Midlands universities pioneer ‘cold power’ technologies
A GROUP of six Midlands universities – including the University of Birmingham and Aston University – is developing the next generation of ‘cold power’ technologies to help save millions of pounds in carbon fuels every year.
Backed by £20m funding from the Government’s Thermal Energy Research Accelerator (T-ERA), the collective has already made advancements in delivering liquid nitrogen engines aimed at the world’s food and medical transporters and is now looking at ways where this solution can be used to replace inefficient air conditioning units.
Other research projects will involve assessing the use of innovative materials and methods for storage, efficient insulation materials and developing advanced materials and manufacturing processes.
Professor Martin Freer, of the University of Birmingham, said: “Heating and cooling in our buildings, infrastructure and transport accounts for more than half of our total energy consumption and is set to grow dramatically over the next 15 years.
“In order to meet our climate and energy goals, we must sharply reduce the energy we consume for thermal loads and specifically move away from the use of fossil fuels.”
He said the key was to engage UK industry to accept the importance of ‘cold energy’ and then drive forward innovation.
“T-ERA will be fundamental in doing this as part of the ERA collaboration involving Aston University, University of Birmingham, University of Leicester, Loughborough University, the University of Nottingham, the University of Warwick and British Geological Survey,” he said.
One of the earliest successes is Dearman, a technology business that has developed an innovative piston engine that utilises the rapid expansion of liquid air/nitrogen to deliver zero-emission power and cooling.
The company is now working with the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) to use a method called ‘Factory in a Box’ to deploy mini-factories that will help fast-track the manufacture of its cryogenic liquid air engines internationally.
The mobile factories – which can be shipped in a container – will use next generation Industry 4.0 technology, such as smart sensors, super-fast broadband and big data to measure and control production processes remotely.
T-ERA and the MTC believe this will reduce the significant expense of setting up stand-alone production facilities, while also giving UK companies the opportunity to establish manufacturing footprints in new markets relatively quickly.
“Many companies need specific production capabilities near to where they make big assemblies, but often ship them in at great expense,” said Neil Rawlinson, strategic development director at the Manufacturing Technology Centre, part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult.
“We have designed a method for deploying capacity in other countries very quickly, but managed remotely from the UK and capturing the added value and knowledge of our manufacturers. This know-how would be a British export and deliver new jobs.”
