CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

Advanced High Torque Density Magnetically Geared Generator
Principal Investigator: Jonathan Birduntitled
Co-PI: W. Williams UNCC
Award Period: July 2014 – June 15 2017
Award Amount: $500,000
Link to press release

January 2016, Sub-scale magnetic gearbox testing:

(The magnets on the outer rotor were not glued into place and so the noise heard is due to these magnets moving about)

 

March 2016 – Senior Design Project – Vertical Axis Wind Turbine with Magnetic Gearbox

NSF_ImageAn Investigation into the Performance of Magnetically Geared Devices for Marine Hydrokinetic and Wind Applications
Principal Investigator: Jonathan Bird
August 15th 2014 – August 14th 2017
$388,508
Link to more information

Ocean Energy Power Take-off using Magnetic Gearing
Principal Investigator: Jonathan Bird
Co-PI: W. Williams, UNCC                             July. 1. 2015 – June. 30st 2016
$245,000

Video showing testing of 1:4.166 gear ratio axial flux focusing magnetic gearbox:

URL Link to video shown above (36MB)

PAST RESEARCH PROJECTS

Development of a Low Cost form of Maglev Transportation Using Electrodynamic Wheels
Principal Investigator: Jonathan BirdNSF_Image
September 1st 2009 – August 31st 2013
$349,134
Link to more information

 

Video showing vehicle lift off above aluminum sheet guideway wheel:

Video of sub-scale electrodynamic wheel vehicle suspended and travelling over a completely flat guideway track:

 

 

NASA / NC State Space Grant
Electromagnetic Launch Assist using Electrodynamic Wheels
Principal Investigator: Jonathan Bird
July. 1. 2011 – Sept. 30st 2014
$25,000
Link to more information
 

 

 

Ocean Energy Power Take-Off Using Magnetic Gearing
Principal Investigator: Jonathan Bird
Co-PI: W. Williams, UNCC                             July. 1. 2014 – June. 30st 2015
$305,000

Ocean Energy Power Take-Off Using Magnetic Gears – Year 3

 Principal Investigator: Jonathan Bird
Co-PI: W.Williams, UNCC, S.Bhattacharya, NCSU  July. 1. 2013 – June. 30st 2014
$334,000

Video discussing research as of 2013:

Ocean Energy Power Take-Off Using Magnetic Gears – Year 2
Principal Investigator: Jonathan Bird                  Co-PI: A. Zhou, UNCC, S. Bhattacharya, NCSU
July. 1. 2012 – June. 30st 2013
$348,946

 

Example of sub-scale magnetic gear vector potential field lines

For more details refer to: http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/TIA.2014.2312551

 

Ocean Energy Power Take-Off Using Magnetic Gears – Year 1
Principal Investigator: Jonathan Bird                    Co-PI: A. Zhou, UNCC,  S. Bhattacharya, NCSU
July. 1. 2011 – June. 30st 2012
$223,605