Project manager Syclope

Syclope Electronique is a small company of 20 employees specialized in studies, conception, and production of instruments for water analysis and treatment. For five years, I have been involved within the company in the development of new products using optical technologies for water analysis. As part of my duties, I have been managing couple research and development projects. Here are the main projets:

Hydrocarbons project (Syclope/IFP), closed:

Project duration: 12 months

Project objectives:

To design an instrument able to characterize the nature and the concentration of hydrocarbons of the offshore platforms supply waters.

Realized tasks:

Studies of a UV/visible tuning laser. Manufacturing, tests ans validation of the laser.

Bibliography and technological watch.

Experimental campaigns at the French Petroleum Institut (IFP) for the detection and the hydrocarbons characterization in water.

Tools / Methods / Environment:

Laser study in optics room (Syclope, subcontractor Novalase, and Bordeaux 1 University)

Detection experiences realized in a chemical room (IFP)

Spectra data analysis with the Igor Pro software (Syclope)

Results:

Validation of the UV/visible tuning laser

Validation of a optic/water fiber interface.

The experiences allow us to validate an instrumentation with a sensitivity below 1mg/l and the possibility to differentiate light and heavy hydrocarbons.

OPTILIGHT project (closed):

This project allowed me to develop an optical absorption measurement in water at up to 5 wavelengths chosen from the application. The choice of opical filters and the use of judicious mathematical algorithms enable the measurement of several components (nitrates, dissolved organic carbon, swimming pool products, ...) in water. This instrument is now commercialized.

Project duration: 24 months

Project objectives:

Realize an online optical absorption measurement instrument in the UV visible range for water analysis.

Realized tasks:

Bibliography and technological watch.

Writing of a technical and functional requirements document

Initiation of the project (objectives, planning, costs)

Optical conception

Optomechanical and mechanical conception

Simulation and hydraulic conception

Work with an electronic engineer on the technical and functional requirements.

Prototypes manufacturing

Instrument industrialization

Tools / Methods / Environment:

Project management: objectives, costs management, planning management

Optical conception (Zemax)

Mechanical conception (SolidWorks)

Data analysis (Igor Pro)

Human Machine Interface (HMI) and data analysis (LabView)

Results:

Realization of an universal online measurement prototype.

Application of the device to the PHMB (desinfectant molecule for swimming pool) concentration measurement in water. Commercialization of this instrument.

Application of the device to the Isocyanuric Acids (chlorine stabilizer for swimming pool) concentration measurement in water. Commercialization of this instrument.

Application of the device to the nitrates concentration measurement in water.

Application of the device to the total hydrocarbons concentration measurement in water.

Turbidity project (in collaboration with ProMinent GmbH):

Project objectives:

To develop an innovative low cost turbidity probe for drinking water for the company ProMinent GmbH

Realized tasks:

Bibliography and technological watch.

Market study realized with the customer ProMinent for a drinking water LED turbidity probe.

Writing of a technical and functional requirements document Syclope/ProMinent

Initiation of a common Syclope/ProMinent project management

Optical and mechanical conception of a multipaths optical LED turbidity probe able to compensate the optics contamination. Filed patent considered for this solution.

Study of an automatic ultrasonics cleaning system.

Consultations of specific suppliers for the realization of injected plastic optics.

Tools / Methods / Environment:

Common Syclope/ProMinent project managemebt (MsProject): marketing study, costs (Earned Value Management), planning, ressources, risks, modifications, and suppliers management.

Optical conception (Zemax). Non sequential optimization of a LED source with an angle.

Optomechanical and mechanical conception (SolidWorks)

Results:

Numerical simulations allow us to obtain a multipath optical design able to compensate the optics contamination and congruent to the ISO standard.

Mechanical conception (with integration of the ultrasonics cleaning) ongoing.

Position characteristics:

Duties : conception choice, financial follow-up, technical specifications follow-up, keep the deadlines

Projects management, business management in the case of specific customer requests.

Optical, thermal, hydraulical, mechanical simulations

Mechanical, opto-mechanical, optical conceptions

Huge interdisciplinary versatility: physics, chemistry, optics, mechanics, mathematics, programming.

Team work with electronics and software engineers.