Résumé
The scientific and technical challenges involved in the experimental research undertaken by the CIRAD Biomass-Energy research team are understanding, optimizing and designing novel processes for thermochemical conversion of lignocellulosic biomasses. The team has an experimental platform that is unique in Europe, equipped with gasification, pyrolysis and torrefaction pilot reactors. The instrumentation and measurements available on these installations are essential elements for guaranteeing scientifically exploitable results that can be used by industrial partners. Indeed, the number and variety of measuring instruments - thermocouples, pressure sensors, flow meters, balances, etc. – led the team's researchers to query the exactness and reliability of the results given by the different pilots. In-house metrology adapted to requirements was therefore introduced after defining metrological specifications beforehand for each of the critical quantities associated with the pilots. Metrology rules have been adapted to optimize the result cost/reliability ratio and set in place metrological monitoring that is compatible with research procedures. All this instrumentation is monitored and referenced in a joint IT database enabling the traceability of interventions and pooling of standards and research facilities.