in the market. The melting process, however, has not reached the rising demand of the market. Novamet has extensive experience in materials processing as well as numerical simulations. The EU-funded SmartMelt project is a data-driven monitoring system. Data received from the controller of a digital-twin furnace are analysed and compared with results received from an extra effective numerical simulation. The software targets the aluminium producers and the furnace industry to ameliorate the melting efficiency process. More than 1 500 furnaces around the world with a load capacity of 30 to 120 tonnes each are considered as a first addressable market.
Objective
Aluminium is one of the most recyclable materials on the market today. Recycling aluminium saves more 90% of the energy required versus producing new metal. Worldwide, melting aluminium scrapes amounts to around 12 billion US$ energy cost and produces ~50 million tonnes of CO2 every year. Yet, melting process is very inefficient because the operation of large furnaces is still mainly based on human decisions. This can be significantly improved by an on-line data-driven numerical simulation. Optimizing the melting efficiency by only 10% can save nearly 0.5 M€ annual cost for the operation of a medium-size furnace with a huge beneficial impact on energy saving and environment.
Novamet develops SmartMelt, a unique and patented data-driven controlling system. SmartMelt solution includes a digital-twin furnace in which data coming from the furnace controller are analysed during the process and compared on-line to results coming from a very efficient numerical simulation software. A very user-friendly interface guides the operator to perform the future action at optimal times.
The business model is based on annual licencing of the Software to aluminium producers, and furnace manufacturers. More than 1'500 furnaces around the world with a load capacity of 30 to 120 tonnes each are considered as a first addressable market. We expect to reach 15% to 20% of this market over the next five years, that will generate recurrent revenues of about 14 M€, with about 40 FTE.
Novamet team has a long experience in materials processing and numerical simulations. It has direct access to Academic Institutions and a large network in aluminium industries.
A first purchase order from Constellium (first customer) in addition to several grants allowed the development of first industrial scale prototype. This prototype has been installed on a 30-tonnes furnace since February 2019. Two sales contracts are under negotiation.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering waste management waste treatment processes recycling
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry post-transition metals
- social sciences economics and business business and management business models
- social sciences economics and business economics production economics productivity
- natural sciences computer and information sciences software software applications simulation software
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.2.3. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.3. - PRIORITY 'Societal challenges
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H2020-EU.2.1. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1025 ST-SULPICE VD
Switzerland
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.