Dearman opens liquid air research centre

UK: Minister of State for Universities and Science, Jo Johnson, has officially opened the Dearman Clean Cold and Power Technology Centre in Croydon.

The new facility will be home to Dearman’s extensive research and development activities, which are focused on the delivery of a range of zero-emission refrigeration and power technologies. 

The work revolves around the Dearman engine, a novel piston engine that is powered by the expansion of liquid air, and its application in a range of technologies including transportation, the built environment and logistics.

The Minister and senior Dearman executives were joined by representatives of industry and academia, for a tour of the new facility which includes: state-of-the-art engine test facilities; engine build and component machining facilities: and space for Dearman’s growing number of engineers, designers and analysts. The facility in Croydon, Greater London, also features all of the cryogenic infrastructure needed to run a series of liquid air refrigeration and power systems.

Discussing the visit, Jo Johnson, said: “From an invention designed and built in the lab to this impressive technology centre, Dearman is one of the great success stories that gives the UK its reputation for driving innovation.”

In response, Toby Peters, Dearman’s chief executive, commenting on the progress that had been made said: “Just over three years ago Dearman and clean cold were nothing more than ideas. Today we are a company of more than 50 hugely talented people, we have our own bespoke facility, we have made huge strides in developing our technology and our first application will begin real-world deployment soon. With the rapidly increasing global demand for cold and cooling of all types, especially in the rapidly emerging and developing economies, our vision is to create and supply revolutionary clean cold and power systems that deliver strong environmental benefits and are equally commercially attractive.”

The first application of Dearman technology is a zero-emission transport refrigeration system, which will begin commercial field trials later this year, before extensive international trials begin in 2016. Subsequent Dearman applications will include a clean power and cooling system for buildings, an auxiliary power unit for buses and HGVs, and a liquid air heat hybrid system for trucks and buses. 

Dearman is also developing its world leading expertise, which it claims will enable it to advise organisations on the application of integrated cold and power technologies, helping them to reduce emissions and save money.

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