Please check also the Past Events section of our Young Members' Panel
19th January 2010
This was a fascinating insight into the complex world of subsea pipe and cable trenching, very little of which has previously been publicly aired. It is also a very British story! Two Chartered Engineers, Tim Ley from Land and Marine in Bromborough and Colin Gibson (now retired from Land & Marine) with over 50 years' joint experience in the business demonstrated how engineers, several from Newcastle University Agricultural Engineering Department, various consultants and British subsea engineering companies particularly RJBA, Land and Marine, SMD, IHC Engineering Business and CTC Marine, had transformed the methods for pipeline and cable burial from rudimentary dragline and jetting methods in the 1950s and 60s to today's highly sophisticated and productive seabed ploughs. It also highlighted the expertise that now lies in the North East of England and which now boasts a cluster of world leading designers and designs of this submarine equipment. It was explained that these skills will be vital for the UK in the near future as we connect renewable energy generated offshore into the grid.
Back to top
09th December 2009
It was a great pleasure to present this year's Young Person of the Year 2009 award to Mr. Hisham A. Fyyaz during yesterday's DieselMax lecture. This award was presented to him for his outstanding contributions to raising the profile of the profession.
After leaving the University of Liverpool in October 2008, Hisham began volunteering in the institution's activities and joined the Greater Manchester Young Member Panel (GMYMP) and helped promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Within GMYMP, he primarily helped in Event Organisations, amongst others engaging 12 to 13 years olds in inner city schools to discuss the future of the planet and possibility to improve the world through engineering.
Currently, he is supporting the GMYMP publicity team to explore new ideas for publicising events, involving the local press, further education colleges, and local businesses. Hisham contributed case studies to the Engerneration websites, specifically focussing on equipment design and manufacturing.
He has now recently been elected Chairman of the GMYMP.
As a Gold Ambassador, he actively improved his skills in further development activities. he was organising events to promote Engineering as a Career Choice for school children, presenting engineering innovations and interactive activities. Hisham is online mentor for school children through the STEM network for Year 12 pupils.
Currently he is working towards achieving CEng status whilst preparing a work portfolio to meet eligibility criteria for MBA programmes.
All his progress and achievements are followed closely by his Hisham's mentor Ivor Collins, who is proving direction on both, personal and career levels: "[Ivor] has been an inspiration and I look forward to his continuing support on achieving my goals"
This Young Person of the Year 2009 is well deserved and we are looking forward to his next achievements. We wish him all the best in his future personal and professional development.
Back to top
20th October 2009
The October Committee meeting was held at International Power Mitsui's Deeside Power Station hosted by the Station Manager Mike Maudsley. Prior to the meeting Mike offered the group an opportunity of a site tour and presentation of the 500MW Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) Power Station. 
The presentation covered details and operation of the main plant areas such as the Gas Turbines, Steam Turbine, Heat Recovery Steam Generators, Cooling Towers and the Transformers. Mike also gave an insight into the complexity of a Station Managers role and the overall business operation and responsibilities. The group found the visit extremely informative and interesting and Mike has offered the opportunity of a future visitor for members which could also be tailored to expand on the commercial trading in the Gas and Electricity market. If any member would like more information about Deeside Power Station please visit - Power Station website and also the International Power corporate website.
Back to top
06th November 2009
This event was arranged by the Centre for Solar Energy Research (CSER) and included a seminar with key speakers, followed by an opportunity to tour the laboratory.
There were over 100 attendees mainly from the PV related industries and academia to what turned out to be an excellent seminar on a subject which is an essential building block within a future sustainable low carbon energy strategy.
The CSER facility is a new Centre of Expertise within Technium and has been formed in association with Glyndwr University. As part of the Low Carbon Research Institute and the Welsh Research Centre they have a proven expertise and world class reputation in developing Photovoltaic devices. OpTIC Technium’s facility in St Asaph has an impressive front wall completely covered in solar panels and has generated over 33000 kWh since May 2009.
Due to a lack of a significant home market, almost all PV products manufactured in the UK are exported. The UK has been slow in adopting PV technology compared to Spain and Germany who currently have the greatest market share. Significantly, Germany is no better suited in terms of sunlight than the UK, disproving the often quoted perception regarding the UK climate not being favourable to PV.
UK has been slow to introduce Feed in tariffs which allow PV power to be sold back to the Grid. These tariffs have already been put into place in Europe and are planned to be introduced in the UK by April 2010.
PV is struggling to compete with conventional power sources at present but the development of new technology including thin film and dye sensitised cells are bringing their costs down significantly. Work at CSER is focused on the production of these cells which involves depositing extremely thin absorber layers on compound semiconductors. The development of a production in line process to produce these materials is currently taking place. These products work well under diffuse light and may particularly good for the UK.
There is a potential for 10% of electricity generated in Wales to be from PV by 2025, representing approximately 3GW installed capacity. Support supply chain requirements for materials, electronics and installation could create an estimated 12000 jobs.
As an installer of Solar panels, Dulas Solar gave an interesting insight into the more practical aspects of fitting solar panels. It appears that a ‘gravy train’ is already developing requiring manufacturers and installers to be submitted to lengthy and somewhat costly assessments under the Microgeneration Construction Scheme (MCS). The cost can be up to £8000 and is a 3 month process with a further annual inspection and fee of £1600. MCS approval is essential to gain access to grants and the Feed in Tariff.
Only a few bodies are able to carry out the assessment and there is a waiting list. There are only 111 approved installers in the UK, with 7 in Wales. Dulas provided some impressive slides of completed installations, including a new council building in Shrewsbury.
A worrying aspect of the worldwide interest in solar energy is that large players are now moving into the market and the technology could move from Wales. It is important to retain the intellectual aspects of the technology even if production in low cost countries is necessary to make this a competitive sustainable energy source. HMG must be prepared to provide the necessary support and it is important to raise the profile and awareness of the work being carried out in St Asaph.
Back to top
07th October 2009
Sustainable Energy - a subject that should grab everybody's attention! So it comes to no surprise that the IMechE is heavily involved in promoting its own views on the assessment of the engineering challenges involved. Dr. Alison Cooke is leader of the IMechE team that presented the UK Energy Plan at a international conference in Copenhagen in September. She presented this plan and approaches from engineers from other countries to us at a joint lecture with the Institute of Physics and the Institution of Gas Engineers & Managers at the historical site of the Daresbury Laboratory .
More than 150 people attended her presentation and learned about the energy consuming habits in the UK today and the changes necessary to replace the fossil energy provides with renewable and sustainable sources between now and 2050. It was quite a shock to learn that it will be very difficult to avoid a rise in the global temperature of more than 2 °C. The most important steps are change of habit and increase of efficiency of the existing energy consumers. She further debated that the transport system must reply much more on electric vehicles and not combustion engines. Great advances can be made by solar energy sources, photovoltaic and solar power. However, the largest future sustainable energy provider in the UK will be wind farms and to a degree nuclear energy. Alternative sources such as hydrogen generators will only play a minor role.
Her summary was very interesting and gave though-provoking impulses on how each individual needs to make changes as well as how the energy problem must be tackled on a national and international level!
Back to top
17th September 2009
Engineers were introduced at Refgas to the most efficient advanced gasification plan in the world. They were intrigued by the presentation given by Chairman George Willacy.
Waste is a mountainous problem, and here is a processing plant that has no chimney, no smoke or CO2 release and the carbon ash can be returned to the soil. These green power generation works can, being in modules, be easily installed where needed, i. e., hospitals, universities, business parks, housing developments, etc. Prepared biomass is fed into a sealed gasifier vessel and cooked under a controlled oxygen atmosphere. The high 1000 ºC temperature gasifies the fuel to produce syngas. A further gas clean-up system ensures the syngas is suitable to feed directly to a gas engine to provide electricity and heat (CHP). The CHP produced is highly efficient - up to 80 % compared to 30 % - 40 % which is typical of standard power stations.
Refgas UK has completed a £ 2 million contract to design, supply and commission a 4 MW plant for the University of East Anglia and are in discussion with Coruscolors, Shotton, on the re-installation of a 2 MW plant. Refgas is also dealing with enquiries from Sweden and South America.
The lecture from the Refgas Chairman and his Managing Director proved extremely interesting and was followed by a two-way discussion ( http://www.refgas-uk.com/). During the visit, IMechE member Ian Binning presente a Certificate of Appreciation to Refgas Chairman, George Willacy.
Back to top
Presentation date : 28th August 2009 - Recipient Paul Burke
On 28 August 2009, Waterside celebrated the success of 13 apprentices completing their 3 year Glass Manufacturing and 4 year Refractory and Engineering Apprenticeships, where the apprentices were presented with their certificates and congratulations from David Barratt, Business Development Manager of the IMechE North West Region.
During the proceedings Ron Faulkner Professional Development Consultant for IMechE made a special award to Paul Burke as the “Most Improved Apprentice” over the duration of the apprenticeship. The award is given annually by the Merseyside and North Wales Region of the IMechE to the apprentice from local education/training establishments, who has demonstrated significant improvements during his apprentice period.
Back to top
Presented by Ray Newel on 12th May 2009
Approximately 25 members including some Morris Minor enthusiasts attended a talk given by Ray Newell, secretary of the UK Morris Minor club. Whilst the talk was essentially about the iconic car produced from the late 1940’s until 1972, it also centred on the man responsible. Alec Issoginis was a prolific engineer in the post war UK motor industry. Not only was he responsible for the Morris Minor but also the other classic, The Mini. Ray described how Issogonis produced his prolific design sketches, how he interacted with his team and his company and how his success was recognised in 1969 when he was knighted for services to the British Motor Industry.
The evening was a great insight into how this engineer saw the designs of both these classic cars from first design, from resolution of production problems through to the world wide sales success of both models. Ray Newell has carried out much research on the subject and written many books. His excellent talk reflected this and was much appreciated by the members.
Back to top
