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Trailers show how they keep their cool

The Surf ’n’ Turf project has continued its preparations with further safety tests on the mobile storage units before they start carrying hydrogen. The trailers that will move the gas around each have a built-in cooling system. In an emergency it will help protect the compressed gas cylinders inside from any nearby heat source. One quick hose connection and cold water will be sprayed around the inside of the trailer, limiting any temperature rise. The system goes above and beyond everything required to meet official design standards.

Orkney Marine Services and Community Energy Scotland got together to try the system out and check how it would work either at sea or on dry land. We used a fire hydrant, standard fire hoses, and a gauge to monitor water pressure and flow rate. The result? The system was able to deliver thousands of litres an hour at mains water pressure, which is comparable to that supplied by the pumps carried on local fire engines and fitted on Orkney Ferries vessels. Although we hope never to need this function in an emergency, we think this was a reassuring test.