SWG3 is one of Scotland's finest examples of a multicultural space that includes art, design, music, fashion, food, shopping, and nightlife. It regularly receives visitors from all walks of life. SWG3 also holds a not-so-secret hidden underground, and that's what we're here to discuss.
BODYHEAT
The BODYHEAT system is a first-of-its-kind project to capture heat emissions from SWG's audiences. It can be called on to heat the venue whenever required. After three years of planning, construction and consultation, the system was switched on in October 2022 and has interacted with its visitors ever since.
The system consists of 12 boreholes in a U-shape configuration drilled to a depth of 200m. Waste heat is transported to the boreholes using a carefully selected carrier fluid in a closed-loop network of pipes extending from the plant room to the boreholes in the ground.
The heat captured and stored in the boreholes can be recalled and returned to the plant room days or seasons later by reversing the cycle and transporting the carrier fluid from the boreholes to the heat pumps in the plant room. The heat pumps upgrade this heat (i.e., the body heat captured from audiences in storage) to a suitable temperature that is used to heat the different event spaces within SWG3 as required.
SWG3 currently consists of three separate spaces that take advantage of the system: the 1250-person capacity events space, a 1000-person capacity events space, and the main large foyer. They plan to expand where body heat can be captured and delivered as net-zero heat.
One of their heat pumps can provide simultaneous heating and cooling, meaning that body heat can be captured from one of the event spaces (providing cooling) and instantly delivered to the foyer. A great example of this would be cooling being provided to an event space while an event is on while delivering the heat to the foyer, therefore maintaining a balanced temperature throughout the different areas of the venue.
You can learn more about SWG3 and BODYHEAT here: https://swg3.tv/explore/news/pioneering-bodyheat-system-switches-on/
PLEASE NOTE: No body odour, sweat, or other bodily fluids are otherwise transferred, stored, or re-used—it is simply the heat that is extracted from the air, transported via the carrier fluid, and delivered back into the air or through the underfloor heating pipes.
PLEASE NOTE: The system does not generate electricity. It uses a small amount of electricity to run the circulating pumps and heat pumps, but far less than would be used if heating was provided directly with electricity due to the efficiency benefit of using and storing waste heat from dancers.
