First Minister opens power testing centre

Citation

(2008), "First Minister opens power testing centre", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 80 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2008.12780bab.021

First Minister opens power testing centre

Article Type: University and research news From: Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology: An International Journal, Volume 80, Issue 2.

Wales' First Minister, the Rt Hon Rhodri Morgan recently opened Cardiff University's Gas Turbine Research Centre.

The Minister formally opened the Gas Turbine Research Centre (GTRC) which will test for cleaner and more efficient ways of generating power for electricity and aircraft at the ECM2 engineering complex at Margam, Port Talbot.

The Gas Turbine Research Centre consists of two large-scale combustion rigs, which can test a wide variety of alternative fuels at high flowrate, temperature and pressure. A unique 3D cooled traversing probe and an optical (quartz) combustor with advanced laser systems allow researchers to take detailed measurements of pollutant formation within the combustor, enabling assessment of prototype designs or combustion model predictions.

The Centre will conduct research into more efficient fuel utilisation, alternative fuels and reduction of pollutants such as Nitrogen Oxide and fine exhaust particulates. The two rigs were donated by international technology company QinetiQ, who selected Cardiff University's School of Engineering ahead of several other EU contenders.

Work is already under way on research contracts at the facility. These include a x 140,000 EU programme in association with QinetiQ and 20 other EU partners to test alternative liquids and the gaseous fuels produced from biomass and waste gases. Another industrially-sponsored programme is studying the formation of environmental pollutants such as Nitrogen Oxides, Carbon Monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons within the combustor. The Centre now welcomes projects with other companies and organisations on a commercial basis.

Director of the Centre, Professor Phil Bowen of the School of Engineering, said: “Gas turbines generate something like 20 per cent of the world's power through aircraft or electrical power generation. There are only a few combustion research centres like this world-wide, and the Gas Turbine Research Centre offers some unique features. We hope to provide significant research and development support to the international Energy sector as its strives to meet demanding global challenges ahead, and along with such facilities as the General Electric gas turbine power plant at Baglan Bay, establish South Wales as a hub for cleaner power industries.”

Dr Simon Bennett, managing director, QinetiQ commercial business, said: “We selected Cardiff University as the recipient of the two combustion rigs because of its expertise in combustion and optical measuring techniques. The rigs already have a number of world firsts to their credit and we are pleased to be working with the university to help shape future gas turbine development.”

The cost of creating the new facility was been supported by a x 3.85M donation from Objective 1, European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), secured through the Welsh European Funding Office and x 350,000 from the Welsh Assembly Government. The University also received around x 600,000 from the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales for a new viewing section for the equipment.