VDS GROEP T Motor team
The motorteam finished the design of the PMSM motor in September 2008. This motor is obviously controller by the PMSM controller, which will be finished in Q2 2009. The production of the Switched Reluctance Motor is scheduled in Q1 2009. The VISION GT will be driven by an 30 KW SRM motor, 100% developed and designed by VDS GROEP T. The SRM motor has significantly better results in the life cycle analysis, compared to all other electric motors. Next to a cheap, fast and environment friendly production, it has a very high efficiency while in use.
Maarten Vanhove and Thomas are working together on the Switched Reluctance Motor for the Vision GT. This 30 kW motor is fully self-designed and researched under the VDS project and of course framing the characteristics of the motor in the environmentally friendly aspect of the project. Due to lack of rare metals (magnets) and an extremely robust construction this motor has an excellent Life Cycle Cost.
At this moment are Thomas and Maarten in the completion of the phase "Geometric adjustments." This means that the geometric design of the engine is as good as finished and that soon a thermal analysis will take place. The actual construction of the engine is no longer so far away!
Of course there is an awful amount of much work preceded. The motor team, after an extensive literature study, started with the design of an analytical software program on which a first image can be formed of the average torque that the motor will generate. This way you can make a rough estimate of the size of the motor.
After this initial estimate is time to verify the results with a finite element package. The team uses the software engine Magnet ®. With this incredible software many geometries can be tested in a quick and reliable way, e.g. particularly adjustments of stator and rotor angles, air gap width, curvature of stator poles, etc.
2008-2009 VDS GROEP T Objectives
Submitted by Arthur Vijghen on October 1, 2008 - 9:00am.Mid summer of 2008, VDS produced the first VISION prototype in the Turin, Italy. Based on this experience, VDS GROEP T now develops a second prototype, the VISION GT. It will be assembled in spring 2009. The prototype will effectively be used for drive tests and endurance tests. The VISION GT will be a VDS GROEP T car: it will show the lightweight frame, electric motor and motor controller to the maximum. The power train, power steering, suspension and braking systems will be incorporated from another existing car. Our researchers won’t focus on these integration components; the innovative sub systems have our priority.
This academic year, the frame team will focus on composites in particular. They want to develop and build a 100% carbon composite frame. Our researchers also explore the possibilities of flax fibres, because they have an impressive low life cycle impact – which is the de facto target of VDS GROEP T. The frame will be produced in cooperation with several industrial partners.
The motor team finished the design of the PMSM motor in September 2008. This motor is obviously controller by the PMSM controller, which will be finished in Q2 2009. The production of the Switched Reluctance Motor is scheduled in Q1 2009. The VISION GT will be driven by a 30 KW SRM motor. The SRM motor has significantly better results in the life cycle analysis, compared to all other electric motors. Next to a cheap, fast and environment friendly production, it has a very high efficiency while in use.
The motor controller team will focus on two specific domains: the hardware implementation of the PMSM controller algorithm – both controller and high power electronics – and the first develop cycle of the SRM algorithm. In Q2 2009 VDS GROEP T will show their PMSM controller, and a first version of the SRM algorithm.
Maarten Vanhove
Maarten Vanhove was born on the 22nd of November in the year 1986, after a scientific education at the Saint Peterscollege in Louvain it was clear that the engineering genes were passed on. Group T became an obvious choice for his higher education. Especially the interesting projects that this school promotes were a big part in the decision to join the VDS-project. Next to the world improving character that this project surrounds, there is the international aspect that made the biggest impression on Maarten, working together with universities all over the world, who wouldn’t dream about that? After hours you probably can find Maarten behind the bar at Eclips, Old Market, where he works as a bartender.
Hobbies: Cinema, music, books
Thomas Gheysen
Thomas Gheysen was born in Leuven. He went to primary school in Kessel-Lo. After this period he decided to go to the secondary school named Sint Pieters College at Leuven. There he discovered his interests in sciences. That also convinced him to enter the engineering course at GROUP T Leuven, the ultimate place of interest. There, he learnt a lot about engineering and developing his skills. After Thomas Gheysen succeeded on the bachelor course, he was searching for a thesis that was more then a regular thesis. The solution was building the Vision 200, a worldwide project. With this project he wants to increase his skills, discover the world of engineers and improve the world.
Hobbies: Painting and drawing, climbing, jogging
