is challenging, particularly the waste treatment plants. Each HF with supercapacitors, competed
integration of human factors (HF) tool has a detailed description, in Formula Zero, the world’s first
into the projects, which presents including benefits, pitfalls and a hydrogen fuel cell powered race
different challenges to nuclear contact name for advice. series, in Rotterdam, August 2008.
generating power stations and Magnox North agreed to make the IRG03, a third track car, competed
chemical plants, at different times. tool widely available after members at Silverstone in July 2009 and was
The application of HF techniques of the Energy Institute (EI) Human awarded the prize for the ‘most
and tools has shown major benefits and Organisational Factors Group innovative design in engineering’
relating to safety (design of interfaces judged that with simple editing it and will be upgraded to IRG04 for
and procedures) effective execution could be converted into a generic tool 2010.
(error avoidance) and cost saving for internal use in the EI Members Technical challenges have involved
(short-term and lifetime costs). organisations. designing and building the balance
This project aimed to establish a It can be used by non-specialist of plant for a 16kW fuel cell range
web-based tool enabling project project managers, (any company extender for IRG04, supported by
managers (non-specialists in HF) to managing or executing a Johnson Matthey and Nedstack.
explore HF tools and techniques decommissioning project), making This team built and tested their first
to best suit their projects, and use of HF to improve their outcomes, system successfully in seven months.
contribute to delivering safe, in particular safety and cost Another undergraduate team
successful decommissioning op- effectiveness. designed and built a 300V/
erations. Research inside the 10kWh/100kW battery pack for
organisation with end users and technology award IRG03 in less than nine months, in
project managers, identified gaps Imperial College London – Imperial collaboration with ABSL, Kokam
where HF integration was not Racing Green America and REAP systems.
currently effectively employed, in Imperial Racing Green (IRG) is an IRG has demonstrated an
order to identify how the advice and undergraduate-led teaching project innovative application of several
guidance could be presented. at Imperial College London; designing technologies necessary for zero
Developers established HF tools and building zero emission vehicles to emission vehicle development. The
and methods to be available across 13 compete in international race series. project has resulted in publicity and
nuclear sites, consulting key company The vehicles are designed around public engagement, including 27
contacts to establish their benefits an electric powertrain, powered by sponsors. The team will contribute to
as well as their resource requirement batteries or hydrogen fuel cells in the UK’s long-term competitiveness,
and in some cases their limitations. various hybrid configurations. providing a reservoir of engineers
Other industry contacts (including Founded in 2006, IRG trains trained in zero emission vehicle
BP, ConocoPhillips) confirmed and undergraduate engineers in zero technologies.
added to the reference list. emission vehicle technologies, IRG’s sister project, Racing Green
This reference tool enables project accelerating technology development Endurance, is modifying a Radical
managers to identify relevant and raising public awareness. It helps SR8 SuperSport with an electrical
methods and techniques early in to increase students’ enthusiasm for powertrain and will race it in a
their planning and enables practical engineering and enhances number of long-distance events
human factor tools to be the teaching standard at Imperial around the world.
employed effectively during all College London. In 2008/2009, 103
decommissioning phases including students and 33 staff were involved.
Integrated Environmental
the building and commissioning of The IRG02 go-cart, hybridised Solutions (IES) – Integration of
IES performance analysis into
Google SketchUp
Performance analysis is vital in
the building industry to create
understanding of energy con-
sumption and other environmental
metrics and strategies. The 2007 IPCC
(Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change) report highlighted that
CO
2
building emissions increased by
75% from 1970–2004, and that this
sector offered the best mitigation
opportunities.
Integrated Environmental Solutions
(IES) was founded in 1994 to change
performance analysis through the
development of commercially viable
software. IES aims to advance
buildings’ sustainability through
integrated performance modelling
technology. Its ‘Virtual Environment’
FEBRUARY 2010 27
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