Projects for Michaelmas term 2007
1. Low-cost solution for variable speed motors
Contact: Dr Ehsan Abdi, ea257@cam.ac.uk, CAPE, Cambridge University Engineering Department
Mentor: Adrian Swinburne
More information: www.wind-technologies.co.uk
Wind Technologies were finalists in the 2007 CUE Business Creation Competition, using technologies developed in the Cambridge University Engineering Department since 1999. The research has recently matured, enabling practical and complete designs to be made with confidence, both for power generation techniques (wind turbines) and in the motor industry.
The team, led by Dr. Abdi, has developed a novel Brushless Doubly-Fed Machine (BDFM) to the point of commercial exploitation. The BDFM can be used as a low cost motor or generator. The applications of the BDFM as a generator in the wind turbine industry are well-understood. However, as a form of motor, its market has not yet been widely explored.
The BDFM promises significant cost-savings and size-reductions when compared to conventional variable speed drives. A variable speed drive comprises a motor and a power electronics converter, which is used to control the speed of the motor. In conventional systems, a fully rated converter (i.e. same size as the motor) is used, increasing the size and cost.
The BDFM is also highly reliable and its design means that it will require low levels of maintenance. Suggested applications so far include water pumps, gas compressors and electric vehicles.
The i-Team's challenge will be to investigate and recommend the applications which most benefit from the new motor's key features, as well as to provide feedback on how the BDFM approach compares to existing methods in those cases.
2. Laser-assisted metal spraying
Contact: Matthew Bray, mjb214@cam.ac.uk, Dr. Andrew Cockburn, ac282@cam.ac.uk, Institute for Manufacturing
Mentor: Marc Bax, Panchromos
Working under Professor Bill O'Neill, a team of researchers is investigating a number of different approaches to manufacturing metal items without the use of moulds and molten metal. This is important for the repair of existing metal objects, coating one metal with a metal of different melting point, as well as allowing the use of metal alloys which are difficult to melt. Matthew and Andrew are focused on techniques for spraying metal powder at 1000 ms-1 onto metal surfaces, laying down a dense layer of the new material.
Existing techniques of this kind have proven to be very expensive, and the team's use of lasers aims to improve the cost-effectiveness of the method. Their techniques allow a range of unique approaches, including laying down multiple thin layers of different metals, and the use of metals such as steel and titanium which are easily oxidised by melting. In the future, mixtures of metals and ceramic-metal combinations may also be used as coatings. In addition the technique results in a work-hardened metal coating, giving it different physical characteristics than would be achieved by spraying a molten coating into a mould.
Two main areas have so far been identified for this technique, for the repair of high-value metal components such as gear teeth or turbine blades, and for the surface coating of cheap metal components with a more expensive metal with different properties.
The i-Team's challenge will be to identify and recommend specific applications within these areas which can most benefit from the metal spraying technique, to allow the technique to be developed appropriately for real-world use.
3. Intelligent online textbooks
Contact: Dr. William Billingsley, whb21@cam.ac.uk, CARET
Mentor: Caren Weinberg
Dr. Billingsley has developed the concept of an Intelligent Textbook, which can use existing online resources to assist school and university students and others with learning and examinations. Using an AI engine, the Textbook can offer a range of features and benefits which are not possible using traditional printed textbooks, or existing online information sites such as Wikipedia.
The AI engine can help a student seeking to solve an example problem, by offering them relevant help and advice as they proceed. It also understands the context of a textbook, and has the flexibility to allow user-created content to be added, and relevant references to be drawn from multiple other websites. This allows the Textbook to be a dynamic source of information, which improves over time and can provide the reader with a range of differing approaches to the same subject.
So far, the technique has been tested on Mathematics and Electronics problems, but clearly has far wider applicability.
The challenge for the i-Team is to identify the full range of applications for this technology, both within the educational sector and outside it, as well as recommending the areas where Intelligent Textbooks can bring most value to their users. Their findings will also help direct the next set of features that are implemented in the product, based on the needs of real future users.