Hybrid Electric Propulsion and Power System

Graeme Hawksley

 

This project conducted a technical feasibility study into the possible use of Hybrid/ Electric systems to power small marine craft, with the intention of improving fuel efficiency and utilising clean, environmentally friendly sources of energy. The hybrid system used in the study consisted of an internal combustion engine and a large bank of lead acid batteries. Note that the batteries will provided ballast for the craft, so their weight and size is not a problem. Electrical power taken from the batteries could be used to power the craft when cruising in fair weather conditions. When operating conditions become more demanding the internal combustion engine would be used as the power source. The battery bank can be charged using a combination of solar and wind power.

A system for monitoring and controlling the important parameters in the system, such as engine speed, engine power, battery charging current, etc was developed to allow comprehensive bench trials to be conducted. On completion of the bench trials sea trials will be conducted using the small ocean going craft shown.

The internal combustion engine was controlled to operate at near maximum efficiency automatically and a new method of controlling battery charging was developed.

The project involved market research to identify business potential, and specify features for the system. Extensive research into pulse charging techniques for batteries was undertaken. Potential contributions from environmentally friendly energy resources were also investigated. An experimental hybrid/electric system was designed and constructed that allowed efficiency trials to be conducted in a workshop environment.

The engine used in the project is shown below.

The image below shows the control box used in the project. Graeme developed skills in analogue and digital circuit design, software development and the use of CAN bus technology.

Graeme graduated with an MSc in Advanced Microelectronics for Industrialists in 2005. Since then he has been continuing his work on hybrid systems in his own company, Hawksley Silicon Systems Ltd.

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ASIC Based Bus Gateway between alternative Automobile Bus Standards

 

Simon N Tong

 

A number of communication bus standards exist and this project was concerned with developing an ASIC based gateway that would allow buses using different communication protocols to share information.

Modern automobiles employ electronic and computer technology extensively to manage engine performance, monitor and control lighting systems and braking systems etc. Data is transferred between systems on Controlled Area Networks, usually abbreviated to CAN buses.

 

The employment of CAN buses is shown in the car above. High speed tasks such as the engine management and braking systems are controlled by high speed CAN buses. Low speed systems such as lighting and door interlocks are controlled by low speed buses. The yellow boxes indicate areas where buses operating at different speeds will need to exchange data.

Simon's project involved extensive research into the use of Controlled Area Networks on automobiles and the development of an ASIC based gateway.

ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) are complex silicon chips that have numerous transistors assembled and interconnected on them. The use of an ASIC will reduce cost and improve performance.

The image shows the test bench developed by Simon during his project.

Simon graduated with an MSc in Advanced Microelectronics for Industrialists. Since then he has obtained a job in the USA.

Simon emailed us: "The news from this side of the world is my MSc has allowed me to get a job within Panasonic's American automotive operation."

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Mass Spectrometer Control System

 

Garry M Scott

 

Mass spectrometry is an analytical technique that allows the measurement of small quantities of materials accurately. It is used in chemistry and the life sciences such as medicine and biology extensively. The results of analysing a sample of material using a mass spectrometer are shown below:

The original material contains carbon, oxygen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. The image shows the relative intensity of the different materials in the sample.

The mass spectrometry technique produces ions, charged particles that have a defined mass to charge ratio.

The charged particles are then accelerated in a vacuum and made to pass through an intense magnetic field which causes the particles to travel in different curved paths that depend on their mass to charge ratio.

The essential elements of a mass spectrometer are shown in the figure.

Ion preparation, ion separation and ion detection are all done under vacuum.

All of the elements shown in the figure are controlled by electronic systems.

Garry's project involved the development of an electronic control system using a Field Programmable Array (FPGA), which reduced system cost and improved system performance.

The image below shows part of the electronic system developed by Garry.

The control system printed circuit board (PCB) developed by Garry is to the right.

Garry obtained his MSc in Electronic Systems Engineering in 2003.