--- title: "Supply and Installation of a Hydrogen Reactor for Processing of Magnetic Scrap (HPMS) Vessel, to the University of Birmingham" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-7d952993-b2dd-4b03-bea0-680825ca5aad" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-7d952993-b2dd-4b03-bea0-680825ca5aad" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-7d952993-b2dd-4b03-bea0-680825ca5aad.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-7d952993-b2dd-4b03-bea0-680825ca5aad.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM" published: "2021-06-30" --- # Supply and Installation of a Hydrogen Reactor for Processing of Magnetic Scrap (HPMS) Vessel, to the University of Birmingham Buyer: THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-b5fd17-7d952993-b2dd-4b03-bea0-680825ca5aad [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-7d952993-b2dd-4b03-bea0-680825ca5aad) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-7d952993-b2dd-4b03-bea0-680825ca5aad.json) ## Summary The University of Birmingham is inviting tenders for the supply and installation of a bespoke hydrogen reactor for processing magnetic scrap, specifically a hydrogen processing of magnet scrap (HPMS) vessel. This significant project falls under the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, and it aims to establish the largest magnet recycling plant in the UK located at the Tyseley Energy Park. The open procurement process is currently in the tender stage, with submissions due by 21st July 2021. The total budget for this project is capped at £610,000, excluding VAT, and it falls under the category of goods, specifically related to hydrogen and other rare gases. This tender presents a substantial opportunity for businesses in the manufacturing and engineering sectors, particularly those specialising in equipment for handling gases, pressure vessels, and magnet recycling technologies. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are particularly encouraged to participate, as they can leverage their expertise in bespoke manufacturing or innovative recycling solutions to compete effectively. Winning this contract could not only lead to direct revenue but also establish long-term relationships with a prestigious educational institution and contribute to advancing sustainable technology in the recycling industry. ## Notice This project is funded by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund; Driving the Electric Revolution under grant agreement 1524086 The University of Birmingham invites tenders for supply of a bespoke, hydrogen processing of magnet scrap (HPMS) vessel. The HPMS vessel will be the largest magnet recycling plant of its kind in the UK and will focus on processing of end of life magnets containing magnetic scrap. The HPMS vessel is based on a patented technology, developed at the University of Birmingham, in which hydrogen is used to extract neodymium-iron-boron (Nd-Fe-B) magnet powder from end of life permanent magnet containing products. During the P a g e | 3 HPMS process, sintered Nd-Fe-B magnets, which are embedded in end of life products, are loaded inside a vessel, which is then sealed, evacuated, back filled with an inert gas (e.g. Argon or Nitrogen), evacuated and then filled with between 1-4 bar of hydrogen at room temperature for between 1-4 hours. Once exposed to hydrogen, the sintered Nd-Fe-B undergoes the hydrogen decrepitation (HD) process and breaks down into a friable, demagnetised, hydrogenated powder. Often the end of life products containing the Nd-Fe-B material are encased within some sort of housing so the hydrogenated powder needs to be liberated from the scrap using mechanical agitation through a porous sieve stage. This is typically performed by rotating the scrap within a porous drum (3-5 mm pore size) within the HPMS vessel, after which the powder falls into a sealable collection pot at the bottom of the vessel, which can then be unloaded under an argon or nitrogen atmosphere (O2 = < 5 ppm). It would be an advantage if the HPMS vessel could be inertly loaded with scrap in this application through a hopper system or that flanges were in place to retro-fit this. The extracted alloy powder will be converted into recycled NdFeB magnets using further processes, which do not form part of this tender. The HPMS process has already been demonstrated at the 5 kg scale using a 300 L vessel at the University of Birmingham. The main objective of the new HPMS vessel will be to scale this technology up to 200-300 kg batch sizes. Note, due to the space requirements of the system, the large scale HPMS vessel will be installed at the Tyseley Energy Park (TEP). The overall budget for this item is up to PS610,000 excluding VAT. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f62f488e-688e-4d73-8139-3c9f6161fc3e | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Goods | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure (above threshold) | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 30 Jun 2021 | | Submission deadline | 21 Jul 2021 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 10 Aug 2021 - 28 Feb 2022 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £610,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM | | Locality | BIRMINGHAM | | Post town | Birmingham | | Postcode | B15 2TT | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLG West Midlands (England) | | ITL 2 | TLG3 West Midlands | | ITL 3 | TLG31 Birmingham | | Local authority | Birmingham | | Electoral ward | Edgbaston | | Westminster constituency | Birmingham Edgbaston | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 24 - Chemical products - 31 - Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting - 44 - Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction (except electric apparatus) ### Codes - 24111000 - Hydrogen, argon, rare gases, nitrogen and oxygen - 31630000 - Magnets - 44615000 - Pressure vessels ## Release History - 30 Jun 2021 at 10:51 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f62f488e-688e-4d73-8139-3c9f6161fc3e - 9 Jun 2021 at 13:56 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f62f488e-688e-4d73-8139-3c9f6161fc3e ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f62f488e-688e-4d73-8139-3c9f6161fc3e 30th June 2021 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. 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