At Arup, Annabel works across a breadth of energy projects from hydrogen advisory and concept studies, energy storage, offshore wind foundation design, and end of life asset decommissioning. She is passionate about the environment, aspiring to delivering renewable energy and low carbon technology solutions to shape the global energy transition away from fossil fuels.
Annabel joined Arup in 2022 as a graduate energy engineer after attaining a first-class MEng degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Birmingham. Prior to Arup, Annabel completed a year in industry in an offshore structures design consultancy focusing on jacket and monopile foundations for offshore wind turbines.
Presentation Title: Hydrogen Heating Network
The UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has an ongoing programme of work to explore the potential for distribution of hydrogen in Great Britain (GB) for industrial and/or domestic uses. As part of this programme, DESNZ has commissioned Arup to deliver the assessment of the delivery-related issues for the potential future hydrogen scenarios and gas grid transition options, known as the deliverability assessment. The deliverability assessment focusses on the impacts to supply chain readiness, societal impacts, technology readiness level, natural capital, and planning, for the potential future hydrogen scenarios. Annabel has worked as the lead project engineer and assistant project manager for this scope of work and will be discussing how the deliverability assessment is thought about from a component level through to a GB-wide scale.
Dan earned his PhD in Gas Turbine Aerodynamics from the University of Oxford three years ago, completing research into the flow capacity characteristics of high-pressure turbine blades. Following this, he joined Oxford Flow as a senior CFD (computational fluid dynamics) engineer where he uses a range of simulation tools to optimise the design of their innovative pressure regulators and control valves; explores challenges including cavitation and Sulfur deposition; and helps to deliver valve solutions tailored to specific customer and user requirements.
Presentation Title: Simulating Sulfur Deposition in Gas Transmission Valves
A major issue in gas transmission arises due to the presence of Sulfur compounds (e.g. H2S) which are common contaminants of natural gas. When gas containing these compounds enters a control valve or pressure regulator, the pressure and temperature reduction leads to solid Sulfur particles depositing on the valve surfaces, significantly impacting valve performance. A simple CFD model has been developed to simulate where and to what degree Sulfur particles will be formed in a valve or regulator, providing a new tool for assessing valve suitability for high Sulfur content applications. The model is shown to achieve a good match with real-world evidence of valves exposed to Sulfur deposition in the field, and its use in the process of control valve trim design is demonstrated
Callum joined Saith October 2020 as a mechanical engineering apprentice. He is currently on a 5 year course towards achieving a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. His role at Saith is to provide detailed designs for natural gas pressure regulating installations. For the past 3 years, he has been involved in a range of projects for clients such as SGN, Cadent, National Gas and Gas Networks Ireland.
Presentation Title: Kiltotan – The Design and Supply of Skids to Ireland
Some big things will be happening this year as I have been given a new opportunity to design and supply new skids that will be used to feed a new energy plant in Kiltotan, Ireland.
Nathan joined WWU in August 2019 via the apprentice programme. The programme allowed him to expand his learning through higher education enabling him to apply himself to an innovation project within WWU whilst learning the Engineering skills required for the role.
Presentation Title: Nivaguard
Nathan Isaac Ventilation and AquaGuard is a small solution to a big problem not only specific to WWU but applicable across the entire network. The ventilation cap will not only resolve the issue of water ingress within pipework but also reduce overall costs of replacements and repairs.
Max graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2017 with a master’s degree in Chemistry. Since graduating, Max has worked in hands-on technical roles, developing materials and products for the offshore energy sector. Max joined SGN in 2022 and worked on several projects before becoming a full-time member of the LTS Futures project team in 2023. Max manages the research and development element’s of the project including small-scale and full-scale testing to investigate the effect of hydrogen on materials, components and operational activities.
Presentation Title: LTS Futures: Hydrogen Transmission
Description – To repurpose the local transmission system from natural gas to hydrogen, further understanding of how hydrogen affects current network materials, components and operational activities is required. In this project, the effect of hydrogen on steel properties and pipeline defects has been investigated. First-of-a-kind live welding and under-pressure drilling trials have been carried out on vintage pipeline material taken from the existing transmission network. All research will feed into a blueprint methodology for repurposing natural gas transmission pipelines to hydrogen.
Eason graduated from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology with a BEng in Mechanical Engineering in 2019. He is currently studying MSc in Energy and Environment in City University of Hong Kong and expects to graduate this year with distinction award. Eason joined The Hong Kong and China Gas Co Ltd as a Management Trainee in 2020 and is no an assistant engineer at the gas resources business of the Towngas group. He is responsible for technical support and quality management of some of the most complex gas infrastructure projects being undertaken around China by the company. He also helps develop corporate policy and digital platforms and introduce advanced techniques into the company.
Presentation Title: Beyond Carbon Footprints: Exploring Effective Approaches to Pre-Emission Reduction in New Gas Engineering Projects
The majority of carbon accounting and emission control efforts in the gas industry are currently concentrated on operational stages of existing gas plants. However, emission reduction in new construction projects deserves greater attention. By incorporating carbon reduction considerations and design optimization during the project's early stages, superior reduction outcomes can be achieved at minimal cost and risk. This presentation is to share the experience of implementing the approach of pre-emission reduction during the construction stage of a new gas project in China.
Daniel began his Gas Distribution career in 2011, joining the industry straight from education. Following his first role as a trainee construction engineer for National Grid working on mains replacement Daniel advanced his career into the Network Integrity team at the start of RIIO-GD2 and has developed into an established member of the Engineering team, setting the organisation's engineering framework. Daniel is an Incorporated Engineer with IGEM and is going down the Experiential Learning route to achieve Chartership.
Presentation Title: Building a safer future: Gas safety
Gas Transporters form part of an industry heavily regulated by goal-setting legislation ensuring that assets are installed, operated and maintained accordingly. We in the industry know that a built over service creates an “unsafe situation”, so why does no parallel legislation exist that explicitly prohibits or guides the alteration of the environment these assets operate within? Daniel’s presentation provides evidence to support an addition to Building Regulations requiring “Consultation with the gas undertaker” and amendment of Part J to cover “Gas Safety” as a whole with a functional requirement for “Carrying out works around gas apparatus” to prevent creation of an “unsafe situation”.
Phil graduated from Ulster University with a master’s degree in mechanical engineering. He first got involved with gas when he worked for Calor Gas NI as a placement student, and upon graduation he joined distribution operator Phoenix Natural Gas in Belfast. These days Phil is part of the small team at Mutual Energy looking after the O&M of the Mutual Energy Gas Transmission Assets bringing gas into Northern Ireland.
Presentation Title: Innovation in Practice – First onshore UK application of latest flow stop technology
Engineering challenges often make us think about how best to carry out a job. But when that job involves cutting a section out of Northern Ireland’s main natural gas artery, the team at Mutual energy needed an innovative solution, which presented itself in the form of the BISEP tool. This would be the first time this tool had been used in UK and Ireland onshore gas transmission.
After earning a bachelor's degree in petroleum and gas engineering from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, Temitayo went on to earn a master's degree with distinction from the University of Salford in the same programme in 2023. The socioeconomic effects of the petroleum industry initially shaped Temitayo without much consideration for its environmental effects. However, his relocation to the UK in 2022 and a lecture by Dr. Abubakar Abbas birthed his interest in carbon reduction and clean energy, particularly hydrogen. This encounter sparked a desire to play a significant role in achieving the net-zero goal while satisfying the energy trilemma (sustainable, affordable, and security).
Presentation Title: CFD investigation of hydrogen diffusion in pre-existing natural gas pipeline
Given the strong emphasis on hydrogen as a crucial component of achieving net zero emissions, it is necessary to repurpose existing natural gas infrastructure for hydrogen use. This approach is not only environmentally beneficial but also financially advantageous. However, a significant concern arises in the form of 'Hydrogen entitlement'.
Jeff is involved in product design and quality assurance, investigation, and analysis on underground medium to low pressure gas network. He is also responsible for quality improvement projects for the gas network.
Revolutionizing Gas Pipelines Safety: AI-Driven Strategies for Third-Party Damage Prevention
The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) is propelling the gas industry toward a new era of intelligent planning, monitoring, and operational safety. To safeguard the gas pipelines from third-party damage - a common threat leading to gas leakage, three main AI applications are integrated to locate an accurate and precise underground pipe networks efficiently, enabling heightened vigilance by excavation parties.
