SBIR Phase II: Variable Capacitance Machines for Use in Linear Actuators for Industrial Automation

该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发一种新的平台技术：高扭矩静电电机（EM）。与传统的基于钢-铜-磁体的电动机相比，这种容易扩展的平台机器技术可以提供任何所需的扭矩或额定功率，同时沿着增加的能量可达性和降低的能量/操作成本。这种电机不使用永磁体或线圈机制，而是利用紧密间隔的导电金属板之间的静电力来产生电场，其轴扭矩能力远远超过传统电机。通过让工业更有效地运作，资源将被释放用于持续创新，刺激经济增长。这种EM使用国内来源的材料，如铝，钢和塑料，而不是传统电机中使用的钕，镝或钐等稀土元素，从而减少对外国稀土供应链的依赖和市场波动。与传统电机相比，EM将更轻，生产成本更低。为众多商业市场提供价值，包括电动/混合动力汽车、工业自动化、可再生能源（风力涡轮机）和在极端环境中运行的机器通过降低材料成本、提高可靠性、在低速时提高效率和减轻重量，可实现（航空航天或井下钻探）的最佳应用。小企业创新研究项目（SBIR）第2阶段项目将扩大对静电机械的理解，包括操作原理、设计原理和该新颖平台技术的优点/缺点。这是近150年来电机/机器技术的首次重大突破。在此之前，静电技术由于知识有限而应用很少，尽管在整个上个世纪偶尔进行研究。这主要是由于技术限制（低电容，真空作为绝缘介质的必要性），其解决方案需要跨越多个技术领域（电场理论，化学，机械工程，材料科学和电力电子控制）的知识。通过解决P-I中的这些技术限制，该项目已经扩展了相关工程和物理知识的主体。这个P-II项目提供了更多的研究机会，远远超出了目前的设想。例如，优化静电/机电一体化系统（如复杂的静电驱动系统）可能涉及使用高度工程化的材料（超材料和复合材料）;下一代3D多物理场仿真平台，以同时解决流体动力学，静电和热行为;以及化学合成工艺的开发，以最大限度地提高静电力的产生。先进的制造技术可能会出现，导致包括注塑成型或3D打印机器的可能性。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is to develop a novel platform technology: a high-torque electrostatic motor (EM). This readily scalable platform machine technology can provide any desired torque or power rating necessary along with increased energy accessibility and reduced energy/operating costs compared to traditional steel-copper-magnet based motors. Instead of using permanent magnets or wire coil mechanisms, this motor exploits electrostatic forces between closely spaced, conductive metal plates to create an electric field, with shaft-torque capabilities far beyond those of conventional machines. By allowing industry more efficient operations, resources will be freed for continued innovation, spurring economic growth. This EM uses domestically-sourced materials like aluminum, steel, and plastic instead of rare earth elements like neodymium, dysprosium, or samarium used in traditional motors, thus reducing both dependence on foreign supply chains of rare earths and market volatility. EMs will be lighter-weight and less expensive to produce than traditional motors. Value is offered to numerous commercial markets, including electric/hybrid-electric cars, industrial automation, renewable energy (wind turbines), and machines operating in extreme environments (aerospace or down-hole drilling) through lower materials costs, increased reliability, higher efficiencies at low speed, and reduced weight.The Small Business Innovation Research Project (SBIR) Phase 2 project will expand understanding of electrostatic machinery, including operational principles, design principles, and strengths/weaknesses of this novel platform technology. This represents the first significant breakthrough in motor/machine technology in almost 150 years. Previously, electrostatic technology had few applications due to a limited body of knowledge, despite occasional study throughout the last century. This was primarily due to technological limitations (low capacitance, the necessity of vacuum used as an insulating medium), whose solution required knowledge spanning multiple technical fields (electric field theory, chemistry, mechanical engineering, material science, and power electronic controls). By addressing these technological limitations in P-I, this project already expanded the body of pertinent engineering and physics knowledge. This P-II project offers opportunities for additional study ranging far beyond those currently envisioned. For example, optimizing electrostatic/mechatronic systems such as sophisticated electrostatic drive systems will likely involve the use of highly-engineered materials (metamaterials and composites); next-generation 3D multiphysics simulation platforms to simultaneously solve fluid dynamic, electrostatic, and thermal behaviors; and development of chemical synthesis processes to maximize electrostatic force production. Advanced manufacturing technologies will likely emerge, leading to possibilities including injection molding or 3D printing of a machine.