What, in the middle of the alert state of the first months of the current 2020, proved to be useful to the health sector – open shared innovation, the contribution of “brains” distributed in several continents, the development of the additive manufacturing and the fast shift from ideation to creation – is and will be precious elsewhere, too.
For instance, in the ambit of R&D concerning electric motors.
As witnessed by the case of the small producer of French electric cars, XYT, which has become part of 3DExperience Lab network of Dassault Systèmes to benefit from functions in cloud modality.
According to the data highlighting that the average motorist travels in Europe on distances largely under 100 kilometres daily, the goal was proving that interesting market shares still exist for EV, in short-range mobility, too.
Pixel Y, the modular vehicle
The idea, based on a concept structure called Pixel Y, was giving birth to a modular vehicle whose 580 parts (against the around 10,000 of a standard car) can be assembled several times at will and according to the requirements «with a normal toolbox».
Tested for the mileage of one million kilometres overall and optimized for urban deliveries, the model was the founder of a family extended to Pixel X, dedicated to logistics, and about to include Pixel T seven-seat shuttle, too. «XYT», Dassault Systèmes informed, «has become part of 3DExperience Lab to have access to the 3DExperience platform in cloud to accelerate its mission. The company is ready to collaborate with local and global talents in all fields: from design to engineering, from supplies to customizations. Our software solutions allow the company to carry out configurations and customizations dynamically and quickly, starting from the typical modular architecture of XYT».
The partnership with the network of Labs provides for the unified access to Mobility Development Kits by XYT and the respective open innovation contents, besides the management of a fabric of workshops (they have planned 1,000) and relative operations of work planning, delivery and assembling.
The rhythm of batteries
Wherever there is an electric car, we need a smart, fast and green recharge system.SparkCharge, established in 2014, has added portability features to these characteristics. Its compact batteries, for whose development it is establishing partnerships energy providers, assure an additional autonomy of one mile per each minute of connection to the network to electric vehicles. In other words, in just ten-twenty minutes the driver of an EV broken down can recover, with all probability, the sufficient energy to return home, at least, safely. To guarantee the compatibility of the accumulator with the broadest possible number of vehicles, the company has exploited the 3DExperience platform and, especially in design phase, on Solidworks. Catia 3D has been used mainly in the passage phase to rapid prototyping while Netvibes Intelligence allows aggregating contents from various online sources, socials included, to orient future industrial developments according to users’ comments.
Among the leader brands in the ePrix competition ranks Bmw, which for the sixth Formula season has engaged the 23 years old German Maximilian Günther.
The pilot has recently expressed very positive impressions about the simulator: «It is the best instrument to get ready for races and to develop the car. We can try whenever we want and repeat the same things, to compare, then, the data we survey».
Technical remarks were explained by Rudolf Dittrich, General Manager of the development of Bmw motorsport vehicles: «With the simulator we can test things that we could hardly do on the track, besides testing on different tracks in the same day, imagining any possible scenario». The simulator is important for pilots but also for the entire team, especially after the reduction of official test days.
During the simulation, the pilot wears a helmet for both safety reasons, since the system is in motion, and to have the same field of view as during the race.
Through the completion of the distribution system for MSFS motor starters for automation boards, Eatonmakes available for its customers a solution to power motor control and protection circuits enriched with numerous novelties, including a 125 A power supply module, new adapters for modular and box-type switches and a 5 A /24 VDC power supply.
The distribution system has been designed to offer a safe solution for the distribution inside the automation board and it is now equipped with a 125 A power supply module, hence the nominal capacity of the bus bars of the system itself. This allows using MSFS at its highest use current, permitting its full exploitation, while the previous limit was 80 A.
The system is positioned between the base solution, constituted by three-pole bus bar blocks, and the higher-level solution characterized by SASY60i distribution bus bar system, therefore defining a new intermediate standard in terms of cost, versatility and current values for automation systems.
Eaton, in the context of the widening of MSFS system, now proposes new adapters that extend the MSFS use also to utilities not strictly connected with the motor starter. This is possible because they allow connecting to the system both modular FAZ switches up to 63 A and the box-type NZM1 switch up to 125 A.
Meanwhile, in the suitable version (ROSF), also the new hybrid EMS2 starters (Electronic Motor Starter) can be coupled to the MSFS system.
Moreover, among the novelties the system completion provides for, there is also a three-phase 5 A /24 VDC power supply that, in most of automation applications, allows powering 24 VDC auxiliary circuits of the electric equipment of a machine without providing for further power supplies. Finally, the adapters offered until now for «PKZM0/PKE + soft-starter DS7» combinations extend their use possibility also to variable-speed DE1(1) starters up to 1.5 kW.
In many applications, bearings and supports must work also in presence of filth, dust and chips. For this reason, they need continuous lubrication and maintenance interventions. Polymer bearings by igus are lubrication- and maintenance-free, even if the support is made of metal. Precisely for these systems with metal supports, igus has developed new iglidur J high-performance plastic bearings. The new self-lubricating bearings with sheet metal housing allow notably decreasing maintenance costs. Moreover, this new material prevents the deposition of dirtiness and dust and this represents a considerable advantage in terms of wear and allows avoiding unforeseen machine downtimes. Igubal bearings are made through injection moulding and they are economically advantageous.
They can be mounted in few seconds to replace ball bearings in already existing standard metal housings or they can be bought with a low-cost sheet metal support. The joint is composed by the sheet metal housing and by igubal ball bearing and is directly available in stock. The plastic bearing has high resistance to wear and features a very low friction coefficient in dry operation.
Currently, igubal bearings are available in three sizes for low-cost sheet metal housings (Ø20, 25 and 30 mm) and for injection moulded housings (UC204-210).
To Support Advanced Electric Vehicle Battery Systems Design, Altair, a global technology company providing solutions in product development, high-performance computing and data intelligence has announced the addition of the CellMod™ Virtual Battery by Sendyne to the Altair Partner Alliance (APA). So, CellMod™ Virtual Battery and BasicPackMod by Sendyne are now available for use by Altair HyperWorks™ customers. CellMod™ is the first lithium-ion virtual battery capable of predicting cell and pack behavior, including thermal behavior, with an accuracy of better than 97 percent under a wide range of test conditions. Utilizing a sophisticated electrochemical model, CellMod is packaged as a functional mock-up unit (FMU), allowing it to be easily integrated into most major simulation packages, such as Altair Activate®, via the open industry standard functional mock-up interface (FMI).
After all, improving battery system performance is critical to facilitating the projected global electric vehicle market growth. An accurate battery model is the starting point for battery pack design, system control and optimization. The simple equivalent circuit (EC) models that are typically used today lack predictive power and are insufficient to the task. Taking a physics-based approach to simulating integrated systems that is accurate and runs faster than real-time can significantly improve the design of battery-based systems and optimize their long-term performance and safety. Unlike EC models, CellMod accounts for physical processes taking place inside the cells, including diffusion in solids, diffusion in electrolytic solutions, reaction kinetics, charge transport, heat transport, etc. Because of this, CellMod can predict battery cell behavior with a high degree of accuracy.
As part of its active global support for the metal coil industry, Henkelis partnering with major coil producers to implement dedicated process solutions for end applications in e-mobility. In addition, the company is also addressing demands for reducing the complexity of downstream manufacturing steps by enabling continuous upstream functional coating processes without compromising the technical properties of the coated material.
Metal coil producers play an essential role in the market of hybrid and fully electrical vehicles, supplying steel and aluminium coils to the manufacturers of batteries, transformers, converters, wound cores, shunt reactors and other key components for e-drive and electrified powertrain systems.
Henkel’s process know-how extends across the entire value chain from the rolling oil for electrical steel to specific pickling inhibitors and cleaners to specialized new functional and conductive thin coatings, such as for covering the aluminium foil used in EV battery systems. Besides providing reliable corrosion protection for painted or unpainted substrates, these products have been custom-tailored to improve the overall performance of e-mobility applications by enhancing insulation and bonding properties, magnetic permeability and electrical conductivity.
Latest product innovations targeted at both upstream and downstream metal pretreatment and functional coating for end products in e-mobility include Bonderite O-TO dedicated product range and Bonderite M-CR 12 series. Bonderite is a registered trademark of Henkel and/or its affiliates in Germany and elsewhere.
“Motorettes” implemented to study the effects of high voltage gradients on the voltage distribution among windings
RAISE European Project, coordinated by the group of Electrical Machines and Drives – MeltingLab of University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UniMoRe), aims at offering solutions to improve the reliability of power converters, of machines and of the entire electric drive, without damaging their performance and efficiency. Benefits and ameliorations that are likely to exert positive repercussions in both the short and the long term, besides being exploited by manufacturers to face the competitive Asian market.
In recent years, the need of implementing increasingly powerful, light and efficient electric and electronic devices has become a priority target in all industrial sectors. For this reason, the release on the market of new wide bandgap based power devices, made of silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductor materials, has aroused lively interest in scientific and industrial communities.
Time trend of power devices’ power densities
Automotive and aerospace industries rank among those that can most benefit from these devices.
In this context, according to recent development trends focused on “More Electric Vehicle” (MEV) and “More Electric Aircraft” (MEA), the replacement of hydraulic/mechanical actuators with electric drives implies a neat improvement of efficiency and power density, which means also weight reduction, minor fuel consumption and lower emissions of noise and polluting substances.
The added-value of wide bandgap based power devices
The converters based on wide bandgap power devices feature superior characteristics than conventional devices based on silicon (Si). Such devices offer faster switchovers, minor power losses and they can operate at higher voltages and temperatures than their silicon counterparts, so allowing also a further reduction of volume and weight in converters’ cooling system.
Simplified scheme of an electric converter-cable-motor system
«It is then clear – explains Dr Stefano Nuzzo, member of the research team of UniMore, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, “Electrical Converters, Machines and Drives”, together with Professor Davide Barater,Professor Giovanni Franceschini and Mr Marco Pastura – that the new devices based on SiC and GaN semiconductors materials perfectly match the above-mentioned targets».
Simplified scheme of an electric converter-cable-motor system
However, the electric stress combined with the high voltage gradients they can reach, in addition to the combined action of other environmental stresses (like temperature, pressure and humidity) can shorten the life time of the insulation system of electric motors powered by converters that use SiC and GaN semiconductors.
Therefore, reliability problems can emerge in this type of electric drives. Moreover, the physical length of the power supply cables that connect the power converter to the motor can be comparable, or even exceed, the so-called “critical length”. «In this case – Dr Nuzzo underlines– the high rising and falling voltage pulses make cables behave like transmission lines, with waves that travel forward and backward along cables themselves due to the reflection phenomenon. These high-frequency phenomena can cause dangerous overvoltages at motor terminals, up to twice the direct-current bus voltage, the worst case, which can seriously damage the electric insulation of motor windings».
Prototype of the SiC converter used, with possibility of setting different levels of voltage gradients.
In particular, if the values of the dielectric rigidity of insulations are exceeded because of voltage levels at electric motor terminals, conductive phenomena through a portion of the insulation material occur, leading to the so-called partial discharge phenomenon. Partial discharges occur on the surface of the electric insulation, causing a progressive erosion up to the complete breakdown. The critical length is proportional to the switchover time, therefore the very short switching times of SiC and GaN devices have made the cable use problematic even for an extension of few metres. Besides, electric power transmission networks currently proposed for aircrafts are addressing the use of higher and higher voltage levels on bus in direct current, to minimize conduction losses.
“Motorettes” implemented to study the effects of high voltage gradients on the voltage distribution among windings
However, the voltage rise on bus in direct current causes a further stress on the stator winding insulation, thus worsening the issues connected with the use of wide bandgap based devices.
From the state-of-the-art to the progress beyond it
The project RAISE – “Reliable Aircraft electrical Insulation sElection” is framed in this context. The project, started in March 2018, is funded by Clean Sky consortium, the primary research programme on European scale, included in Horizon 2020 funding system, which aims at the development of innovative solutions for the reduction of CO2, of greenhouse gases and of the acoustic pollution. The group of Electrical Machines and Drives – MeltingLab of University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UniMoRe), led by Professor Giovanni Franceschini, is coordinator of RAISE project and Professor Davide Barater is its Principal Investigator. Other two members of the MeltingLab assist their work in the project: Dr Stefano Nuzzo himself and Mr Marco Pastura. «MeltingLab – Dr Nuzzo specifies – collaborates with the main groups of the Department of Engineering “Enzo Ferrari”, of which it too is part, and cooperates with the most renowned area companies operating in the sectors of automotive, electric drives, industrial electronics and electrical machines».
In the last years, the group’s research has focused on electric mobility, mainly working on the design of electric drives for the control of high-performance electric motors through advanced prototypes of power converters with SiC modules, and on the design of electric machines featuring high efficiency and reliability.
Considering all criticalities previously highlighted, it is worth first of all assessing whether the insulating materials currently in use in electrical machines and in electronic power devices are suitable for applications that exploit higher and higher power supply voltages and switching gradients, such as in the case of the wide bandgap based semiconductors previously mentioned. Therefore, the first phase of RAISE project was committed to the analysis of the state-ofthe-art and to the experimental evaluation of insulation materials and systems used in in current aerospace applications. Afterwards, to better understand the impact of high voltage gradients, they have developed some models to quantitatively assess the values observed in a typical system composed by power converter, cable and electric machine, considering the typical operating conditions of the aerospace environment and the dependence on the alternating voltage (three-phase at 115 Vrms versus 230 Vrms).
Typical voltage distribution in the windings of an electric machine
The limit for the direct-current bus voltage was fixed at 1 kV, while the maximum voltage gradient considered is 20 kV/µs. Nevertheless, for these studies, they have considered also higher voltage and gradient levels, which might be reached in the next future. «These models – Dr Nuzzo specifies– can assess also the voltage distribution inside the windings of the electric machine and its dependence on the key parameters of the machine».
RAISE PROJECT (RELIABLE AIRCRAFT ELECTRICAL INSULATION SYSTEM SELECTION)
RAISE (Reliable aircraft electrical insulation system selection) is a 30-month project, receiving funding from the Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. The consortium brings together two of the most prestigious Italian Universities: University of Modena and Reggio
(UniMoRe) and University of Bologna (UniBo). UniMore leads the consortium as project coordinator whereas the company LiebherrAerospace, multinational operating in the aerospace sector, acts as Topic Manager for the project. RAISE aims at investigating and assessing partial discharges and breakdowns of electric insulation in electrical machines’ windings driven by wide bandgap converters of silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN). Goal of the project is offering solutions to improve the reliability of power converters, of machines and of the whole electric drive, without damaging performance and efficiency. Consequently, the aircraft of the future, besides being “more electric”, will be more reliable, more compact and lighter, and fuel consumptions and the environmental impact, mainly measured on CO2 emissions, will be drastically reduced. It will be possible to transfer conceptually and practically the results of the project to the automotive industry, where the same electrification trend is taking place.
To demonstrate the validity and the accuracy of these models and to customize simulation parameters, they have built some “motorettes” representing senting a typical stator slot, suitably wound. Afterwards, they have also built some samples of electric motors, on which they have carried out some specific experimental tests. The experimental bench represents a typical converter-cable-motor system, with which it is possible to set up different levels of direct-current bus voltage and of voltage gradients, eventually exceeding, where required, the maximum pre-established of 20 kV/µs.
Innovative methodologies to reduce high voltage gradients
The project subjected to in-depth study is also aimed at verifying when the partial discharge phenomenon on insulation systems starts. «In this second phase, – Dr Nuzzo highlights – we developed some models based on the estimation of components’ life time and we carried out some experimental tests aimed at studying the impact of the voltage variation speed on partial discharges.
Research team of UniMore, MeltingLab of University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, “Electrical Converters, Machines and Drives”, (from the left): Professor Giovanni Franceschini, Mr Marco Pastura, Professor Barater, Dr Stefano Nuzzo
The investigation was executed considering also the variations of environmental conditions in terms of temperature, humidity and pressure».
The final goal consists in making the developed models represent some guidelines for the detail design of components “free” from partial discharges, through the estimation of the service life of insulation systems. The capability of designing insulation systems free from partial discharges will allow then granting the reliability of all the components of the electric system at stake and consequently of the entire aircraft.
AUTO-MEA PROJECT (AUTOmated Manufactoring of wound components for next generation Electrical Machines)
The final project phase, whose activities will be performed during 2020 and will go on until the end of the project planned by October 2020, will consist in the study and in the development of innovative methodologies for the reduction of the high voltage gradients iat the machine input terminals, without damaging the demanded efficiency and power density requirements.The results of this project – Dr Nuzzo specifies– will allow using power converters based on wide bandgap SiC and GaN semiconductor materials on board of aircrafts. Such converters will be characterized by high power densities and, as direct consequence, we will achieve a substantial reduction of the weight of the aircraft itself, of the fuel consumption and of its environmental impact». The outcomes of the project itself will be used by designers of motors and electric drives to test solutions and to adopt precautions before the implementation of physical prototypes.Since November 2019, UniMoRe has been also the coordinator of the European project AUTO-MEA (AUTOmated Manufacturing of wound components for next generation Electrical machines). The target of the initiative, included in Clean Sky 2 European Research Programme, is the development of new methodologies for the manufacturing of wound components of electric motors to be used in the aerospace field. AUTO-MEA consortium, in addition to UniMoRe, is composed by CopperING srl, reference company in the production of manufacturing lines for electrical machines’ stators in automotive fi ld, and by the University of Nottingham, which acts also as project Topic Manager. The replacement of pneumatic and hydraulic actuators with electric drives standing out for compactness and reliability represents one of the most promising trends nowadays but it needs innovative solutions for the design of electrical machines. AUTO-MEA will focus on the typology of preformed “hairpin” windings that, even providing numerous advantages compared to “random” windings at low frequencies (such as higher reliability and power density), reduce electrical machines’ efficiency at high frequencies. The project is aimed at pushing the boundaries of hairpin windings’ operational frequencies. The results by AUTO-MEA will have relevant repercussions also in other sectors, especially in the automotive industry where the Emilia territory is protagonist on a world scale.
This will improve the reliability of the electric drive and of the whole aircraft, which has always been one of the limiting factors in MEA context. «We expect – Dr Nuzzo concludes– such improvements will exert positive repercussions in both the short and long term and they can be exploited by European electric drive manufacturers to face the Asian market and then to be more competitive on a world scale». (by Gianandrea Mazzola)
The vibro-acoustic analysis is fundamental in the sizing of any mechanical component. Not only because vibrations produce both mechanical and noise effects but also because the mechanical motion can generate stress and/or undesired dynamic behaviour of the system. Besides, the induced stress is correlated to fatigue and can cause premature breakages of the device. The fatigue failure depends on the number of cycles: even if the stress level is by far inferior to the maximum tensile stress of the component, at the end a failure can occur. With the rise of the power density of electric motors and more ad more demanding specifications, the vibration forecast in the initial design phase has then become a very important matter. An operational ambit where is protagonist Spin Applicazioni Magnetiche, service company working in the sector of electromechanical device design and distribution of simulation programmes for electromagnetic devices, electric motors, mechanical analysis and control systems. «In many industrial applications – Alessandro Tassi, CEO of Spin Applicazioni Magnetiche, explains – low vibration/noise levels are demanded: from the automotive industry to household appliances, from the diversified HVAC to the variegated power tools. The comfort of end users is as fundamental as the failure prevention».
The added-value of the multi-disciplinary analysis
Forefront Finite Element calculation instruments (Fem) allow an assessment of the behaviour of an electromechanical device since the first design stages, avoiding corrective actions when it is difficult to modify already advanced design choices, unless with cost increases and with an extension of the product time to market. Spin Applicazioni Magnetiche holds the expertise to guide accurate multi-disciplinary analyses on such theme.
Torque-power performances of the motor for automotive
«From the electromagnetic context of the Fem calculation – Tassi underlines – we extrapolate the electromagnetic forcings and, through a dedicated connection, we evaluate, in the mechanical context of finite elements, the iterations with the mechanical structure equipped with the motor, allowing the determination of the real displacement of all parts, and eventually analysing noise radiation aspects». The company can boast multi-year experience in such applications, both through dedicated consulting in home-appliance field and in automotive sector.
Electromagnetic and vibrational FEA analysis
As confirmed by the numerous assignments entrusted for the management of entire projects, from the initial design to the implementation of very performing prototypes, where the vibro-acoustic analysis has been the key element of the project.
High power density at the service of automotive
The development of a traction motor for sports cars is an example of the above- mentioned workflow. Spin Applicazioni Magnetiche, from simple inputs of power (120 kW) and speed (30,000 rpm) and maximum footprint, has guided the customer to the implementation of prototypes. «The motor design –Tassi further explains – started from the typical white sheet, with electromagnetic and mechanical optimization as elements that have guided the device development since the beginning. The electromagnetic forcings calculated have become the input for mechanical analyses; the motor structure has been optimized to reduce vibrations, stator and rotor laminations, magnets, the frame and the shields were subjected to a single vibro-acoustic optimization».
In comparison with the first hypothesized design of the automotive motor featuring 120 kW of power and 30,000 rpm, the team of Spin Applicazioni Magnetiche has succeeded in notably reducing acceleration peaks
Such approach has allowed notably reducing some acceleration peaks, up to 94% versus the first hypothesized design, the thermal analysis has concluded the design course, providing this brushless motor with remarkable performances in a volume slightly under three litres. «Through this calculation method –Tassi confirms – prototypes were validated and, without turning to design modifications, we could immediately proceed to the implementation of samples for the approvals needed for the mass production. All that with notable decrease of design times and costs».
High efficiency and low noise at the service of the home appliance
The same multi-disciplinary operational methodology was applied in another successful case, for the testing of household appliance motors for which, besides efficiency, also the noise becomes a key issue that makes the difference in the product. «The electromagnetic and mechanical model of a high-speed motor for household appliances –Tassi highlights – has given excellent results of correlation with experimental measurements, too, allowing the customer to understand how to act in the reduction of accelerations in determinate harmonics that generated resonance phenomena with the entire application where the motor itself was mounted».
VIBRATION, THIS (UN)KNOWN
The vibration term specifically refers to a mechanical oscillation around a point of balance. The oscillation can be periodical, like the motion of a pendulum, or random, like the motion of a tire on an asphalt road; the frequency measurement unit for periodical oscillations is the Hertz that corresponds to how many times, in a second, the same configuration occurs again. In many cases, vibrations can represent a wished phenomenon: for instance, in the operation of the diapason and of many musical instruments. However, more often vibrations are not welcome as they can disperse energy and create unwanted sounds and noises. For instance, in the running of cars and motors in general. The studies concerning the sound and the various vibrations are strictly connected. Sounds, pressure waves, are generated by vibrating structures (for instance vocal cords) and pressure waves can generate structure vibration. Therefore, when we try to decrease noise, the issue is reducing the vibration that causes it.
This has permitted to act on the source of the problem, to optimize it and to avoid a long empiric approach to find scarcely flexible and expensive stopgap solutions. It is perfectly clear how the vibro-acoustic multi-disciplinary simulation approach must become a standard workflow for each designer of rotating electrical machines, so avoiding unpleasant surprises during prototype tests. «Spin Applicazioni Magnetiche –Tassi ends – can support its customers both through the supply of specific software and through targeted know-how supported by a long-term experience gained by our skilled team on such fundamental theme».
Alessandro Tassi, CEO Spin Applicazioni Magnetiche
THE COMPANY IN BRIEF
Spin Applicazioni Magneticheis a service company operating in the design of electromechanical devices and the distribution of simulation programmes for electromagnetic devices, electric motors, mechanical analysis and control systems. It pays particular attention to users’ requirements via software customization, creation of prototypes and magnetic measurements.
Spin Applicazioni Magnetiche is also distributor of highly professional calculation software, benchmark in the simulation field for many engineering disciplines, i.e. a very broad range of available programmes that cover all design aspects. The decennial knowhow gained in electromagnetic simulation is completed by expertise in structural mechanical analysis, multi-body, thermal analysis, fluiddynamics (Cfd), mechatronics and all that is typically included in the multiphysics design sphere. In addition,
Spin Applicazioni Magnetiche is also enabled to the training and use of calculation programmes; it supplies technical- scientific consulting, support in the development of new designs and it can take care of complete projects from the initial idea to the production of prototypes and manufacturing technologies.
Comau, pioneer in the development of advanced laser welding processes and applications, has created highly specialized laser laboratories to support companies in the development, implementation and optimization of laser processes that concern the manufacturing and the assembling of electric motors and batteries.
With two laboratories at Grugliasco (Turin) – one specialized in batteries and the other dedicated to e-motors, besides other laboratories in Shanghai and Detroit, Comau has all-round strengthened its value chain in the electric sector with the offer of a broad range of laser processes for various industrial sectors, such as automotive, aerospace, General Industry, energy and Oil & Gas.
In this way, Comau aims at increasing the efficiency, the speed and the value of companies’ productions, allowing them to offer highly competitive solutions in the electrification field.
For this reason, its specialized laser laboratories have been equipped with Comau NJ-220 robots, able to work simultaneously and on different kinds of applications, powered by the innovative LHYTE (Laser Hybrid Technology) system, developed by Comau in collaboration with Prima Electro.
LHYTE is suitable for numerous different applications due to a patented solution that allows automatically alternating fibre and diode laser to guarantee an optimal high-precision junction, fundamental for assembling an electric battery or an electric motor.
Moreover, LHYTE can manage the complexity of working materials, such as copper and aluminium, characterized by different melting temperatures, meanwhile assuring a strong joint tightness with a low level of electrical resistance.
“We can make any type of battery pack with whatever power level, besides, we can assemble the entire electrical battery, from the welding of the single cells that make up a module to the stacking of the various modules that constitute a battery pack, up to the laser welding of the entire “case” – explains Giovanni Di Stefano, Chief Technology Officer – Electrification of Comau. “In our brand-new laboratory we are also developing a similar solution for the laser welding of hairpin motors”.
Comau laser laboratories can be configured, equipped and adapted according to the demanded working process and to the type of product under manufacturing.
Besides satisfying a broad range of applications, Comau develops and optimizes each phase of the laser welding process, from prototyping to the production of pre-series, when requested by customers.
Each project is supported by a dedicated team of engineers, who develop and identify the best welding solution for each customer, with services that range from feasibility studies to the process optimization.
The innovation promised by Infinitum Electric, Texan start-up, concerns the stator. It is implemented in printed circuit board on plastic support instead of with conventional iron. In this solution, the copper circuit is integrated in a single printed circuit board, to reduce the energy dispersions associated to the core, thus proving to be 60% lighter, up to 10% more efficient, more compact and even 25% cheaper than a standard electric motor. Moreover, the electric unit can reduce the torque ripple, minimizing noise while used, can integrate drives in the motor and install all sensors in the printed circuit board stator.
These novelties are expected to make the motor sturdier and more durable because the stator, which contains the entire coil, can boast a thermal expansion coefficient that remains homogeneous in all points. Technologies are protected by 5 patents already registered and other 11 under certification; recently, Infinitum Electric has accomplished the funding of 12.5 million dollars to produce the new motor on a world scale.
«XYT», Dassault Systèmes informed, «has become part of 3DExperience Lab to have access to the 3DExperience platform in cloud to accelerate its mission. The company is ready to collaborate with local and global talents in all fields: from design to engineering, from supplies to customizations. Our software solutions allow the company to carry out configurations and customizations dynamically and quickly, starting from the typical modular architecture of XYT».
Its compact batteries, for whose development it is establishing partnerships energy providers, assure an additional autonomy of one mile per each minute of connection to the network to electric vehicles. In other words, in just ten-twenty minutes the driver of an EV broken down can recover, with all probability, the sufficient energy to return home, at least, safely. To guarantee the compatibility of the accumulator with the broadest possible number of vehicles, the company has exploited the 3DExperience platform and, especially in design phase, on Solidworks. Catia 3D has been used mainly in the passage phase to rapid prototyping while Netvibes Intelligence allows aggregating contents from various online sources, socials included, to orient future industrial developments according to users’ comments.
