'Ingenious' magnetic field harvesting project triumphs in challenge

More than 20 high-quality entries were received, of which four were selected to present at a live final on 6^th May, moderated by author, broadcaster and futurologist James Bellini. The students were judged on communication and presentation, relevance to industry needs, technical innovation and potential for industrialisation, with solo entrant Sheng Yuan from the University of Liverpool in the UK scoring the highest.

Yuan, originally from Shanghai, presented his PhD project on the potential to harvest magnetic field energy to power condition monitoring devices, such as partial discharge sensors and infrared detectors at electrical substations, as well as real-time weather stations beneath overhead power lines. The idea was suggested by UK wireless energy monitoring and control tools manufacturer Invisible Systems, as it was important to Yuan to spend time developing technology that would bring considerable and immediate benefits to the industry and society.

His proposal includes a novel bowtie-shaped core, which he discovered to have a much higher magnetic moment and as much as five times greater power output than a conventional solenoid and a switch in the matching circuit, which could increase transmission efficiency by 30%. These innovations could significantly improve the reliability of condition monitoring devices and reduce their maintenance and running costs. Yuan plans to complete his PhD project within the next one to two years and has already filed a patent.

Other projects in the final included the implementation of a DC/DC converter powered by a DC voltage inverter circuit, an integrated motor drive system, as well as the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology’s winning electric racecar from the 2014 Formula Student grand prix.

One of the judges, Giorgio Cacopardo, Sales Director, Sponsor Marsilli said: “Sheng’s project stood out because we could see its industrialisation in the near future and there was some ingenious thinking behind it, but all the competitors worked with impressive enthusiasm and patience.”