Carbon Trust funding for new process technologies

London – Process technologies, including biomass, energy efficient kilns and steam trap sensors, feature prominently among a select group of projects to gain Carbon Trust funding worth a total of more than £1 million.

Among seven funding award winners under the Carbon Trust’s Applied Research scheme is Spirax Sarco Ltd, which has gained £150,000 to develop a steam trap performance sensor. Use of these sensors on the approximate 600,000 steam traps in use in the UK could cut carbon emissions by more than 750,000 tonnes over ten years, the Carbon Trust said.

Biomass CHP Ltd, meanwhile, has been awarded £50,000 for a project to enable biomass combined heat and power (CHP) units to better compete against fossil-fuel-fired CHP units or biomass combustion systems. The firm will install and evaluate an advanced gas-cleaning and computerised engine management system for a biomass CHP unit on a site in Northern Ireland.

In the field of aluminium smelting, Coventry University was awarded £150,000 for developing a new type of magnetic field to provide greater stability in this process and reduce its energy consumption by 5-20%. In the UK, primary aluminium smelting consumes 4.98TWh (Terawatt-hours) of electricity and produces 2.1 million tonnes of carbon. Reducing electricity consumption by as little as 5% would reduce carbon emissions by 105,000 tonnes.

Modern primary aluminium smelting takes place using the Hall-Heroult process, which is extremely energy intensive and is estimated to consume about 2% of all electricity generated worldwide. The process involves passing an electric current through molten aluminium oxide which must be stabilised with a magnetic field to prevent a short circuit.

Elsewhere, Horizon Ceramics was gained £114,183 for a project to develop a manufacturing process for an interlocking system of ceramic modules with a highly insulating infill that will create a much more energy efficient kiln.

Traditionally, ceramics kilns have a high thermal mass, meaning they absorb a lot of heat. Although over the last 20 years attempts have been made to develop kilns with low thermal mass, the ceramic fibre used tends to degrade leading to hazardous airborne dust and a loss of structural integrity.

The Carbon Trust’s Applied Research scheme aims to speed promising low carbon technologies towards commercial reality and large-scale deployment, according to Garry Staunton, head of Low Carbon Research at the Carbon Trust.

“These technologies will play a vital part in moving the UK towards a low carbon economy. The application process is rigorous so successful projects are to be congratulated on securing support from the Carbon Trust,” said Staunton.

The Applied Research scheme requires that each project pass a thorough application process and must secure additional funding from alternative sources. A new call for proposals is now open until 17 Aug. Applications can be made online at http://www.carbontrust.co.uk.