Leeds trial demonstrates benefits of liquid nitrogen engines

News

According to a recently completed trial backed by Leeds City Council the widespread adoption of liquid nitrogen engines for powering refrigeration units in lorries could reduce air pollution emission across the city by 19 tonnes every year.

Liquid nitrogen engines, developed by technology company Dearman, are designed to power transport refrigeration units (TRUs) used in lorries to keep food and other goods cold whilst it is on the road.

Currently, TRUs are typically powered by diesel engines that are not subject to the same emissions standards as a vehicle's main engine. As a result, these secondary engines can emit up to six times the amount of air pollution.

In contrast, Dearman's innovative liquid nitrogen TRU engines emit no air pollution whatsoever and up to 80 per cent less greenhouse gases than dirty diesel engines.

Based on technology invented by self-taught UK engineer Peter Dearman, the Dearman engine harnesses the rapid expansion of liquid nitrogen to deliver zero-emission power and cooling.

As previously reported, the technology has already been trialled by UK supermarket chain Sainsbury's which, in 2016, became the first company in the world to introduce a refrigerated delivery lorry cooled by a liquid-nitrogen-powered engine.

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