Underground Coal Gasification
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A pioneering past, an innovative future. Play your part in transforming tomorrow. www.newcastlesciencecity.com The North East Innovation Story Newcastle has always been a city of science – the centre of a region alive with scientific endeavour and discovery. The influence of this legacy continues to reverberate with Newcastle Science City at the forefront of science in research, in education Across the centuries, inventors such as Robert Stephenson and Charles Parsons have used science to improve lives and shape history. and in communities. If you have a story you’d like to share about scientific or technological innovation from around the region, or you’d simply The timeline below demonstrates just some of the innovation that has its origins at the heart of this region. like to tell us about your connections with science, please visit www.newcastlesciencecity.com/yourstory William George Armstrong Alphonse 1585 1705 1842 1894 1962 Constant Reyrolle Dunston Hill in Gateshead was the In 1705, Cornish inventor In 1842, William George Armstrong In 1884 Charles Parsons used steam In 1962 the International Research first place in the world where coal Thomas Newcomen produced noticed that steam escaping from engine technology to develop the and Development Company (IRD) was was mined on an industrial scale. his steam atmospheric engine a boiler caused an electric shock first steam-driven turbines. The first established in Newcastle by a host of Close to the river for transportation to pump water from Cornish tin and constructed a ‘Hydro-electric turbo-electric generators were small internationally renowned companies with Parsons and with workable coal, the town mines. The Newcomen engines machine’ for creating huge sparks machines that provided ships with roots in the region, including ICI, Parsons mined the fuel to replace sea-coal were inefficient and used a lot of of static electricity. Four years later, electric lighting, but they were quickly and Reyrolle. The company undertook (which caused smoggy air) fuel. Consequently, they were not and Armstrong’s interest was developed to generate electrical research, development and testing to and wood, which was to be widely used in Cornwall where hydraulics. He invented high- power for towns and cities. identify commercial applications for preserved for boat building. coal was expensive. In the North pressure hydraulic machinery used in Building on this discovery, in 1894 products on behalf of global companies. East, where this wasn’t a problem, structures including Tower Bridge and Parsons built Turbinia to test and Major advancements at IRD included: the engines were used to drain ‘Newcomen ‘Turbinia’ superconductivity and the development engine’ Newcastle’s Swing Bridge. Armstrong demonstrate the advantages of the flooded Tyne Basin. By 1769 was also an advocate of solar energy, of the world’s first superconducting Dunston Colliery in the 19th Century using the steam turbine to propel over 100 were in operation across observing that the solar energy vessels through water. In 1897, after motor; laser technology, including an North East England. received across 4,000 m2 in tropical three years of trials, Turbinia was the application for eye surgery; and energy areas would “exert the amazing fastest vessel on the water, capable of conservation, including early testing of Thomas power of 4,000 horses.” travelling at speeds of up to 40mph. Charles wind power technology. Newcomen Swing Bridge, Newcastle Parsons Charles Hesterman Merz 1608 Robert 1813 1880 1899 Stephenson When riverside coal was exhausted, Steam power was soon applied In 1850, Joseph Wilson Swan created Charles Hesterman Merz pioneered the a method of transporting the coal to transport. Drawing inspiration a light bulb using carbonised paper use of high-voltage, three-phase AC to the water had to be found. The from earlier rail pioneers, Robert filaments in an evacuated glass bulb. power distribution, building a system first waggonways, precursors of Stephenson, son of George, The inventor received a British patent in North East England that became the today’s railways, were developed developed The Rocket, the first for his device in 1878, about a year Cragside model for the National Grid. by Huntington Beaumont. A single modern locomotive. The Stockton to House before Thomas Edison. Hesterman Merz set up a consulting firm horse would haul each waggon along Darlington Railway opened in 1825, In 1880 Swan tried out his invention with William McLellan in 1902. Their wooden rails to the river, sometimes and the Liverpool to Manchester at Cragside, which became the first Causey Arch, Durham first major project was Neptune Bank using gravity to build momentum. If Railway in 1830. The Stephensons house in the world to be lit by electric Power Station, the UK’s first three-phase hills were steep, friction would build became responsible for the worldwide lightbulbs. Newcastle’s Mosley Street electricity supply system. Hesterman between the rails and the waggon, expansion of the railway. was among the first streets to be Merz consulted on the electrification of causing fires to erupt. A very early illuminated by electric lighting. tramways, and on the Tyneside lines of example of a restored waggonway Joseph the North Eastern Railway, which had Wilson Swan arch can be seen at Causey Arch. electric systems by 1904. ‘The Rocket’ transportNewcastle Narec 2010 Underground Coal Gasification Newcastle University has an ambition to become the leading transport technology Narec is a national centre dedicated to accelerating the deployment and grid Our heritage of success in science The world’s first ever trial of what is known as underground coal gasification was carried research university in Europe through the transportNewcastle network. integration of renewable energy and low carbon technologies. out in 1912 in Durham by Sir William Ramsay, and today, around five billion tonnes of coal One project, a lightweight train cab that the NewRail research team has Facilities at the centre’s two sites in Blyth and Hebburn include the world’s largest and innovation is something we will strive still lie beneath the North East. developed in partnership with global train manufacturer Bombardier and wind turbine blade testing facility, the UK’s only independent Photovoltaic R&D This ‘clean coal’ process could be an important future energy alternative, according to composite material fabricator AP&M has helped to transform the way trains laboratory and the Clothier Laboratories ultra high voltage testing facility for the to build on into the future. Professor Dermot Roddy, Director of the Sir Joseph Swan Institute at Newcastle University. could be made in future. transmission and distribution networks. “International investors are coming here for ideas about how they might be able to deploy These are just some of the great Professor Dermot RODDy DR JOE CARRUTHERS Using a special composite material made of glass-reinforced plastic and DR ALAN Lowdon “Narec’s world-class facilities enable North East England to continue to these technologies worldwide,” said Professor Roddy. lightweight foam, the ‘crashworthy’ cab is comparable in strength to steel. pioneer innovative energy solutions,” said Dr Alan Lowdon, Director of projects that continue to define Newcastle and The advantage of underground coal gasification is that each plant would avoid three But being lighter it is more energy efficient. “This energy saving puts the Technology and Innovation. “We are working with companies worldwide to million tonnes a year of carbon dioxide being emitted into the atmosphere, making a big project in tune with Newcastle Science City’s drive to encourage more address the technical challenges and mitigate the commercial and operational the wider North East as an area leading the way contribution towards carbon dioxide reduction targets to combat climate change. sustainable energy use,” says Dr Joe Carruthers, Vehicles Group Manager risk from the deployment of new technologies out in the field.” in scientific enterprise. at NewRail. Become part of the story When you become part of Newcastle Science City, you become part of a story that stretches back centuries into the region’s past. But science is also about new beginnings; new theories, challenges and careers to take the story forward. The people below have built rewarding, stimulating careers in science, starting right here in North East England. AlAstAir Mitchell – NAvAl Architect As a naval architect, Alastair is responsible for the concept design of all kinds of marine vessels including warships, tankers, cruise ships and yachts. Alastair achieved his ambition of becoming a Naval Architect by following a study route which included science based GCSEs, A-levels in maths, physics and chemistry, a masters of engineering in naval architecture at Newcastle University, followed by a 4-year graduate training scheme. “A highlight of my job is to witness something that I’ve helped design come to life as it is built, and use my job to travel the world,” says Alastair. SarA Frost – steM AMbAssADor Sara Frost graduated in Zoology from Newcastle University in 2009 and since then has been working as a Newcastle University STEM Ambassador (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), encouraging school children in the city to consider further study and careers in these areas. “As a STEM Ambassador I am promoting a subject that I am really passionate about, with the aim of showing children how science can be applied to everyday life,” said Sara. “Newcastle is a city with a world-class legacy in science and innovation, and the children of today will ensure that this legacy continues. The Newcastle Science City programme is a key element, helping to make this happen.” MichAel White – DesigN EngiNeer Michael studied engineering at Newcastle University and now works for the company that built the Tyne Bridge, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and lifted Wembley Stadium into place. After gaining GCSEs in maths and dual sciences, Michael went onto study A-levels in physics, chemistry and maths with mechanics followed by a masters degree in civil and structural engineering.