Our People
Alan Carruthers
BEng (Hons) CEng MIMechE
Expertise
- Mechanical Engineering
- Personal Injuries
- Serious and fatal injuries
- Process Plant and Machinery Performance
- Incineration
- Power Station Contractual Disputes
- CHP and cogeneration plant
Experience
Mr. Carruthers has considerable experience in the mechanical, process and power industries covering engineering of incinerators, boilers, CHP, chimneys and production processes.
He has had extensive experience of personal, serious/fatal injury and contractual claims. He has been appointed as an expert, prepared reports on personal injury and other claims and given evidence in court.
He has received training in report writing and courtroom skills from Bond Solon.
Personal Data
- Position: Senior Engineer
- Year of Birth: 1965
- Languages: English
Professional Qualifications and Registrations
- BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering University of Strathclyde
- Chartered Engineer
- Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers
- Expert Witness report writing and courtroom skills by Bond Solon
Selection of Experience:
Forensic Cases
Strachan and Henshaw -v- Stein Industrie. Little Barford and Barking Reach Combined Cycle Power Stations Contractual Disputes. Engineering and quantum analysis of the method sequence of erection of heat recovery steam generators in advance of Arbitration. Particular responsibility for NDT and Heat Treatment issues. Also advice on contractual entitlements in connection with critical delays and cost.
Polyester Plant, Pakistan. Assisted in preparing reports on engineering and contractual arguments to support Client's claims with regard to breaches of contract.
Public Inquiries on Incinerator Developments. Assistance with preparation of expert witness material for presentation at four public inquiries.
Finland. Investigation of events that may have delayed and disrupted the design and construction of a nuclear power plant. Preparation of evidence for ICC Arbitration in Paris.
Power Station, Australia. Investigation concerning various issues of malperformance.
Estonia. Part of a team investigating damage to a 215MW steam turbine following refurbishment works. Issues included turbine vibration, gland steam and lube oil systems
UK. (Alstom and Ineos) Part of a team investigating a number of issues concerning the design and reliability of three 110 tonne/hr steam boilers. It was claimed that the furnace/burner configuration and superheater design were wrong and that remedial works resulted in a boiler design that was not proven. In addition there were issues concerning whether reliability runs had been completed in compliance with the Contract.
Abnormal Load, Liverpool. Investigation of slippage of container mounted generator from hydraulically powered heavy lift trailer.
Product Safety, United Kingdom and France. Investigation of fatal and serious accidents involving a mechanical component. This included a recall of equipment throughout Europe, design and distribution of replacement equipment.
Fires and Explosions, UK. Investigation into various fires and explosion, some which have been fatal.
Personal Injury Cases, UK. Investigation into numerous personal injury cases including slips, trips, falls from height, construction vehicles, lifting equipment, maintenance of machinery, carbon monoxide poisoning and burns.
Projects
1MWe CHP installation at Western General Hospital, Edinburgh. Design and site supervision of multi-contract installation, nominated for an award in the Energy Efficient Products and Services category in the National Energy Efficiency Awards 2006.
Replacement Steam boilers at Western General Hospital, Edinburgh. Design, specification and site supervision of installation including asbestos removal.
New Ward and Theatre Block, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh. Engineer's Representative for £2.5m plant installation covering HVAC, heating, electrical distribution and emergency generators.
Borders Health Board, Scotland. Feasibility study, specification tender documentation and project management of new centralised clinical waste incinerator including waste heat boiler and flue gas cleaning equipment. Continued involvement producing reports and assessments in connection with the Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations.
Monklands and District General Hospital, Lanarkshire. Full design, tender and project management of the installation of two dual fuel steam and two dual fuel hot water boilers, oil tanks and gas main. The Project won the Engineering Technology Board's Award for "Boiler Plant Replacement Project with Associated Energy and Environmental Benefits" in 2005.
Hospital Site, UK. Outline business case prepared for a 4.5MWe gas turbine based CHP installation on one of Europe's largest hospital sites.
Heat Pump Installation, Fife. Investigation of performance of existing installation and advice on technical solutions and funding for second phase.
Studies
MDIS. Collected data and authored market reports on the energy sector for commercial publishers.
Energy Surveys. Carried out energy surveys at commercial and industrial premises.
Employment Record
- 2001 to date: Cadogans. Senior Engineer involved in boiler replacements, CHP feasibility studies and installations, heating, ventilation and emergency generation provision in a new hospital wing and various expert witness cases ranging from complex power station disputes to small personal injury claims.
- 1990 to 2001: Cadogans. Engineer working on a wide range of energy and mechanical related projects.
- 1987 to 1990: Cadogans. Assistant Engineer on energy surveys, CHP feasibility study, clinical waste installations and building services engineering projects.
- 1983 to 1986: MacTaggart Scott & Co. Ltd. Undergraduate work experience with manufacturers of hydraulic equipment for marine industry.
Court Appearances
- Ayr Sherriff Court – Pipework Leak
- Paisley Sherriff Court – Personal Injury
Publications
- McCullough, J. and Carruthers, A., Alternative Technologies for Clinical Waste Destruction, Local Authority Waste & Environment, November 1994.
- Carruthers, A., Borders Health Board Selects Incineration Plant Option, Local Authority Waste & Environment, October 1995.
- Power Generation in Asia, MDIS Publications, 1996 (600 pages, jointly with others).
- Trends in high efficiency Power Generation in Europe. MDIS Publications 1997 (600 pages, jointly with others).
- Power Generation in Central and South America, Espicom Business Intelligence 1999 (400 pages, jointly with others).
- Carruthers, A. and Currie, A., Latin and South America - Rapidly Changing Electricity Markets, Energy 2000, International Energy Agency.