Background

The SWaP (Smart Wall Pipes and Ducts) project is a joint research consortium between CERN and Centre Suisse d’Electronique et Microtechnique. SWaP has received funding from European Union’s ATTRACT initiative, which is again funded by Horizon 2020, European Union’s €80 billion research and innovation programme.

ATTRACT has offered seed funding for 170 research consortiums to bring their ideas alive in the field of sensing and imaging technologies for the duration of 12 months. The phase one of ATTRACT projects will end in September 2020, after which a phase two is foreseen to continue funding some selected projects of the phase one. The selection is based on evaluation criteria including the aspects of breakthrough technology and innovation, societal added value and openness.

The SWaP project is developing a prototype of a 3D-printed pipe with an embedded sensor. 3D-printed temperature sensors are integrated into the inner wall of a pipe, which enables direct contact with the fluid and thus, faster and more accurate measurements.

The SWaP research team also intends to study pressure sensors, paving the way for opportunities to embed sensors into 3D-printed pipes.

The added value of the technology lies in the fact that it is very small, it can be 3D printed, and the sensor is embedded in the inner wall of the pipe.

Outcome

The team found six potential applications for SWaP technology based on the results of our research and of a brief exploration of markets in existing sustainability-oriented sectors:

Scientific research institutions:

1. Aircore balloon: Air sampling system with high altitude balloons - Aircore is an air sampling system that uses balloons to get air samples from high altitudes to measure the concentration of trace gases (CO2, COH, CH4) that contribute to climate change. The goal is to support climate change research with a cost-effective and reusable high-altitude balloon air sampling system that uses SWaP piping technology for continual sensing.
2. Recirculated aquaculture system: Work is being done to develop a recirculated aquaculture system (RAS) that can sustain intensive aquaculture farming with an average of 1000 tons (or 1 million) fish. This system aims to significantly reduce water consumption and contamination by continuously treating, filtering, and recirculating water through an aquaponic system. To do that it needs a system of smart sensing pipes.

Startups:

3. SWaP on Demand: A stand-alone commercial application using the SWaP technology on a need basis and selling 3d-printed pipes with sensors based on orders by different research institutions.
4. In-vitro Microvascular Network: Growing human organs on chips for vascular biology and drug testing studies. The aim is to improve the technology for vascular biology or drug testing studies so that their results would be closer to real life applications. SWaP would help Finnadvance technology by measuring the oxygen in the fluid that nurtures the growing cells in real-time while the fluid is in the microfluidic devices.
5. Smart Hydroponic Farming: Evergreen Farm Oy is an agricultural technology company specialised in vertical farming systems which is interested in automated systems of food production. SWaP would help in developing a complete sensing system for this technology.

Established Industries:

6. District Heating: Implementing sensors in district heating water pipes to help reduce the need to repair kilometers of defective pipes each year. This could potentially help save a substantial amount of water and thermal energy.

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