First Graduate Job

I have Finally secured my first Graduate Job with Hoare Lea who are a verry big building services engineering consultancy with office all over the uk and some locations abroad. I think this is a verry good opportunity and i will ensure that i do my verry best to succeed and move forward with my career.

I will be starting with these guys within the birmingham office on the 10/06/2013.


Wish me look!

Graduation Day

The picture below shows a picture of myself and my Grandad.

My grandad was the inspiration and my motivation for me starting and continuing throughout my studies and working life within the electrical industry. He has helped me the good times and the bad times even to the point of researching some information for me within only an hours notice. I truly believe if it wasent for my grandad i wouldn't be where i am today.

Grandad thank you for teaching me everything i will endeavour to ensure the generations to come benefit from the knowledge you passed down to me.

MnP Electrical will live forever. 

RESULTS

 I have finally graduated with a First Class BEng Hons in Electrical Electronic Engineering. 

Final Product Demonstration

Please see the video below:

Thanks for Reading


Kind Regards Daniel Floyd BEng MIET

Final Product and Testing.

The results show that the cantilever beam works better for energy generation than the direct pressure method illustrated through the deformation factor of each. Further physical testing has then been conducted using the chosen material proving that that the applied stress is directly proportional to the generated voltage and that the Piezo generated 16V (direct pressure) and 36V (cantilever beam) therefore illustrating the deformation is greater under the cantilever beam, thus this being the best method which was then used for the energy harvesting application. 

Numerous Piezo Plates connected in an array configuration has been used to step charge an input capacitor through a bridge rectifier. The UVLO monitors the voltage across the capacitor and only allows power flow whilst the capacitor is charged 250mV above the set input voltage. A DC – DC converter regulates the voltage to 3.5V it was then found that this would turn the load on and off. i was then able to stabilize this light source and create extra accessories to demonstrate the full benefit of this power source 

Energy Harvesting

Since completing my research and simulation on the Piezoelectric technology i have been looking at various energy harvesting circuit available on the market. I don't want to reinvent the wheel i would like to utilise as much product as possible, because there are other micro power technologies i decided it would be easier to utilise another form of harvesting circuit rather then to create my own.

Linear Technologies LTC3588 is very good device witch comes in a variety of form either solder on components or as a demonstration board. It was decided between myself and the university that i would use the demonstration board and then they would be able to use this following my departure for future students.

I don't want to give out mass amounts of much technical information into the public realm and therefore please email me for more information regarding this device.

Update on Progress.

I haven't posted in a while because iv been extremely busy with university work we have lots of deadlines. and lots of exams to start revising for. 

Since my research i have understood alot more of the technical details of the piezoelectric technology and how this generates electricity. A 3rd year thesis is just not understanding the technical knowledge but proving you are able to become an expert with in depth knowledge of a particular topic or field. To demonstrate that i am able to grasp the engineering principles behind piezoelectric technology i have decided to take a look at the mathematical model of chosen material. The following formula shows the mathematical model needed to obtain the voltage given under a certain pressure. 

Where G31 is the piezoelectric voltage constant and f3 is the resonant frequency constant. To calculate this i first had to calculate my G3 and F3 values which eventually gave me 36.23V and a quiescent current value of 975nA

To prove my mathematical formula was correct i learnt how to use Comsol Multiphysics and proceeded to build a simulation to how the different pressures would effect the output voltage. To do this i had to build all of the properties of my chosen piezoelectric material and then create a mapped mesh, on completion of this i began to apply different pressures and measured the voltage applied. I then programmed Comsoll to preform a preformed a parametric sweep to generate a graph of the of the voltage against pressure as shown below: 

The graph demonstrates a voltage of -33 V being generated with an applied load of 804N this is a negative voltage due to the direction of which the pressure is applied therefore if we were to reverse the direction of pressure the voltage would be positive although this simulation implies a difference of 3.23V from the calculation of section 4. This is due to the material parameter differences and given the correct material programmes these measurements would be more accurate, which demonstrates that the mathematical equations taken from APC Piezoelectric Ceramics publication are of correct form for the PZT Cantilever beam.  The FEA has allows us to critically analyse and demonstrate that our research into Piezoelectric plates used in the direct effect is ‘FACT’ thus allowing us to progress onto developing an energy harvesting circuit to demonstrate the Piezo energy generator. 

Name Change

I have conducted more research into this technology and I have been experimenting with some various circuits and simulations to decide which would be the best route for me to take with my thesis. I have kept records of all my my research so that if needed in future times i am able to look back and recap on the work i have done.

The title of your thesis is verry important as this should highlight a purpose to the report and let the reader know what the thesis is about, this is usually formed of the main learning outcomes of the thesis.

After Reviewing the research i conducted the main outcomes and learning objectives of my thesis have changed and therefore i have been forced to rethink my title, after some deep thought and numerous ideas i finally decided on the following:

"Analysis of Piezoelectricity and How This can be used for Micro Power Generation"

Book

American Piezo LTD (2011). Piezo ELECTRIC CERAMICS: Principles and Applications . 2nd ed. Mackeyville,PA: APC Internationsl,LTD.. PAGES.

PZT Current Applications.

PZT materials are currently used for :-

Sensors - Acceleration and Pressure.
Sonar Devices.
Medical Applications.
Actuators - Video Casset and Pneumatic Valves.
Sonic devices - Buzzers and high frequency loud speakers

all of the devices shown above are using the CONVERSE Piezo electric effect.

Generators - Spark igniter's and solid state batteries

This is the most common form of the DIRECT Piezo electric effect.

PZT Popularity

PZT Popularity. 

PZT material is one of the most common Piezo ceramics used today. These ceramics are the preferred choice because they are chemically inert and physically strong, although these ceramics have to undergo a complex process to manufacture these are inexpensive materials. These materials are also verry popular because they can be tailor made to specific dimensions and requirements.

Copy Right.

I hereby declare that my copyright is attached to all of my personal details, illustrations, comics, paintings, professional photos and videos, etc found within this blog.

For commercial use of the above my written consent is needed at all times!
I notify Anybody that it is strictly forbidden to disclose, copy, distribute, disseminate, or take any other action against me on the basis of this profile and/or its contents. The aforementioned prohibited actions also apply to employees, students, agents and/or any staff. 

 The content of this profile/Blog is private and confidential information. The violation of my privacy is punished by law (UCC 1 1-308-308 1-103 and the Rome Statute).

The device shown is a Piezo transducer which will be used to create our electrical power.  

 These Piezo transducers will be sandwiched between two pieces of foam to give more mechanical strength.

 Testing the output voltages of these pads allows us to simulate the piezo effect on Multsim or Matlab/Simulink.

 Simple test watching an LED light up when pressure is applied to the Piezo Transducer.

Project Definition.

engineers have the task of supplying the world with electricity to power the ever growing digital revolution.  There are many ways to do things by harnessing energy from sunlight, wind and tidal which creates electricity in medium quantities. Engineers are putting their efforts into renovating these ideas to harness as much power as possible to come up against the likes of coal and oil. A new approach to this would be  if engineers were to put more prominence in creating electrical power in smaller quantities i.e generate power for individual items such as street lights to combat them from drawing electricity from the national grids supply. Could this solution be the way of the future thus reducing the need of non renewable plants? 

There are many types of energy forms that can be converted into electricity that have not yet been investigated into fully, S,Hawking (1991, PP.155) states that “one such black hole could run ten large power stations, if only we could harness its power” This proves that there are many ways to produce electrical power still to date that we as ‘engineers’ are able to investigate into.

The University of Derby Electrical Electronic Engineering Degree contains a module “Independent Engineering Project” for which I Daniel Floyd proposes the following title and aims for my project.

‘Design and Build of a Micro Generation Exercise Matt to Charge a Portable Device, Analysing the use of Piezo Electricity’

 Aims & Project Definition 

o   Innovate and Build of a micro generation exercise matt to charge a portable device.

o   Gain experience and knowledge in mechatronics & micro generation.

o   Analysis of Piezo electronics and how this technology can be used and designed into various scenarios. 

Check back at a later date to fine out more about this project

Update on dissertation.

Hi,

I haven't been here in a while because i have been extremely busy with university work and my work experience. 

After blogging last time about my proposal i thought i had better update you all on what has been happening: 

1. I have been researching into my project idea in more detail. 

2. I have been writing my proposal ready for hand in (last week)

3. I have received final confirmation on my project idea. 

4. I have set up a final meeting with my project tutor to discuss my idea in more detail. 

5. And finally i have began to order my materials. 

During this time changes have been made which i am not going to go into to much detail about but if you do how ever want to know more do not hesitate to contact me on 07852154842. 

I am now pleased to announce the title of my dissertation.  

"Design and build of a portable charging device using either solar or piezo electricity, including a manual switching device to change the energy input depending on the external conditions, to influence a downscale in power demand on the national grids supply”.

Reading back through my previous blog's i unfortunately didn't hit my desired goal of finishing my project but i have got all of the relevant paper work completed and i have started the build process although this is going to take me some time.

Ok this is enough for now i will be updating this on a regular basis so keep checking back to see the build of my project. 

Thanks DF 

Proposal.

First draft of my Dissertation has been put together and sent to my lectures at the university of derby. They will either approve or reject my idea, if it is rejected they will ask me to think of another idea to be resubmitted for approval.  Once an idea has been accepted and finalised I can put together a full proposal ready for an official submittal.
DF

Acceptance.

Hi guys 

 I spoke to a member of my staff today from the University of Derby and asked if they would guide me through my independent engineering project, they emailed me today 03/07/2012 with confirmation of my chosen idea.  A copy of the email I received is detailed below.

"Hi Dan,

This is sound good to me.

Please make sure that you can deliver the project within the timescale recommended.

I know that you have already developed a potential knowledge on the area. So I will be happy to see you exercising it and strengthening your practical skills.

Many thanks and I look forward to see your progress.

Best regards,"    

03/07/2012 I can now begin to draw up an Auto C.A.D design files to form part of my proposal which will also detail my budget plans, time scales.  I will be ready to hand my document in during early October by this date i hope to have the majority of my project built and in full working order.  

With having only 2 months left I must make a quick move to get the project completed if I am going to reach my desired goal.   

Wright soon  DF