INDUSTRY News
A young inventor’s design might make EVs lighter, cheaper and more sustainable
A 17-year-old from the US has completely redesigned and signifi cantly simplifi ed the induction motor widely used today, which might have a big impact on the electric vehicles (EVs).
EVs, as well as many other systems, use permanent magnetic motors to create torque. In a permanent magnet motor, conductive coils along the stator induce a magnetic fi eld when powered. Permanent magnets on the rotor react to this fi eld, causing a spin along the central axis of the motor shaft, in turn creating torque for the vehicle.
Instead of this type motor, Robert Sansone turned to the synchronous reluctance motor, typically found in lower-torque applications such as pumps and fans. A synchronous reluctance motor does not use magnets. It features a slotted- disc rotor that produces the torque when “catching” the stator. However, this torque is not strong enough for powering EVs.
Companies partner to test
sustainable packaging
Developer of polymer technology Aquapak Polymers has partnered with Industrial Physics, a packaging and material test and inspection company, to create a harmonised set of water vapour transmission rate (WVTR) testing methods for its Hydropol biodegradable polymer, used in sustainable packaging. Hydropol has the benefi ts of traditional
6 October 2022 | Automation
Regeneron ISEF competition 2022 winners, left to right: Rishab Jain, Robert Sansone and Abdullah Al-Ghamdi
Sansone redesigned the synchronous
reluctance motor by adding a magnetic fi eld, which increased torque by nearly 40% and improved effi ciency 30% at 300rpm and 40% at 750rpm.
Sansone is also keen to make his design sustainable. He hopes his research will lead to the proliferation of electric vehicles made of sustainable materials. “Seeing the day when EVs are fully sustainable due to the help of my novel motor design would be a dream come
polymer plastics yet is water soluble, completely biodegradable, non-toxic and UV resistant. It also off ers multiple end-of-life options such as recyclability, compostability and compatibility with anaerobic digestion plants. Establishing a reliable and repeatable test method for WVTR is an industry- wide challenge. Almost half of the 255 global packaging professionals recently surveyed said meeting testing standards was one the biggest challenges they face in wider adoption of sustainable packaging materials. A typical challenge is the current WVTR test methods and standards, which cater solely for traditional polymers rather than include sustainable, biodegradable alternatives, too. Aquapak approached Industrial Physics to advise on new methods of testing of such products.
By using equipment designed for its
own product lines, Industrial Physics developed a repeatable and reliable test method for WVTR, which can be carried out in-house or replicated at customer premises anywhere the world.
automationmagazine.co.uk
true,” he said. “Rare-earth materials in existing electric motors are a major factor undermining the sustainability of electric vehicles.”
The 17-year-old won the top prize of $75,000 at the 2022 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (Regeneron ISEF), the world’s largest global high-school competition. Other top prizes went to projects covering energy storage, biomedical engineering and robotics.
“We have reached a point where the WVTR test on Hydropol can be replicated anywhere in the world. This is a major step forward because it will shape how hydrophilic fi lms are tested in future. It allows our global customers who source sustainable packaging materials to carry out their own WVTR, knowing they can trust the results,” said Alan Shema, Product Line Director at Industrial Physics.
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