27 January 2011

Sheffield researchers discover engineering revolution

A new University of Sheffield spin-out company has developed microscopic bubble technology which looks set to revolutionise chemical engineering.


Perlemax Ltd, which was launched by Fusion IP, the University´s IP commercialisation company that turns world-class research into business, has developed a novel fluidic oscillator which efficiently generates micro-sized bubbles in a liquid.

The fluidic oscillator acts in a similar way to a child blowing bubbles with soap bubble makers. Blow continuously and long, large bubbles are possible, but blow with short, sharp puffs and a series of small bubbles are created, of the size of the hole they emerge from. This takes less energy and the smaller bubbles have intensified chemical processing properties, due to the much greater surface area per unit volume. When the Perlemax oscillator is connected to a suitable mesh and immersed in a liquid, it creates a super efficient, dense mist of micro bubbles that enable the rapid transfer of gas into or out of a liquid, without the need for any moving parts.

Perlemax was founded on the invention of Professor Will Zimmerman, Chair of Biochemical Dynamical Systems at the University´s Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, in the Faculty of Engineering.
Since 1994, Professor Zimmerman has been the winner of five prestigious UK and US fellowships, and more recently received the prestigious 2010 Royal Society Innovation Award for leading a team which has adapted a unique bioreactor for use in the production of alternative renewable fuels, to replace fossil fuels such as petrol and diesel.

Micro bubbles are considered by many, to be one of the holy grails of chemical engineering, as they dramatically increase the rate of transfer of gas into a liquid over conventional sized bubbles and do so with no energy penalty. The Perlemax technology has the potential to dramatically reduce the energy demands of essential chemical processes such as those employed in water purification, wastewater treatment, biodiesel manufacture and carbon sequestration. All of these are growing multi-billion dollar markets that could immediately benefit from greater efficiency.

Perlemax´s technology has the potential for both retrofit to existing plant, or as an OEM component in new plant, and has a number of pilot scale trials with commercial partners underway.

In accordance with its agreement with the University of Sheffield, Fusion IP will start with a 60 per cent shareholding in Perlemax, however given the investment profile of the company, it is anticipated that the longer term shareholding will be between 30 to 40 per cent.

Professor Zimmerman, Founder of Perlemax, said: "I am delighted that our team's work in energy efficient micro bubble generation is being commercialised through Perlemax. The potential for large energy savings with our micro bubble generation approach is huge, particularly in commodity chemicals production for gas dissolution and dissolved gas extraction, where energy savings could enhance profitability. There are many routes to becoming green, and reducing energy consumption with the same or better performance must be the most painless."

David Baynes, Chief Executive Officer of Fusion IP, added: "This is another example of the world leading technology being generated at the University of Sheffield. Professor Zimmerman´s fluidic oscillator has huge potential to make dramatic energy savings in a number of key chemical process industries and we are excited at the potential of this new company."

Notes for Editors: The Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sheffield is one of the largest in the UK. Its seven Departments include over 3,000 students and 800 staff and have research-related income worth more than £40M per annum from government, industry and charity sources. The 2008 Research Assessment Exercise confirmed that two thirds of the research carried out was either Internationally Excellent or Internationally Leading. The latest National Student Survey shows our students to be some of the most satisfied in the Country with 93 per cent of students satisfied and 91 per cent of graduates securing highlevel employment or further study places.
The faculty of Engineering has a long tradition of working with industry including Rolls-Royce, Network Rail and Siemens. Its industrial successes are exemplified by the award-winning Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and the new £25 million Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC). To find out more, visit the link below.

Fusion IP plc (Fusion) was established in 2002 to commercialise university-generated intellectual property. It has long-term exclusive agreements with two of the UK´s leading research intensive universities, the University of Sheffield and Cardiff University, giving it exclusive access to a combined R&D spend of over £185m a year.

Fusion´s first agreement was a ten-year exclusive arrangement with the University of Sheffield, giving it the right to commercialise (through the creation of spin-out companies and licensing) research, owned by the University, initially in the area of medical life sciences. This agreement was expanded in July 2008 to include all non-life science research-generated IP such as energy, engineering and electronics. Fusion has significant shareholdings in a portfolio of University of Sheffield spin-out companies including Simcyp, Magnomatics, Diurnal and Phase Focus.
In January 2007, Fusion completed a ten year exclusive agreement with Cardiff University, also giving it the right to commercialise (through the creation of spin-out companies) Cardiff University's research-generated IP. Fusion has significant shareholdings in a portfolio of Cardiff University spin-out companies including Mesuro, Abcellute, MedaPhor and Q-Chip.
On 2 December 2009 Fusion announced that it had raised approximately £3.2 million through a fund raising and that as a result, IP Group held approximately 19.8% of Fusion.
Fusion has also entered into a new Co-Investment Agreement with IP Group, in which IP Group has the right to acquire for cash, 20% of Fusion´s equity in any new portfolio company. As Fusion normally owns 60% of any new portfolio company at start-up, IP Group´s shareholding would normally equate to a 12% stake in the new portfolio company.
Fusion IP also has a Memorandum of Understanding with Finance Wales, the provider of commercial funding to Wales-based SMEs, which outlines a strategy of co-investment in opportunities arising from the Cardiff Agreement.