Health and Safety in Voluntary Sector Construction |
Dr Martin Crapper
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Infrastructure and Environment |
This research, conducted using sociological methods, investigates how these volunteer workers of railway sector construct safety in their volunteering environment.
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LEANWIND: Logistic Efficiencies and Naval Architecture for Wind Installations with Novel Developments |
Dr Lucy Cradden
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Energy Systems |
LEANWIND is a 4-year project that started in December 2013. It is led by a 31-partner consortium and has been awarded €10 million by the European Commission, but its total value amounts to €15 million.
The primary LEANWIND objective is to provide cost reductions across the offshore wind farm lifecycle and supply chain through the application of lean principles and the development of state of the art technologies and tools.
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Efficient DEM simulation of large systems of non-spherical particles |
Dr. Kevin Hanley
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Infrastructure and Environment |
To enlarge the scale of discrete element modelled particulate system from spherical to nonspherical; to increase the computational efficiency of simulating the nonspherical system; to provide more insights of particulate solid mechanics in engineering applications.
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CAUSE - Control of wave energy Arrays Using Storage of Energy |
Dr Jonathan Shek
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Energy Systems |
There are 3 main objectives in this project:
Answer the research question: Can energy storage radically improve off-grid and on-grid control in wave energy arrays? How can it be done?
Develop an electrical array model for wave energy, with energy storage and co-ordinated control
Strengthen the partnership between the UK and Chinese Institutions for future research collaboration
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TorqTidal: Mitigating Torque Pulsations in Tidal Current Turbines |
Dr Jonathan Shek
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Energy Systems |
TorqTidal seeks to provide control strategies for tidal current turbines that will reduce the risk of failure and increase the lifetime of device components without increasing capital costs. This will act to increase investor confidence and drive down the LCOE, which is a key step in helping the UK to exploit its significant tidal energy resource.
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Electro-Mechanical Modelling of Tidal Turbines |
Dr Jonathan Shek
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Energy Systems |
The research in this project will focus on modelling full resource-to-wire dynamic models of tidal arrays in order to investigate and optimise their operation. The expected impact of this study is providing industry with an understanding and guidelines of the applicability of the different electrical layouts to specific locations and size of the arrays.
Compare different generator technologies and control theories
Validate models using real measured data
Perform harmonic analysis and accurate loss modelling based on temperature/frequency variations
Suggest cost-effective solutions for device developers
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WindSurf - A self-starting, active-pitch, vertical-axis wind turbine |
Dr Jonathan Shek
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Energy Systems |
WindSurf aims to develop a core enabling technology - active blade pitching for a vertical axis wind turbine. This will allow wind turbines to operate in challenging wind conditions, to operate quietly and for new, lower maintenance turbine designs. WindSurf will open up new sites for wind energy: sites previously rejected because wind speeds were too low, variable or subject to swirling, or where noise nuisance would have been a concern. WindSurf will tackle all three parts of the energy trilemma: reducing emissions, increasing security of supply, and reducing cost.
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Off-grid Hybrid Energy Systems |
Dr Jonathan Shek
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Energy Systems |
This project aims to innovate and improved solutions for the management of power flows in a hybrid electrical power system, to provide a secure, reliable, and high quality supply to varying load demands. The expected research outcome is the design of a robust and fault-tolerant management system, featuring higher efficiency and improved techno-economic performance.
Optimal system sizing through linear programming
Testing and analysis of an off-the-shelf hybrid system
Novel control system design for optimised performance
Lab testing and field testing
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Flow and sintering of non-spherical particles in additive manufacturing |
Dr. Jin Sun
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Infrastructure and Environment |
The Edinburgh part of the project focues on the multi-physics modelling of particle dynamics and sintering behaviour in selective laser sintering processes. This work is an integrated part of an EPSRC funded project to develop fundamental understanding of particle behavour in additive manufacturing, collaborating with the University of Exeter. This project proposes to investigate the way polymeric powders of different shapes and sizes flow, interact and sinter in the laser sintering process, through modelling and experimental validation. Laser sintering is part of the additive manufacturing technology, known for its benefits in industries where custom made products, lightweight and complex designs are required.
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Particle Dynamics and suspension rheology in electrical discharge |
Dr. Jin Sun
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Infrastructure and Environment |
The Edinburgh part of the project focuses on multi-physics modelling of particle dynamics and suspension rheology in electrical discharge processes. This work is an integrated part of an EPSRC funded project to develop novel electrical discharge methods (EDM) for functional surface coating, collaborating with The University of Nottingham. This project aims to revolutionise the way industrial electrical discharge machining processes can be used. It will transform the process from a machining only technique to a method that is also capable of novel surface treatments at the same time.
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