Trident Park Cardiff Heat Off-take

Trident Park Cardiff Heat Off-take

When Cardiff City Council was looking to deliver on the plan for a low carbon heat network in the city, they teamed up with recycling and waste management company, Viridor, to create the Cardiff District Heating Network. Viridor engaged us as the principal designer on the Trident Park Cardiff heat off-take project, which will supply up to 15 megawatts (MW) of heat to the new network.

Trident Park Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) has been operational since 2014, treating around 425,000 tonnes of residual waste per year. As the plant was originally configured just for electrical export, it needed modification to provide the planned 15 MW of heat.

Our role included responsibility for the process, mechanical and electrical designs, positioning the new heat exchanger, routing steam pipework to and from the turbine, and connecting to the external Cardiff City heat network. At the start of the design process, we managed a digital survey of the existing turbine and plant rooms, processing the data to provide the basis for a 3D model.

During detailed design, our technical teams ran hazard and operability studies, performed pipe stress analysis, developed the 3D model and drafted detailed piping isometrics. We also assisted the client by providing technical reviews during procurement of major plant components including the heat exchanger, pumps, valves and large bore pipework. During construction, we continued in our role as construction design management principal designer, and during commissioning provided full-time electrical, and process engineering presence to assist with getting the plant operational.

Upon completion of this project, Cardiff will have a reliable, lower carbon heat network.