CageCapture™ SF6 Flange Guard

Completed

Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution)

Applied Research and Development

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution plc (SHEPD)

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 September 2022

30 September 2024

ENA months

£439,611

Power

Scotland

Network Innovation Allowance

Project Contact, Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution plc (SHEPD)

Project Contact, Northern Powergrid (Northeast) Limited
Project Contact, South Eastern Power Networks plc
Project Contact, Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire) plc
Project Contact, UKPN London Power Networks plc
Project Contact, Eastern Power Networks plc

Project Contact, Scottish and Southern Energy plc
Project Contact, Northern Powergrid
Project Contact, UK Power Networks

CageCapture™ Ltd. are experts in porous materials, commercialising a technology platform built at the Materials Innovation Factory, Liverpool. They have developed a nano-porous technology that exhibits the highest reported SF6 absorption at room temperature and atmospheric pressure which is critical to tackling emissions in the environment they occur – from predominantly outdoor infrastructure of the ET and distribution networks. The patented material, named CageCapture™ SF6, is claimed to have a 36% absorption capacity by weight which is hundreds of times more than traditional absorbents. It is solution-processible meaning it can be applied onto a variety of substrates. These properties make CageCapture™ SF6 flange guards a viable tool for tackling SF6 emissions.The proposed application of the technology is flange guards to capture SF6 leaking from flanges. The application will provide an easy-to-deploy solution for SF6 capture and reduce total emissions. Further, SF6 can be recovered from CageCapture™ SF6 and recycled through pressure or temperature desorption reducing through-life costs and minimising future production of this environmentally damaging gas.The intellectual property is protected under patent and owned by the University of Liverpool with no encumbrances and has been licensed to CageCapture™ on an exclusive basis. Stage 1 We will develop prototype flange guard for SF6 capture and recovery developed and tested in relevant lab environment.Stage 2 We will install up to 9 prototype flange guards for SF6 capture and recovery tested in real world environments (up to 3 locations, preferably in different environments i.e. near the coast, city, etc).As detailed in section 3.2 the project has the potential to deliver up to £4m in financial benefits to GB distribution customers based on capture of leaked SF6 gas. ObjectivesMeasureStage 1Produce CageCapture™ absorptionProduce the CageCapture™ absorption at scale and carry out analytical tests of the material produced.Proof of concept SF6 recoveryAnalytical tests of recovered SF6 will be undertaken to demonstrate the success of the CageCapture™ device.Assembled prototypesUp to 40 prototype devices will be produced in the laboratory environment.Stage 2Deploy prototype for testingSuccessful installation and real world testing of up to 9 CageCapture™ devices.

CageCapture™ Capture solution will improve the speed of response to reduce sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) emissions by enabling early capture of SF6 leakage from assets. The project will deliver a leak capture solution that can be applied to switchgear pipework and flanges for the capture of SF6 leaks. Stage 1 will validate the proof of concept in a suitable test environment; Stage 2 will evaluate application of the product to switchgear on the distribution networks.

14/10/22