Dyson Future Power Systems Lab
Lead Research Organisation:
Newcastle University
Department Name: Sch of Engineering
Abstract
With an ever growing need to become carbon neutral as a society, and increasing concern about the harm of disposable products and the pollution they cause, the time is right to strive to change the domestic market for electrical consumer goods and deliver solutions that are more environmentally friendly and consume less energy. Dyson is well-placed to effect change in this industry with its experience in delivering efficient, lightweight power systems in collaboration with Newcastle University. Through optimisation and innovation of the power systems at their heart, Dyson has shown in recent years how vacuum cleaners and hairdryers can be made smaller, lighter and more efficient, reducing their material and energy usage. Newcastle University have been a key partner in the development of these systems and some of the key technologies that enable them; both in terms of academic contribution and in educating a significant portion of the Motor and Power Systems engineers in Dyson's Research department.
Traditionally, concepts such as efficiency, sustainability, and end of life impact have not been of major concern in smaller domestic appliances, where cost was the prime concern and the power system for the product was a bought-in component. However, with 1/3 of all UK electricity consumption being attributable to domestic use and an estimated 1 billion domestic appliances in the UK alone, both the efficiency and sustainability of these appliances need urgent reflection and improvement to help drive the UK and the world towards long-term sustainability goals. In particular, the environmental impact of domestic appliances is dominated by through-life electrical power consumption, which averages an annual 36TWh in the UK, thus even a modest 5% improvement in energy conversion efficiency (which we believe is achievable through improvements in motor efficiency alone) would represent a significant saving in grid generation requirement.
We will achieve our goal of improving the energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact of domestic products through a whole-systems-level integrated approach in which all subcomponents of the power system are considered, designed and optimised simultaneously. Additionally the typical modes of operation of the end appliances will be incorporated into the design procedure to maximise performance and efficiency gains at the most common (and therefore most important) operating points.
Traditionally, concepts such as efficiency, sustainability, and end of life impact have not been of major concern in smaller domestic appliances, where cost was the prime concern and the power system for the product was a bought-in component. However, with 1/3 of all UK electricity consumption being attributable to domestic use and an estimated 1 billion domestic appliances in the UK alone, both the efficiency and sustainability of these appliances need urgent reflection and improvement to help drive the UK and the world towards long-term sustainability goals. In particular, the environmental impact of domestic appliances is dominated by through-life electrical power consumption, which averages an annual 36TWh in the UK, thus even a modest 5% improvement in energy conversion efficiency (which we believe is achievable through improvements in motor efficiency alone) would represent a significant saving in grid generation requirement.
We will achieve our goal of improving the energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact of domestic products through a whole-systems-level integrated approach in which all subcomponents of the power system are considered, designed and optimised simultaneously. Additionally the typical modes of operation of the end appliances will be incorporated into the design procedure to maximise performance and efficiency gains at the most common (and therefore most important) operating points.
Planned Impact
The proposed Dyson Future Power Systems Laboratory aims to ensure the UK maintains a world leading position in electrical consumer goods, producing systems which are more efficient, smaller, lighter, lower cost and more environmentally sustainable than other existing and emerging solutions, thus providing long-term strategic value to the UK consumer goods industry.
The project makes a major contribution to three of the EPSRC Prosperity Outcomes:
Productive Nation
Healthy Nation
Resilient Nation
Impact upon Business will centre on:
driving the development of the market for more efficient electrical goods; contributing to a resilient nation by ensuring energy security and efficiency and sustainable management of resources.
overcoming significant technical challenges and generating intellectual property, which will be utilised by Dyson within their future products, maintaining the UK in general, and Dyson specifically, as the world market leader in the next generation of electrical consumer goods.
The impact to the UK as a whole will focus on:
Building links with the EPSRC Manufacturing hub on electrical machines, of which the academic investigators are also part of. The outputs of this project will feed into and the team will collaborate with these activities, with active participation in events organised.
The fundamental research on system efficiency and sustainability will have a major influence over other sectors, including:
o The aerospace sector, where there is intense interest in hybrid and all electric propulsion systems, along with the marine and rail sectors. We will engage through our overlapping links with the governments Aerospace Technology Institute
o The electric vehicle industry, where the academic investigators head the APC spoke on Electrical Machines.
o The industrial drives and process control industry. We will actively engage through the IET Professional Network on Power Electronics, Machines and Drives and through our existing links
Developing a fruitful collaboration in the North East of the UK; producing a resilient nation by enriching local communities and business and engaging with the 'Driving the Electric Revolution" initiative.
Aiding transformation of the UK to a sustainable society with a more efficient use of energy and materials.
Contributing to a Healthy Nation by supporting national efforts to hit climate change and clean air targets.
Outreach activities into schools, leading initiatives such as Greenpower and via participation in the APC.
Creating advantages to the consumer, through lighter, more efficient and higher performance products all achieved in a more cost effective manner.
Significant environmental advantages, contributing to a resilient nation by: managing resources more efficiently and sustainably; reducing emissions, contributing to carbon neutral targets much earlier than expected; reducing usage of rare earth metals via innovation in manufacture and improving recyclability
The Partners already have a strong track record in skills growth, with over twenty of Newcastle's most promising graduate electrical engineers now hold staff positions in Dyson, from Director down through senior managers to senior design and research engineers. UK wide skills will be Impacted by:
Giving Dyson staff the opportunity to spend time seconded to the project.
Encouraging all relevant Dyson staff to attend any of the university's specialist taught modules and take part in research forums and internal seminars. They will also be encouraged to deliver material to our taught course and research
The project makes a major contribution to three of the EPSRC Prosperity Outcomes:
Productive Nation
Healthy Nation
Resilient Nation
Impact upon Business will centre on:
driving the development of the market for more efficient electrical goods; contributing to a resilient nation by ensuring energy security and efficiency and sustainable management of resources.
overcoming significant technical challenges and generating intellectual property, which will be utilised by Dyson within their future products, maintaining the UK in general, and Dyson specifically, as the world market leader in the next generation of electrical consumer goods.
The impact to the UK as a whole will focus on:
Building links with the EPSRC Manufacturing hub on electrical machines, of which the academic investigators are also part of. The outputs of this project will feed into and the team will collaborate with these activities, with active participation in events organised.
The fundamental research on system efficiency and sustainability will have a major influence over other sectors, including:
o The aerospace sector, where there is intense interest in hybrid and all electric propulsion systems, along with the marine and rail sectors. We will engage through our overlapping links with the governments Aerospace Technology Institute
o The electric vehicle industry, where the academic investigators head the APC spoke on Electrical Machines.
o The industrial drives and process control industry. We will actively engage through the IET Professional Network on Power Electronics, Machines and Drives and through our existing links
Developing a fruitful collaboration in the North East of the UK; producing a resilient nation by enriching local communities and business and engaging with the 'Driving the Electric Revolution" initiative.
Aiding transformation of the UK to a sustainable society with a more efficient use of energy and materials.
Contributing to a Healthy Nation by supporting national efforts to hit climate change and clean air targets.
Outreach activities into schools, leading initiatives such as Greenpower and via participation in the APC.
Creating advantages to the consumer, through lighter, more efficient and higher performance products all achieved in a more cost effective manner.
Significant environmental advantages, contributing to a resilient nation by: managing resources more efficiently and sustainably; reducing emissions, contributing to carbon neutral targets much earlier than expected; reducing usage of rare earth metals via innovation in manufacture and improving recyclability
The Partners already have a strong track record in skills growth, with over twenty of Newcastle's most promising graduate electrical engineers now hold staff positions in Dyson, from Director down through senior managers to senior design and research engineers. UK wide skills will be Impacted by:
Giving Dyson staff the opportunity to spend time seconded to the project.
Encouraging all relevant Dyson staff to attend any of the university's specialist taught modules and take part in research forums and internal seminars. They will also be encouraged to deliver material to our taught course and research
Publications
Description | Yes. Dyson are currently developing new products which contain many of the outcomes from this project. Our results are also feeding into sustainability corporate strategy within Dyson. |
First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
Sector | Electronics,Energy |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | external examiner of MSc programme at Edinburgh university |
Geographic Reach | Europe |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | changing of education given to about 250 students over 5 years |
Description | EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training for Sustainable Electric Propulsion (CDT SEP) |
Amount | £5,388,053 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/S024069/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2019 |
End | 09/2027 |
Description | Collaboration with EPSRC Future Electrical Machines Manufacturing Hub |
Organisation | University of Sheffield |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The PI is a CI on the FEMM Hub and Dyson are industrial advisors. We are working with the FEMM Hub on life cycle analysis and sustainable manufacturing. |
Collaborator Contribution | Strathclyde university are proving expertise in the LCA of electrical machines. Sheffield University are providing expertise on the testing of electrical materials |
Impact | Greater understanding of LCA in electrical machines |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Dyson |
Organisation | Dyson |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | This grant is collaborative between Newcastle University and Dyson. Newcastle University are inputting approx £1M. |
Collaborator Contribution | Dyson are funding 3 of their engineers to be based in the university, along with about £500k on equipment |
Impact | This funding, approx £1M of direct research funding to the university from Dyson. 10 PhD studentships, of which 7 were fully funded by Dyson. A series of patents Employment for graduates. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | Sustainability advisor |
Organisation | University of Exeter |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Sustainabilty in the design and manufacture of electrical machines |
Collaborator Contribution | Broad perspective on directions of research |
Impact | new project directions |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | APC machines spoke |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Coordination of electrical machines activity for the automotive council |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
Description | CDT showcase event |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | set of posters on PhD research given at annual event for academics and industry |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
Description | Career Development Workshop on WIE Career Path to Net Zero |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Dr Xu Deng was an invited speaker on Career Development Workshop on WIE Career Path to Net Zero organized by IEEE WIE UK & Ireland Affinity Group and IEEE WIE UKI Ambassador Network in November 2023. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Centre for Power Electronics Annual Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Annual conference on power electronics |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.powerelectronics.ac.uk/calendar_event/cpe-annual-conference-2023/ |
Description | ECCE Nashville |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presented at workshop session |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.ieee-ecce.org/2023/ |
Description | EPSRC Prosperity Partners Showcase Event |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Poster at Prosperity Partnership event |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Faraday 150 year celebration |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Presentation to Royal Society to celebrate 150 years of Electrical Machines |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Girls into Electronics Newcastle |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Dr Xu Deng presented at the event of Girls into Electronics in Newcastle to encourage more young girls to study electronics and to pursue engineering careers in the sector in June 2023. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Greenpower |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Greenpower is an activity in which we provide schools with kits to make electric goblin race cars, aimed at 9-11 year olds. We assist with advice and help with construction, leading to a drag race. The school we supported in 2021 was Corbridge Middle School. The school was overall champions of the day after coming first in the drag race and third in the slalom. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | IEMDC San Francisco |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | presentation at IEEE International conference |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.iemdc.org/ |
Description | Industrial Advisory Board |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Member of university industrial advisory board |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | International Conference on Electrical Machines |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | presentation at leading international conference in Valencia |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | International Symposium on Magnetic Bearings |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Attended event. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://ismb18.sciencesconf.org/ |
Description | Interview for Newspaper article |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Interview concerning future trends and research in electrical machines |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Motor CAD User Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | presentation to industrialists and acdemics |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | PEMD Brussels |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation at conference. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://uobevents.eventsair.com/repm2023/ |
Description | PEMD conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | presentation of research work |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | STEM for Britain Judge |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | This activity, within the House of Commons, reviews and awards prizes for the best early career researchers in the UK. As a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, I have attended as a judge. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022,2023,2024 |
URL | https://stemforbritain.org.uk/ |
Description | Student open days |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Interviewing and enthusing students, provision of equipment and demonstrators |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021,2022 |
Description | WEMDCD |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | presented keynote at an IEEE workshop |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://wemdcd2023.com/ |
Description | Women in Engineering Day Leadership Day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Dr Xu Deng was invited to attend International Women in Engineering Day Leadership Day organised by Royal Academy of Engineering to discuss psychological safety in the workplace for WIE in June 2023. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | open day talks |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | talks and demonstrations at student open days |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022,2023 |