Black Country energy plant is using International Space Station technology to reduce emissions
A Sandwell energy plant is turning to technology trusted in space to help cut emissions and improve efficiency in the Black Country.
Enfinium Kelvin, an energy-from-waste facility just off the M5 near West Bromwich, is now using advanced ultrasonic leak detection sensors more commonly associated with astronauts aboard the International Space Station.
The site is operated by enfinium, one of the UK’s leading energy from waste companies, which has rolled out the technology across all five of its operational plants. The impact is being seen at the Sandwell facility, where the new equipment is supporting efforts to reduce emissions and improve plant performance.
The handheld Ultra Pro Max sensors have been developed by Swiss firm Distran, a global leader in ultrasonic gas leak detection. The device works by detecting ultrasounds created when gases escape through tiny holes, seams or cracks. That acoustic data is overlaid onto a live optical image, allowing engineers to see exactly where a leak is occurring in real time.
The technology can pinpoint leaks of gases such as steam, carbon dioxide, methane and hydrogen, including in flue gas handling systems that are critical to emissions control during the processing of unrecyclable waste. It is also capable of detecting vacuum leaks, where unwanted air is drawn into systems operating under negative pressure. If not addressed, these can force key equipment, such as induced draft fans, to work harder, reducing overall efficiency.
The same technology is used by NASA astronauts on the International Space Station to locate gas leaks and maintain cabin pressure, underlining the precision and reliability of the sensors now in use in Sandwell.
Across enfinium’s five UK sites, around 2.7 million tonnes of unrecyclable waste are processed each year, generating enough electricity to power approximately 600,000 homes. By diverting waste that cannot be recycled away from landfill, energy from waste plants help cut greenhouse gas emissions, as landfill produces significantly higher levels of climate-warming gases.
Adam Nicholson, asset management director at enfinium, said: “Distran sensors, used across all our sites, are an important element of our work to reduce emissions and deliver efficient waste management.
"The technology allows us to quickly and efficiently survey widespread areas to pinpoint precisely where leaks appear in our operations, allowing us to safely and effectively address the issue.
"This ensures reliability, efficiency and continuity of service, delivering on our mission to provide sustainable solutions to the UK’s waste whilst reducing carbon emissions."
