LG 226

LG
SEPTEMBRE 2019
53
How did the collaboration start?
SPARC Industries was primarily interested
in finding a dynamic and versatile scientific
partner: “We were looking for a high
qualified research partner to support us
in the theoretical developments of plasma
simulation technologies. We needed to
enlarge our research Space by reinforcing
our expertise within the field of data and
computational sciences”.
From the University of Luxembourg, the
collaboration was not so obvious at first
sight: “My team and I have been working
on fracture mechanics for over 20 years now
and never thought of plasma technologies
as an application for our methodologies.
The two fields appeared to be as different
as an apple from a passion fruit…”, explains
Professor Bordas.
Several months of interdisciplinary work
later, the new team found unexpected
commonality between a crack propagating
in a material and plasma forming
around an ionic engine used for satellite
propulsion. This commonality meant that
the theoretical framework and numerical
methodologies developed at the University
of Luxembourg in the context of the Proofof-Concept
(PoC) “Intuitive modelling
and SIMulation platform (IntuiSIM, FNR
2018-2020)”, could be almost directly
applied to the problem of plasma flow
around a satellite.
What are the benefits for both parties?
Dejan Petkow and Stéphane Bordas are
deeply enthusiastic about this promising
collaboration. On the one hand, the
University benefits from the professional
software expertise and skills of SPARC
Industries to support software development
in IntuiSIM. Professor Bordas adds:
“Dejan contacted us at the perfect time
because we were lacking field expertise
in our PoC and SPARC, as an expert in
simulation software for the space industry,
filled this gap through their professional
software development platform and dense
professional network”.
On the other hand, SPARC Industries
take advantage of the deep theoretical and
computational knowledge and experience
from the University of Luxembourg: Dr.
Petkow explains: “Stéphane Bordas and his
team are the perfect match to our needs,
offering us deep world-leading expertise
in key theoretical areas, as well as a very
broad knowledge of the world of Data and
Computational Sciences”.
In short, both partners are complementary,
they will reinforce each other, enrich their
knowledge, skills and network.
“The plasma
simulation
software will
mainly serve
for satellite
propulsion”
What are the potential applications of
this new software?
The plasma simulation software will
mainly serve for satellite propulsion.
“Plasma is very important for space
industries, partly because the universe
consists of 99.9% plasma. Its properties
are beyond solid, liquid and gas, it is
extremely hot and conducts electricity.
However, the physical properties inside
plasma are so complex that engineers must
use modelling and simulation software to
reduce research costs. Depending on the
implemented model sets, the software
will be useful for plasma propulsion
technologies, the interaction between
satellite and space environment, and to
study atmospheric re-entry phenomena”,
explains Dejan.
What is the current status of the project?
Dejan Petkow and Stéphane Bordas add:
“There are in fact three activities in
parallel with a total of 19 people involved.
Firstly, the Proof-of-Concept IntuiSIM
is continuing with two post-doctoral
researchers and will be accelerating
through the collaboration. Secondly, the
industrial fellowship project “Efficient
quality controlled plasma flow simulations
directly from CAD (ectoplasm)” was
recently accepted by the FNR to foster
the link between the University and
SPARC Industries and help close the gap
between computer aided design and space
science simulations. Thirdly, the daily
work done by both teams is fundamental:
To optimise and maximise our current
synergies, we are working to streamline
and strategically reinforce our activities.
That is why, we are currently looking for
additional funding from public and/or
private partners”.
When will the software go to the market?
“In 2021 we aim to have a sample product
ready for the first quarter of 2022 and we
plan to introduce the full plasma simulation
software product to the market which will
be the result of our successful collaboration.
In the near future, we will seek a partner
for the commercialisation of the product in
Europe”, says Dejan Petkow.
Do you have other collaborative projects
in mind?
Dejan Petkow and Stéphane Bordas
explain: “We will create a network of
experts, establish data and knowledge bases
to enable users to check their calculations
in a formal, strict and precise way. We are
also studying other future collaborations as
we are already very satisfied with this first
common project”.
About SPARC Industries
Created in 2017 by Dejan Petkow and
Thorben Meinardus, SPARC Industries is
a Luxembourg-based startup, developing
plasma propulsion systems and simulation
software for the space industry. Located
in Belval at Technoport, it is a member
of the Luxembourg Space Cluster and
receives support from the Ministry of the
Economy and the European Space Agency
(ESA). Ambitious and practical, the team
is striving to turn ideas into realities and
develop products to market maturity.
About University of Luxembourg / Legato
team
Created in 2013 by Stéphane Bordas,
after over 15 years of previous work, the
Legato team (currently composed of 35
researchers) aims at building intuitive and
interactive platforms for computational
mechanics problems which allow the users
to interact with their models and hence gain
insights into unconventional and counterintuitive
phenomena. n