Study Groups with Industry are an established method for exploiting mathematics in business by exploring new horizons, getting fast effective access to problem solvers and starting long term academic-industrial collaborations.

The Study Group is an excellent example of a challenge-led innovation mechanism.

Study Groups with Industry provide a forum for industrialists to work alongside established academic mathematicians, postdoctoral researchers and postgraduate students on problems of direct relevance to business. They have forged links that have led to many long-term collaborations. Study Groups with Industry are an internationally recognised highlight of UK applied mathematics. They have been held annually in the UK over 40 years, and are now part of a European series and a wider International programme. The success of Study Groups derives from their unique format - drawing upon the ability to explore and compare different modelling approaches efficiently, and to select and develop the most promising ones. Each Study Group lasts for one week and typically hosts 6 - 8 problems brought from industry, which are addressed by around 80 mathematicians. Recent company participants include Airbus, BAE Systems, British Energy, BT, Dstl, E.ON, Jaguar, Motorola, National Grid, Schlumberger, Unilever and VR Technology and also a range of SMEs including EPRasheed, Reliable Data Systems and SmartReamer.

A social network was designed to allow contributions on each of the problems tackled in Southampton by both participants of the Study Group and by those who could not attend. Contributions on topics of more general interest to the Study Group community were also encouraged. The number of people registered on the Study Group social network was approximately double the number of participants.

The social network site contains problem descriptions, discussion areas and the presentations made on the final day of the Study Group.

EPSRC have made an unprecedented commitment to support Study Groups for five years, 2008-2012. The next Study Group will take place at the University of Warwick from 12th to 16th April 2010. To explore the possibilities, contact Dr David Allwright.

"The Study Group has helped National Grid to understand the physical interactions that govern the amount of heating required to prevent gasholders from freezing in cold weather. The Study Group gave National Grid a low cost opportunity to investigate possible ways of deploying new technology to achieve significant savings." - Bridget Hartley, National Grid

Freeze-protection in gasholders

National Grid provides energy to millions of customers across Great Britain in an efficient, reliable and safe manner and is committed to safeguarding the environment for future generations. They achieve this through ongoing investment in its networks.

One option to balance daily fluctuations in the demand for natural gas is to use low pressure water-sealed gasholders. These are cylindrical structures with a water tank beneath. The cylindrical shell is made up of one or more telescopic tiers called lifts that are coupled together by cup and grip seals, containing water to seal the gas in the structure. In cold winters the water in the cups may freeze, and anti-freeze systems are fitted to prevent this.

At present freeze protection is achieved by external heating of the seal water which is in the cup. Electrical heating and circulating heated tank water to the cup are examples of systems presently used. The 2008 Study Group with Industry helped National Grid to investigate quantitatively the effects of alternative methods of freeze-protection. The Study Group showed that the need for an external heating source could not be easily eliminated which helped National Grid to direct their research away from the possibilities of completely removing the heat source.