Safer, more energy-efficient industrial equipment that breaks down less and lasts longer
improveHeat develops
compact precision temperature sensors for industrial equipment that uses heat.
The sensors generate real-time data on the heat transfer mechanisms at work
inside the equipment. This data is then transformed into actionable information
to reduce energy consumption and improve production.
Compact high-sensitivity temperature sensors for industrial equipment using heat. Credit: A. Aubert/CEA
A surprising 70% of the primary heat used in industrial processes is turned into…more heat! And 40% of this heat is irretrievably lost to dissipation. The ability to effectively measure and improve heat transfer in industrial equipment offers a clear path to improvement. improveHeat’s sensors—protected by four patents—respond to this need. What makes the sensors unique is how sensitive, accurate, compact, and heat-resistant they are (up to 1,000 °C).
The startup also developed a software application to generate measurement results in real time. Users can immediately access fluid and wall temperatures, heat flow, and heat exchange coefficients directly, without the need for modeling. Having this readily-available data opens the door to heat transfer efficiency gains, equipment lifespan predictions based on the thermal stress measured, more appropriate initial equipment configuration, clogging and fouling detection, and other improvements. The solution is ideal for heat exchangers, furnaces, turbines, and molds.
improveHeat was founded by two CEA employees who participated in the CEA’s Magellan startup incubator. The company will continue to work with the CEA under an R&D contract.
Key figure: 1,000 th of a degree
To the 1,000 th of a degree: that's 10x to 100x more sensitive than competing solutions
Targeted Markets:
- Thermal equipment design optimization
- Preventive maintenance
- Thermal equipment performance measurement
Technologies used:
- High-sensitivity sintered ceramic resistive sensor
- Custom sizing for thick or thin equipment walls
- Real-time physical-measurement calculation software
Year founded: 2025
CEA Institute: CEA-Iresne