A project for aeroplane electric drive systems with improved efficiency and reduced weight, led by the UNNC Power Electronics, Machines and Control (PEMC) Research Group, won first prize in the 2022 Municipal Science and Technology Progress Award. The team is one of the nine awardees in the whole city.
Professor Patrick Chau, Vice provost for Research and Knowledge Exchange, expressed his congratulations to the team and thanked all for their contribution towards fulfilling China’s aviation dreams. “UNNC is committed to promoting cutting-edge research and innovation, both in China and globally. The university leverages high-quality research resources, combined with the needs of China's economic and social development, to introduce top level research platforms and develop high-quality science and technology innovations. This great achievement is an honoured recognition from local government to the university’s scientific research impact contributing to the development of the aviation technology industry,” said professor Chau.
Named “Research and development of key design technologies for high reliable and lightweight aeroplane electric drive systems and their industrialization application”, the project is undertaken in collaboration with Ningbo Permanent Magnetic Industry Co., Ltd., Sino-Engine Technologies Co., Ltd., and Ningbo Karen Electric Appliance Co., Ltd. to carry out industrialization research. Focusing on key technologies, the project has overcome the key design bottlenecks and achieved a balance between reduced weight, high efficiency, and high reliability of aeroplane electric drive systems.
Previously, the PEMC research group has successfully won the first batch of ‘High-Level Innovative University Teams’ in Zhejiang, Provincial Key Laboratory, and Zhejiang Aviation Electrification Technology Engineering Research Centre.
Professor He Zhang, the group leader of this project, proudly praised the team as a true dream team. “Together we have made world-class scientific research achievements. At the same time, we have worked closely with industry to solve real world problems,” he said.
Dr Weiduo Zhao, who has been engaged in this research area since 2015, mentioned the team’s strong global link. “At each group meeting, experts and scholars are from world-leading institutions. Therefore, we have a bigger picture when thinking and solving problems,” he said.
Professor Giampaolo Buticchi, who leads the power electronics activities in the team, feels that it’s a great honour to achieve this recognition, since the award is very prestigious and evaluates the teams across multiple dimensions. “This achievement gives me even more motivation to carry out my research,” he said.
According to Professor Zhang, the theoretical outcome of this project included over 100 academic papers in top international journals and five national invention patents. The practical achievements include a high-power rating DC Starter/Generator system for aeroplane engines with improved efficiency and reduced weight, a compact electro hydrostatic actuator electric drive system with improved power density and system efficiency, and a generator integrated turbine engine, which has been applied to a certain type of aircraft.
The project also includes a major innovation, namely transplanting relevant technologies upstream and downstream in the industrial chain. In the partnership with Ningbo Permanent Magnetic Industry Co., Ltd., they have together developed the application of ultra-high temperature performance magnetic materials for high-end motors; In the partnership with Ningbo Karen Electric Appliance Co., Ltd., they have launched small household appliance motor products with internationally leading performance. In the past three years, the project has achieved new sales of over 1 billion yuan.
"I hope that we can not only make world-leading efficient airplane generators, but also integrate research results into the industry, and make contributions to humanity and society through our technological innovations.”
Published on 15 August 2023