An integrated design environment for electric machines

McGilp, Malcolm (2018) An integrated design environment for electric machines. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

In this essay I describe an original and sustained contribution to the methodology of research and design of electric machines, during a period of fundamental change in the technology itself; from pen and paper methods of design to a wholly computer-based methodology. This is paralleled by an even more dramatic transformation in analytical and numerical methods in engineering. The technological changes have arisen mainly in the growth of electronics, in connection with variable speed drives but also in new magnet and other materials.
The SPEED (Scottish Power Electronics and Electric Drives) Laboratory was founded in 1986 by Professor TJE Miller, to promote knowledge transfer between the University of Glasgow and a consortium of companies from the electric machine industry. A symbiotic relationship between Professor Miller and the author has arisen in the development of what the Laboratory is now principally known for: the SPEED software. In establishing this group, Professor Miller brought an international reputation in electrical machines theory and experience in writing FORTRAN programs for calculating the characteristics of motors. On joining the Laboratory in 1987, alongside a basic knowledge of motors, I brought a more specialised capacity in software design and development. This complementarity of roles and expertise has been a significant factor in the success of subsequent development over 27 years, enabling us to achieve more than either would have been able to do individually.
My major contributions are summarized as follows:
1. Initial implementation of the software: making the necessary engineering compromises and development to shoe-horn the code within the constraints of the early PC platform. This was a significant milestone in the genesis of SPEED. As the PC was becoming cheap and therefore ubiquitous, this direction enabled me to put design for electric machines ii on the desktop of every engineer in the consortium, numbering over 1500 in 2011.
2. The hardware and software platform of the PC has evolved at a rapid pace since the early development outlined above. My ongoing research and development has progressed in parallel enabling the SPEED software to grow into a software suite rather than functioning as individual programs. At each stage I have extended the capabilities and sophistication of the software while retaining the key attributes of speed and cost-effectiveness.
3. Contribution to research within the University of Glasgow through support of PhD and post-doctoral work and in the general research community through contributions to a wide range of technical papers as listed in the references of this essay.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Additional Information: Ph. D. thesis awarded by published work.
• Keywords: Electric machines, computer aided design, software.
• Subjects: T Technology > TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery; T Technology > TK Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering
• Colleges/Schools: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Scottish Power Electronic and Electric Drives Consortium
• Supervisor's Name: Macauley, Dr. Martin
• Date of Award: 2018
• Depositing User: Mr Malcolm McGilp
• Unique ID: glathesis:2018-9023
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 10 May 2018 15:04
• Last Modified: 13 May 2022 11:18
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/9023

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