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DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING AND DESIGN 860H1 MENG GROUP PROJECT PROPOSALS 2016/17 DR JULIAN F. DUNNE JFD GP-1 Control of a linear free-piston generator Will hardware be involved? YES Free piston engines are considered an attractive option for use as range extenders in electric vehicles, or as generators in domestic combined heat and power (CHP) systems. Most free piston engines use a bounce chamber but a new concept exploits a mechanical spring which provides a number of advantages. Resonant build-up is achieved via timed-control of the gas pressure forces whereas the resonant motion amplitude is pseudo-damping-controlled by force feedback from the motor/generator system. Feedback control of the gas pressure, and the motor/generator, and are therefore essential activities of the concept. A previous MEng Group has successfully designed and built a linear single-cylinder opposedsemi-free-piston generator which was driven by compressed-air (rather than by timedcombustion). This has been achieved by fully-controlling air-supply valves, and by adapting the electrical generator to achieve appropriate generator force control, The Group were able to realise generator operation in hardware but a deeper understanding is needed for fired combustion. This follow-on project will examine the generator behavior to establish the impact of stochastic variability in the gas pressure, by controlling the compressed-air flow to the freepiston generator. The dynamics and control simulation model developed in Simulink by the previous Group, will be adapted to emulate stochastic variability. In addition, use will be made of state-of-the-art AVL engine simulation software to understand how stable robustlycontrolled motion can be arranged to occur with fired combustion. The objectives of the project are: i) ii) iii) To adapt the Simulink model to simulate stochastic variability in the air supply. To control the air supply valves to emulate stochastic variability in the hardware. To adapt the control system to achieve robust control of the generator, in the present of stochastic variability of the air-supply. The particular tasks in the project therefore are as follows: 1) Review the existing mechanical and electrical hardware. 2) Review the control system design. 3) Extend the Simulink model to include stochastic variability in the air supply and, if necessary, modify the control strategy. 4) Implement the control strategy on the generator hardware to demonstrate stable generation in the presence of stochastic variability. 5) Extend the hardware data capture capability to verify the Simulink model. The project requires a mix of skills in mechanical, automotive, electronics, and computer systems engineering. (Contact: [email protected]) DR SPYROS SKARVELIS-KAZAKOS SSK GP-1 Wave pattern and wave energy converter emulator Will hardware be involved? YES Energy from waves is a very promising source of renewable energy. Different wave energy converters are being developed and tested, but very few installations exist. This makes it difficult to find actual data of wave energy converter output, for performing wave energy studies. The purpose of this project is to develop a test rig which emulates/simulates a wave energy converter. A controller will be used to control a device which will oscillate in a pattern similar to the wave oscillation pattern. This device will then provide motion to a generator. Responsibilities per student would be roughly split into the following: 1) Wave pattern emulator controller / electronics. This would require a controller to be built for simulating wave patterns from existing wind data/measurements, or from a model built in the controller. 2) Wave pattern emulator model. A theoretical model of sea waves must be developed, either converting wind speed to wave pattern or coming up with a randomised/modelled wave pattern. This will be then programmed into the controller. 3) Wave pattern emulator. This would be a hydraulic or mechanical rotating or oscillating apparatus, which will be able to emulate the movement of sea waves. 4) Generator. A linear or rotating generator will need to be specified, built and fitted to the wave pattern emulator, to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy. 5) Power electronics. The electrical output of the generator must be shaped to a form that is suitable for supply to the electricity grid. A power electronics converted must be designed and built, in order to do that. (Contact: [email protected]) DR NIKO MÜNZENRIEDER NSM GP-1 Atomic force microscope Will hardware be involved? YES An atomic force microscope or AFM is a device which can be used to image very small geometrical features and even single atoms. This is done by raster scanning the surface of a sample with an extremely tiny needle, whereas the position of the needle is monitored by a simple optical system. Some of these AFMs can cost up to several millions of ponds, but recently several description how to build an AFM for less than £1000 have been published. See for example: http://www.media.mit.edu/nanoscale/courses/AFMsite/index.html http://www.opencircuits.com/Atomic_microscope http://www.instructables.com/id/A-DIY-AFM-Whokshop/?ALLSTEPS Based on these design principles and approaches we want to design and build the first AFM at the University of Sussex. The whole project can be divided into the following steps: 1) Familiarization with the concept and selection of a basic design. 2) Manufacturing of a mechanical stage for coarse and fine positioning of the scanner needle. 3) Use of a laser diode and a photo diode to monitor the needle movement. 4) Design of the readout and control electronics. 5) Development of the software required to acquire a two dimensional AFM scan. Afterwards the functionality of the AFM can be demonstrated by scanning the surface of an object like a semiconductor crystal or a human hair. This project includes aspects of mechanical engineering, a bit of optics, software development as well as electrical engineering, and is a chance to work in a multidisciplinary research environment with applications in fields ranging from electronics and physics to material science, chemistry and biology. Therefore this project requires a mix of electronics and mechanical engineering students. (Contact: [email protected]) PROFESSOR MARTIN ROSE MR GP-1 Wind Turbine Powered Racing Car Will hardware be involved? YES “Racing Aeolus” http://www.windenergyevents.com/the-race/ Den Helder, Holland Once a year in August the Racing Aeolus event is held in Den Helder. Teams from across Europe compete to be the fastest over a short course against the wind. The record currently stands at an impressive 96% of the wind speed against the wind. But this is not a limit! The plan would be for Sussex to put together a team to design, obtain finance, procure, build and race such a vehicle. Maybe we could also join in the event in Holland if enough money can be raised. List of tasks i. Design of wind turbine for high power low drag ii. Design of transmission: mechanical or electrical? iii. Design of car chassis, suspension, wheels and bearings, steering and brakes iv. Financial search: industrial and local sponsorship v. Procurement of parts vi. Building and commissioning vii. Timed performance in wind viii. Attending the race in Holland if finances reach that far. (Contact: [email protected]) FORMULA STUDENT Code: FSRC17 Title: Formula Student Racing Car Formula Student is an international student engineering competition held annually around the world. For the UK competition, the teams are required to design, build, test and race a small formula style car which is raced at Silverstone circuit in July against over 100 competitors from international universities. The Mobil 1 Sussex Team of Formula Student Racing Car is supported by the Department and mainly sponsored by Exxon Mobil 1. The details about the IMechE Formula Student competition can be found at http://www.formulastudent.com/ For the 2016/2017 project, it is planned that a new car will be developed for Class 1 competition which will take place at Silverstone circuit in July 2017. The project is suitable for ten to twelve team members from AE/ME and EE/EEE/CE respectively. One to three team members will be needed for each following sub-systems : chassis, powertrain, suspension, electronics and control, driving control and car body. For all students interested in this project, you are advised to discuss this with other potential team members (see below). The following students have been approved to be members of the Formula Student Group in year 4, to ensure continuity from 2015/16: Chris Charles [email protected] Tom Parker [email protected] Luke Rondel [email protected] (Contact Mr Dick Atkins [email protected] )