ELCO boilers installed at state-of-the-art National Graphene Institute
Three highly efficient R600 gas-fired floor standing boilers from ELCO UK have been installed at the new National Graphene Institute (NGI) at the University of Manchester. The £61 million 7,825m2 building, which was opened in March 2015 by Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, houses state-of-the-art facilities for world-leading research into graphene.
The new institute is part of a wider £90 million government investment in graphene – ensuring the UK gains full benefits of the unique material first isolated at The University of Manchester in 2004.
Project engineers at Balfour Beatty specified the R600 boilers from ELCO UK, with the M&E contractors picking up the award for ‘Building Services Project of the Year’ at the H&V News Awards 2015. The tight footprint of the build was a determining factor in specifying the units, with the R600 range economical on its space requirements. The unit has dimensions ranging from 1105mm to 1735mm long by 670mm or 770mm wide, allowing the boilers to pass through a standard door. And for installations where access is particularly difficult, the boilers can be disassembled for site handling as piece parts.
ELCO UK’s R600 floor standing units will also supply highly efficient heating and hot water services to the facility, thanks to efficiencies of over 91% and a proven water-cooled, down-firing, premix burner system with an all stainless steel heat exchanger assembly. In addition, the boilers will also be extremely environmentally friendly with NOx emissions less than 35mg/kWh (which easily exceeds the requirements for the best BREEAM score).
The stunning, glass-fronted National Graphene Institute (NGI) will be the UK’s home of research into Graphene – the world’s thinnest, strongest and most conductive material – providing the opportunity for researchers and industry to work together on a huge variety of potential applications. Graphene consists of single atoms of carbon arranged in a two dimensional honeycomb structure. It has been called a “wonder material” because of its potential uses.
The Institute will also feature 1,500m2 of clean room space for University of Manchester graphene scientists to collaborate with their colleagues from industry and other UK universities.
Funding for the NGI comprised £38m from the Government, as part of £50m allocated for graphene research, while the University also received £23m2 from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The NGI will operate as a ‘hub and spoke’ model, working with other UK institutions involved in graphene research.
For more information on commercial boilers, hot water generation or renewables, please visit www.elco.co.uk.