Turning ambiguity into specifications

While some of our projects are constrained to a single component or subsystem, many of our customers need a company that take their rough concept all the way to a packaged and tested prototype. The starting concept may be a novel invention that has been tested only in isolation. To demonstrate the next level of technological readiness, Czero can design the balance-of-plant support hardware around it. We are comfortable with the ambiguity of roughly defined or absent specifications and help our customers define the project requirements in parallel with the design process.

Analysis-led design

Using up-front modeling and simulation is core to our design process. A computer model of a process is infinitely cheaper than physical parts for iteration and design exploration. Whether it's steady-state calculations, transient fluid flow simulations, detailed computational fluid dynamics or finite element analysis, our analysis team and designers work closely together and with the customer to explore the design options, evaluate tradeoffs, and down-select among possible solutions. The detailed design phase is only started after a design has gone through this initial evaluation stage, and analysis continues to be closely integrated during the remainder of the detailed design. After a prototype is built, test data is used to validate and refine the models, so they are even more useful for the next design cycle.

Expecting the unexpected

Time and time again, we've experienced the inevitable hiccups that are a normal part of developing a new technology and know how to mitigate them. Our robust tools which rely heavily modeling helps head these off as much as possible. For example, our controls development uses model-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop models, so our controls engineers can test and refine their code while controlling a modeled version of the system, rather than risking damage to expensive hardware. When we're dealing with unfamiliar territory like ultra-high temperatures or corrosive environments, we use small-scale parts testing to verify performance first, rather than taking a supplier's word for it.

Close communications

Part of what makes our design process so effective is frequent and in-depth technical communication with our customers, so you are a collaborative part of the process, which ensures that the end result is as close to meeting the initial vision as possible.

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