Turnbull & Scott Researching Transportable Thermal Energy Stores

16-11-2023

Turnbull & Scott have been developing an idea which would allow for the storage and transfer of waste heat energy. The opportunity for such a solution emerged from recognition by the T&S team that there was an increasing number of enquiries from industrial customers that had excess waste heat but no immediate or near time use for any, or all, that they had available.  

The project seeks to determine the feasibility of recovering surplus waste heat from industrial sites to a heat store, then transporting the heat store to a secondary site, or heat network where the heat can be discharged and reused.  It will combine the company’s expertise in the design of heat exchangers with the use of phase change materials (PCMs). The company's research and design team are building models to predict and optimise the sometimes conflicting goals of Thermal Efficiency, Transportability, Charge/Discharge times and of course costs.

T&S will construct a test unit this year, allowing for the testing of heat loss during transportation, discharge times, combinations of mediums and PCMs. They hope to find and install a demonstration site in 2024.

To develop the idea further, Turnbull & Scott have been selected as one of 16 companies to share a Scottish Enterprise fund that aims to strengthen Scotland’s ‘green heat’ supply chain. The support is set to bolster the development of novel products and processes that support the transition to low carbon heat or improve the thermal performance of buildings. 

"We are excited to be part of this initiative, which recognizes the importance of finding sustainable ways to utilise excess waste heat," said Peter Murphy, Turnbull & Scott’s Managing Director.

Other recipients include Aberdeenshire-based engineers Geothermal Energy Ltd and industrial heat pump developer and manufacturer Star Renewable Energy, located in Glasgow. 

Suzanne Sosna, director of economic opportunities at Scottish Enterprise, said: “Decarbonising heat will play a crucial role in meeting global net zero targets, creating opportunities for Scottish businesses in supply chain areas such as manufacturing, assembly, design, and consultancy and installation.

“This funding will help businesses that stand to benefit from the growth of green heat conduct detailed assessments of the feasibility of their solutions with a view to future commercial development.”