Integrated design of a noiseless air propulsion motor and power system

The research will mainly focus on designing a motor that will be for a low power air movement application. Motors used for a low power applications tend to have low efficiency, large mass and be acoustically challenged. The aim of this project to research and propose a design that could improve those areas. This will involve looking at the various motor topologies, observing the effect of each parameter, determining the appropriate materials to control cost and efficiency and designing an optimal machine using them. In addition, the motor is designed to be integrated to the proposed drive system.

Possible areas for future work such as:
1) Design a low power, noise and high speed innovative motor of a small size.
2) Identify the best topologies for efficiency and power density that are coupled with low emitted noise and vibration.
3) Identification of novel materials for low loss in small motor applications as well as cost effective ways to manufacture them.
4) A novel design of cooling system to deliver high levels of power density without an increase in heat or excess loss.
5) Couple a design to an innovative control system to reduce the levels of emitted noise of the motor.

This CDT will produce power electronics specialists with industrial experience, and will equip them with key skills that are essential to meet the future power electronics challenges. They will be highly employable due to their training being embedded in industrial challenges with the potential to become future leaders through parallel entrepreneurial and business acumen training. As such, they will drive the UK forward in electric propulsion development and manufacturing. They will become ambassadors for cross-disciplinary thinking in electric propulsion and mentors to their colleagues. With its strong industrial partnership, this CDT is ideally placed to produce high impact research papers, patents and spin-outs, with support from the University's dedicated business development teams. All of this will contribute to the 10% year upon year growth of the power electronics sector in the UK, creating more jobs and added value to the UK economy.

Alongside the clear benefits to the economy this CDT will sustain and enhance the UK as a hub of expertise in this rapidly increasing area. UK R&D is set to shift dramatically to electrical technologies due to, amongst other reasons, the target to ban petrol/ diesel propulsion by 2040. Whilst the increase in R&D is welcome this target will be unsustainable without the right people to support the development of alternative technologies. This CDT will directly answer this skills shortage enabling the UK to not only meet these targets but lead the way internationally in the propulsion revolution.

Industry and policy stakeholders will benefit through-
a) Providing challenges for the students to work through

b) Knowledge exchange with the students and the academics

c) New lines of investigation/ revenue/ process improvement

d) Two way access to skills/ equipment and training

e) A skilled, challenge focused workforce


Society will benefit through-
a) Propulsion systems that are more efficient and require therefore less energy reducing cost of travel

b) Engineers with new skillsets working more cost-effective and more productive

c) Skilled workforce who are mindful considering the environmental and ethical impact

d) Graduates that understand equality, diversity and inclusion


Environment will benefit through-
a) Emission free cars powered by clean renewable energy increasing air quality and reducing global warming

b) Highly efficient planes reducing the amount of oil and therefore oil explorations in ecological sensitive areas such as the arctic can be slowed down, allowing sufficient time for the development of new alternative environmental friendly fuels.

c) Significant noise reduction leading to quiet cities and airports