Heat pumps and heat recovery - revolutionising the future of heating and cooling

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Overview 

On the 9th June join this SIRACH Webinar to hear from researchers as they present their leading-edge work. 

Our first presentation will present work currently being undertaken at The University of Warwick that explores the problem facing domestic heating and how ammonia sorption cycles, used in gas‑fired heat pumps, can offer a partial solution in the decarbonisation of domestic heating.

The second and third presentations are from London South Bank University and discuss heat recovery and district heating. The second presentation focuses on the Bunhill Heat Network, a pioneering system that recovers waste heat from ventilation air from the London Underground and uses it to supply a heat network for heating buildings in the London Borough of Islington. The final presentation will report on a study examining heat recovery from underground electrical cable tunnels and data centres and the impact this will have in delivering heat to local heat networks. 

Programme 

Welcome and introduction from Akos Revesz, LoT-NET Knowledge Exchange Network

Presentations

• Heat pump research at Warwick - looking ahead at next-generation ammonia heat pump cycles. George Atkinson, University of Warwick

• Heat from Underground Energy London - Heat FUEL. Henrique Lagoeiro, London South Bank University

• Benefits of cooling with heat recovery for electrical cable tunnels and data centres. Matt Wegner, London South Bank University

Webinar ends. 

Presenters

All presenters are members of the LoT-NET Early Career Researchers Network. 

George Atkinson, University of Warwick

George is a postgraduate researcher in the first year of his PhD with the Sustainable Thermal Energy Technologies (STET) group at The University of Warwick (Warwick). He graduated from Warwick with a Master of Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering, during which he worked with Professor Bob Critoph and the STET group on two undergraduate projects related to carbon-ammonia heat pumping. After completing his degree in 2017, he then worked for the Defence company Babcock International before returning to Warwick in October 2019, to pursue a PhD in ‘Next-generation ammonia heat pump cycles and technology’.

Henrique Lagoeiro, London South Bank University

Henrique is a postgraduate researcher at London South Bank University, where he is engaged in studying how waste heat recovery from the London Underground can become a key tool to transform the energy sector in London towards a low carbon and cost-effective future, helping to tackle climate change and fuel poverty within the city. Having worked in the construction industry and the public sector in Brazil, Henrique has always seen his role as an engineer closely linked to reducing inequalities and making cities more liveable. With that in mind, he was selected by NGO Vetor Brasil to work for the local government of Niterói, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, where he led projects focused on using technology to make the city smarter, greener, and more efficient. This experience made it clear the career path Henrique wants to follow: helping cities unlock their potential for a smart energy future.

Matt Wegner, London South Bank University

Matt worked within the London Underground's “Cooling the Tube” project team during the last two years of his undergraduate degree at London South Bank University - BSc (Hons) Engineering Product Design. He contributed to an award-winning study optimising Air Handling Unit design for performance in the deep-level tube. This opportunity has led to his career in R&D at a global industrial heat exchanger manufacturer.

Since October 2019, he is working full-time towards a PhD in Mechanical Engineering, researching Sustainable Smart Energy Systems at LSBU.

Matt is very passionate about all aspects relating to the energy transition from fossil fuels, with particular focus on the latest developments in electric vehicles and battery storage technology.

Organised in association with

Lot-NET’ to provide significant research leadership in advanced thermal heating and cooling networks - a key technology in the UK’s Clean Growth Strategy. This multidisciplinary project is led by Warwick University in collaboration with Loughborough, Ulster and London South Bank Universities, as well as key partners including London Underground, ASDA, Thames Water and Islington Council. LoT-NET includes support for SIRACH as an essential part of its dissemination strategy.