Observing phenomena under pressure
For researchers and engineers studying phase changes, fluid flow, or material mechanics, observing a phenomenon under pressure is often the main experimental challenge. We design and build custom equipment—windowed cells, sapphire columns, microfluidic test benches—that provides direct optical access to the experiment, even under extreme conditions.
01 — The problems we solve
Every experiment has its own visualization challenge. Here is how we have solved specific visualization challenges.
The phenomenon is hidden by a thick metal wall. The challenge is to create optical access to a representative volume, sometimes in a stirred environment, to observe the formation kinetics of a bubble, dew, or crystal, and accurately determine the phase transition point.
Delivered for
It is necessary to track 3D cracking or fluid percolation inside a sample without interrupting the test. The cell must therefore maintain pressure and temperature while being transparent enough to X-rays to allow for tomographic analysis of the evolving microstructure.
Delivered for
See the project ↓The combination of very high pressure and low temperature causes frost to form on optical surfaces, blocking any observation. The design must include an effective frost prevention system to ensure continuous visibility of the chip's micrometer-scale channels.
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See the project ↓Comparing flows under static, stirred, or porous media conditions often requires several different instruments. The challenge is to design a modular vessel that can switch between configurations while maintaining its pressure rating, sealing, and the quality of the visualization.
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See the project ↓Presenting a phenomenon like a supercritical transition to a non-specialist audience requires absolute safety measures. The equipment must be portable, self-contained, and designed with redundant safety features that make it safe to operate outside a controlled laboratory environment.
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See the project ↓02 — Custom-built
When a standard instrument does not provide the required observation, we design a solution tailored to the test constraints and measurement objectives.
Designed to observe a phenomenon in a given volume when standard solutions do not meet the pressure, temperature, materials, or stirring requirements of the experiment. The design is adapted to each specific need.
Customization of volume, pressure, temperature, body material, and type of agitation.
Developed for 3D tomography of a sample under stress. The design is adapted when existing cells are not compatible with the test constraints (pressure, temperature, chemistry) or the tomograph's geometry.
Customization of materials, applied stresses (axial, confining), and compatibility with the tomograph.
Used to visualize flow at the pore scale under extreme conditions. We develop solutions when standard systems cannot combine very high pressure with cryogenic conditions or lack the necessary optical access.
Customization of pressure, low temperature, and optical access (frost prevention).
03 — Measurements
Direct observation makes it possible to quantify phenomena that would remain invisible to conventional sensors.
Recording images and videos enables qualitative and quantitative analysis of phenomena. It is possible to study their dynamics and morphology or to measure flow and propagation velocities.
Visual observation is the most reliable method for determining the exact conditions (pressure, temperature) at which a new phase appears: bubble, dew, crystallization, or hydrate formation.
This imaging technique reconstructs the 3D internal structure of a sample (pore network, cracks). Applying it in-situ makes it possible to track the evolution of this structure under mechanical stress or fluid flow.
Combined with visual observation, the precise measurement of thermodynamic parameters makes it possible to quantify the exact conditions under which the observed phenomenon occurs and to validate models.
04 — Projects
5 projects
Fluid Dynamics & Phase Behavior
500 bar / 150°C Titanium Variable Volume Cell for HP Fluid Research
Design of a 50 mL titanium HPHT cell for studying fluid phase behavior at 500 bar / 150°C. A custom solution that integrates magnetic…
Fluid Dynamics & Phase Behavior
Supercritical CO2 Demonstration Cell
Design and fabrication of a portable, self-contained high-pressure (80 bar) visualization cell for the energy sector. Housed in a briefcase, the equipment allows for…
Geoscience & Subsurface Studies
Custom X-ray Transparent Triaxial Cell for BRGM: In-Situ 3D Tomography Analysis
For the BRGM, we designed an X-ray transparent triaxial cell (200 bar, 150°C). Made of PEEK and titanium, it allows for in-situ 3D analysis…
Fluid Dynamics & Phase Behavior
Custom 120 bar Sapphire Column for Gas Hydrate Research
Modular 120 bar reactor with a sapphire column for visualizing hydrate formation in corrosive media. The design allows switching between a porous medium and…
Fluid Dynamics & Phase Behavior
1000 Bar High-Pressure Injection Bench for Extreme Low-Temperature (-70°C) Microfluidic Studies
Design of a microfluidic cell to observe fluid phase changes at -70°C (-94°F) and 1000 bar (14,500 psi). Built for energy research, this custom…
05 — Our approach
Each visualization instrument is the result of a rigorous analysis of the scientific objective and the experimental barriers to overcome.
Our engineering team starts with the scientific question: what does the researcher need to see? This could be a phase change, the propagation of a crack in a material, a two-phase flow, or the formation of crystals.
We then identify what makes the observation difficult: pressure, temperature, material opacity, the small size of the object, the corrosive nature of the fluids... This is the technological barrier that the instrument's design must overcome.
The technical solution is designed to specifically address the identified difficulty: a sapphire window for pressure, a PEEK cell for X-ray transparency, an anti-frost system for cryogenics, or high-grade alloys for corrosion.
Our visualization instruments are often at the core of test benches for fluid dynamics, geoscience, or extreme environment simulation. They take the form of specific reactors and analysis cells.
They trust us
06 — FAQ
There is no catalog limit, as the pressure rating depends on the entire assembly. The design of the window (thickness, diameter) and its support is calculated by our engineering team specifically for your test's pressure and temperature conditions, applying regulatory safety factors. One project, for example, enabled observation at 1,000 bar (14,500 psi).
The seal relies on a mechanical design that protects the sapphire from excessive stress and on the choice of a sealing system (metal or polymer seal) suited to the test conditions (temperature, fluid type). Each assembly undergoes finite element analysis (FEA) to validate its integrity and sealing across the entire operating range.
Yes, the design is adapted to the nature of the test fluids. The cell body and wetted parts are manufactured from compatible materials, such as titanium, Hastelloy, or PEEK, to resist corrosion. Sapphire itself is a very chemically inert material, compatible with a wide range of substances.
Yes, compatibility with the analysis environment is a key design criterion. We adapt the cell's external dimensions, its mounting interfaces, and the clearance for the X-ray beam to the geometry of your tomograph or synchrotron beamline. Fluid and sensor ports are also positioned so they do not interfere with data acquisition.
Describe your experiment, the operating conditions, and what you need to measure. Our engineering team will analyze the feasibility of a custom visualization solution.