Full Proposal for a Smiths University Strategic Partnership in Advanced Electrical Power and Actuation Systems
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: Sch of Electrical and Electronic Eng
Abstract
This proposal describes the establishment of a Smiths Aerospace University Technology Strategic Partnership Centre (SA UTSP) at the University of Nottingham in collaboration with the University of Warwick. The partnership involves the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and the School of Mechanical, Manufacturing and Materials Engineering at Nottingham and the School of Engineering - Electrical and Electronic Division at Warwick.The UTSP has a five year plan to research advanced power management, advanced power distribution and drives and advanced actuation in order to further the development of the more electric aircraft for civil, military and UAV applications. Six research streams focus on:o Integrative system modelling and electrical power system architectures,o Technologies and techniques for advanced power switching,o Technologies and strategies for high reliability actuation systems,o Technologies and strategies for enhanced heat transfer in aerospace systems,o Technologies for system integrity implementation / diagnosis and prognosiso Power converter topologies and control for electrical aircraft systems and power management.These core streams are expected to expand and attract other funding as the UTSP becomes established. The project aims, through its core streams, to close the gap between dream and reality in order to make a convincing case for the more electric aircraft. This requires work in two distinct research fields. The first is to find the optimal methods of using existing device capabilities and technologies and to identify any critical need for technology improvement. Determination of the most appropriate power system architecture is an example. The second is to research improved devices, which overcome the known limitations of existing components. Solid-state primary distribution switches and high power to weight ratio actuators are examples here. There are however five basic requirements to fulfil in each case. These are; minimum eventual projected cost, minimum weight, minimum volume, maximum reliability and maximum functionality.
Publications
Huang X
(2012)
A fault tolerant single sided matrix converter for flight control actuation systems
in Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE C
Arellano-Padilla, J.
(2009)
A novel approach to gearbox condition monitoring by using drive rectifier input currents
in Proceedings
Xiaoyan Huang
(2012)
A Single Sided Matrix Converter Drive for a Brushless DC Motor in Aerospace Applications
in IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics
Description | Six research streams focused on: [1]Integrative system modelling and electrical power system architectures, [2]Technologies and techniques for advanced power switching, [3]Technologies and strategies for high reliability actuation systems, [4]Technologies and strategies for enhanced heat transfer in aerospace systems, [5]Technologies for system integrity implementation / diagnosis and prognosis [6]Power converter topologies and control for electrical aircraft systems and power management. The research undertaken has closed the gap between dream and reality in order to make a convincing case for the more electric aircraft. The work has had two facets. The first has been to find the optimal methods of using existing device capabilities and technologies and to identify critical needs for technology improvement. Studies to determination of the most appropriate power system architecture is an example. The second facet has been to research improved devices, which overcome the known limitations of existing components. Solid-state primary distribution switches and high power to weight ratio actuators are examples here. In all cases, the research has been addressing the five basic drivers. These are; minimum eventual projected cost, minimum weight, minimum volume, maximum reliability and maximum functionality. |
Exploitation Route | The findings are being taken forward to higher TRL levels in a number of ways. These include a follow on GE UTSP (100% industry funded) and subsequently UTSP 2020 (100% industry funded) and major EU Aerospace programmes (for example Clean Sky). In all cases the impact is to improve More Electric Aircraft performance with follow-on impacts of reduced environmental impact and lower transport costs. |
Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine |
Description | The project concerned the establishment of a Smiths Aerospace University Technology Strategic Partnership Centre (SA UTSP) at the University of Nottingham in collaboration with the University of Warwick. This later became the GE Aviation strategic partnership (SMAPTPACT_ following acquisition of Smiths by GE. The partnership involves the Faculty of Engineering at Nottingham and the School of Engineering - Electrical and Electronic Division at Warwick. The UTSP has followed a five year plan to research advanced power management, advanced power distribution and drives and advanced actuation in order to further the development of the more electric aircraft (MEA) for civil, military and UAV applications. Six research streams focused on: [1]Integrative system modelling and electrical power system architectures, [2]Technologies and techniques for advanced power switching, [3]Technologies and strategies for high reliability actuation systems, [4]Technologies and strategies for enhanced heat transfer in aerospace systems, [5]Technologies for system integrity implementation / diagnosis and prognosis [6]Power converter topologies and control for electrical aircraft systems and power management. The research undertaken has closed the gap between dream and reality in order to make a convincing case for the more electric aircraft. The work has had two facets. The first has been to find the optimal methods of using existing device capabilities and technologies and to identify critical needs for technology improvement. Studies to determination of the most appropriate power system architecture is an example. The second facet has been to research improved devices, which overcome the known limitations of existing components. Solid-state primary distribution switches and high power to weight ratio actuators are examples here. In all cases, the research has been addressing the five basic drivers. These are; minimum eventual projected cost, minimum weight, minimum volume, maximum reliability and maximum functionality. |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine |
Impact Types | Societal Economic |
Description | EPSRC (Fault ID) |
Amount | £349,458 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/H00419X/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2009 |
End | 09/2012 |
Description | European Commission (EC) (Act 2015) |
Amount | £640,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 284915 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 11/2011 |
End | 11/2014 |
Description | European Commission (EC) - Scarlett |
Amount | £183,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ACP7-GA-2008-211439 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 04/2008 |
End | 04/2012 |
Description | European Economic Community (CS) |
Amount | £2,000,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Clean Sky |
Organisation | European Economic Community |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 12/2010 |
End | 12/2017 |
Description | European Union Framework 6 (MOET) |
Amount | £200,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | FP6-038061 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Department | EC FP6 Collaborative Projects |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 06/2006 |
End | 07/2010 |
Description | GE Aviation (UTSP 2020) |
Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | GE Aviation Systems |
Sector | Private |
Country | United States |
Start | 01/2014 |
End | 12/2014 |
Description | GE Aviation (UTSP) |
Amount | £356,900 (GBP) |
Organisation | GE Aviation Systems |
Sector | Private |
Country | United States |
Start | 06/2007 |
End | 04/2014 |
Description | GE Aviation Mechanical Systems (ELGEAR) |
Amount | £291,200 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ELGEAR |
Organisation | GE Aviation Systems |
Sector | Private |
Country | United States |
Start | 12/2006 |
End | 11/2011 |
Description | Technology Strategy Board (Tulip) |
Amount | £467,823 (GBP) |
Funding ID | H0521B |
Organisation | Innovate UK |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2009 |
End | 01/2012 |