The latest research collaboration between Weir Valves & Controls UK (www.global.weir/businesses/weir-valves-and-controls-uk) and a University of Huddersfield (www.hud.ac.uk) professor has been hailed as ‘outstanding’ by the Government-backed body Innovate UK.

Professor Rakesh Mishra, an expert in fluid dynamics, has formed three Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) (www.ktp.innovateuk.org) that have resulted in significant sales increases and cost savings for the company.

The latest KTP involving the University of Huddersfield and Weir Valves began in October 2014 and concluded in October 2017. Its official remit was “to design, develop and launch a new range of products for multi-phase multi-component flow applications”.

Professor Mishra supervised the research, while postgraduate student Antonio Oliveira worked at the Weir Valves manufacturing and design centre in Elland as the KTP Associate.

The latest fluid dynamics knowledge was used to help the company improve the design accuracy of valves that are heavily used by the oil and gas industry around the world.

Professor Mishra said: “We found through the research that we can have the same performance with a smaller valve, meaning economies of scale and reduced manufacturing costs.

The “astonishing improvement in sizing calculations” — as the company describes it — has contributed to a 640% increase in sales of valves for multi-phase applications.

This was the second successful KTP formed by Professor Mishra and Weir. The first focused on the company’s need to embed complex flow knowledge in its design, operation and sales teams.

A third KTP is now under way. It began in January and will last for three years, with half of the £211,000 investment coming from the company and half from Innovate UK, while the University of Huddersfield contributes its research expertise.

This time, the goal is to develop smart valves embedded with sensors that can estimate the remaining useful life of the product, leading to cost and operational savings for manufacturers and end users.