Advanced prototyping capability for electrical machines and actuators research

在过去的20年里，随着先进的计算机建模和设计软件包的不断发展，电机和执行器的研究有了显著的发展。因此，工业中的研究人员和设计人员现在能够以合理的精度对许多复杂机器和执行器系统的行为进行建模。然而，尽管在建模方面取得了重大进展，但原型设备的制造和实验表征仍然是推动对电机和执行器理解的重要因素，特别是在验证和识别建模能力的弱点方面。这对于在高温、高损耗密度和高速运行等因素方面推动现有机器技术边界的应用尤其重要。此外，尽管学术界和工业界越来越多地接受建模是评估新概念和机器设计的重要工具，但最终，在现实操作环境中的实际演示对于向潜在的最终用户展示设备的实用性仍然至关重要。该提案涉及确保和显著提高谢菲尔德大学电机和驱动组生产原型电机和执行器的能力，特别是通过购买一台新的计算机控制的线侵蚀机，用于制造电工钢片、永磁段和其他精密部件。这将使集团能够保持其长期以来的能力，将其研究成果体现在几个正在进行和新兴研究领域的高质量原型和技术演示中，例如用于发电，驱动和驱动应用的新型电磁装置；机器和执行机构建模和设计指南；高温机械、执行机构和高速机械。

Research in electrical machines and actuators has evolved significantly over the past 20 years with on-going developments in advanced computer modelling and design packages. As a consequence, researchers and designers in industry are now able to model to a reasonable degree of precision the behaviour of many complex machine and actuator systems. However, despite the significant advances in modelling, the manufacture and experimental characterisation of prototype devices remains an essential element in driving forward the understanding of electrical machines and actuators, particularly in terms of validating and identifying weaknesses in modelling capability. This is particularly important in applications which push at the boundaries of existing machine technology in terms of factors such as high temperature, high loss density and high speed operation. Furthermore, although there is a growing acceptance within both academia and industry that modelling is an important tool in evaluating new concepts and machine designs, ultimately, practical demonstrations in realistic operating environments remain essential in terms of demonstrating the utility of devices to potential end-users. This proposal is concerned with securing and significantly enhancing the capability of the Electrical Machines and Drives Group at The University of Sheffield to produce prototype electrical machines and actuators, specifically by purchasing a new computer controlled wire-eroder for the manufacture of electrical steel laminations, permanent magnet segments and other precision components. This will enable the Group to maintain its long-standing capability for embodying its research findings in high quality prototypes and technology demonstrators in several on-going and emerging areas of research, e.g. novel electromagnetic devices for power generation, actuation and drive applications; machine and actuator modelling and design guidelines; high temperature machines and actuators and high-speed machines.