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Success Stories
EIC Survive 2024 EIC Survive&&Thrive Thrive 2024
JulyJuly 2024 2024
Story type #diversification (main category) #collaboration #technology
CALGAVIN Exploring new ways to address critical heat flux challenges Martin Gough CEO
How is CALGAVIN thriving? After being approached to help improve the performance of vapourisers aboard LNG vessels, CALGAVIN knew that if it could solve the complexity surrounding the design within applications subject to critical heat flux (CHF), it would be onto a good solution with other customers having the same problem around the world. Thanks to its fruitful partnerships with academic institutions, the company has thrust itself head-on into this challenge to generate better design data. The project gaining attention and funding looks set to take it to the next level of technical understanding. The challenge - Critical heat flux poses a significant concern within liquefied natural gas (LNG) systems. It denotes the maximum heat transfer rate before the heat flux starts reducing, potentially resulting in equipment performance failure. Effectively managing CHF is essential for safe and efficient LNG operations, crucial for achieving the energy industry’s sustainability objectives. To tackle these challenges, there is an immediate requirement for more precise data concerning vapourisation and condensation processes. Enhanced models and data can improve the comprehension and prediction of vapourisation processes, facilitating the design and optimisation of LNG facilities. This is indispensable for ensuring operational efficiency, safety, ROI and alignment with the sustainability targets set by the sector. Upon being approached by a global LNG shipping company and other stakeholders seeking to enhance vapouriser performance, CALGAVIN has embarked on addressing this challenge. The solution - The company is well-positioned for this task. At the heart of CALGAVINS’ business lies expertise in thermal process enhancement, involving the modification of flow conditions in existing and new equipment to enhance and optimise overall plant performance. Meanwhile, with a solid foundation of 43 years of research, as well as collaborations with various universities and in-house efforts, CALGAVIN has amassed proven data which is utilised in calculations and solutions applied to over 20,000 heat exchangers globally. Given the nature of its work, the company encounters a diverse range of challenges on a dai-
ly basis, with the critical heat flux (CHF) dilemma being the latest test of its capabilities. Academic partnerships have proven crucial to CALGAVIN’s endeavours so far. The firm has historical connections with the Chemical Engineering faculty at the University of Birmingham and has also partnered with the physics department in past projects, where the focus was on flow characterisation. In this instance, positron emission particle tracking (PEPT) were employed, leveraging gamma rays emitted from radioactive materials embedded in particles to visualise flow patterns. The collaboration has drawn interest from several parties, among them the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and Culham Centre for Fusion Energy with its Fusion Industry Project. Critically, the latter is an industrial challenge scheme which engages the private sector on the technical challenges facing fusion energy’s development. As a result of this interest, CALGAVIN was one of nine organisations to be awarded contracts to work with the UKAEA to develop innovative technologies for fusion energy, the company being granted around £1m. This funding is crucial, as it not only enables CALGAVIN to build a test rig to conduct in-depth research to address the critical heat flux challenges, but this fundamental research data will also help support all future vapourising and condensing projects. This also has promising implications for the LNG sector. Although a long-term project for fusion, it will be immediately applicable to LNG, placing CALGAVIN at the heart of knowledge transfer for CHF in the UK. Indeed, in partnership with universities, the company will be able to convert concepts to products and test rigs, and it is also now in the process of developing a learning course on thermal processing. Faced with complex market challenges, the need for technological advancements, environmental concerns and evolving customer expectations, CALGAVIN knew it needed to do something different. By embracing innovation and strategic adaptation, the company can seize new opportunities and maintain a competitive edge in the dynamic landscape of heat and mass transfer solutions.
Benefits ▸ CALGAVIN became one of nine companies to be awarded contracts to work with the UKAEA. ▸ Academic partnerships stablished to bring projects to life.
Key findings For industry ▸ It’s not all been invested yet: huge opportunities in new sciences. For government ▸ Empower young people to start their own companies.
CALGAVIN at a glance: Key products and services: chemical engineering and consulting company working in the field of thermal process enhancement. Main industries served: ▸ Oil and gas – 85% ▸ Conventional power – 10% ▸ Nuclear power – 5% Headquarters: Alcester, UK Year established: 1980 Number of employees: 35 Revenue: £4m Revenue from exports: 96%