Electrical propulsion motor design, prototype and test characterisation

Our research addresses highly efficient, compact and lightweight electrical machines, with ratings ranging from 200W to 300kW.  This work is underpinned by our bespoke design optimisation tools, involving computational efficient electromagnetic, loss and thermal modelling and in-depth test measurements and design calibration.  Much of this research is in collaboration with industry, with many of our designs being adopted in commercial products.

Manufacture electrical machine windings suited to high frequency operation

Advances in power electronic control has allowed the fundamental operating frequencies of electrical machines to extend to kHz, allowing more compact and lower cost designs.  At these high frequencies AC loss effects in the windings become a critical consideration and alongside thermal behaviour.  Our research is exploring a range of manufacturing solutions for electrical machine windings, to include compressed Litz, compressed aluminium and additive manufacture in copper and aluminium together together with a tange of insulation systems.  The different technologies are being benchmarked in terms of ease of manufacture, loss and thermal performance and longevity.