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The purpose of this paper is to analyze the influence of different parameters on the characteristics of the superconducting electrodynamic suspension (EDS) system.

The authors used an analytical model based on the dynamic circuit theory to perform the analysis. The authors proposed an inductance criterion to improve the calculation accuracy. They also proposed a three-dimension finite element method (FEM) to verify the validity of the analytical model.

The levitation force and guiding force increase with the superconducting magnet (SCM) speed and show a saturated trend, while the drag force decreases with the SCM speed. The vibration characteristic is the inherent characteristic of the superconducting EDS. The frequency and amplitude are affected by the gap between adjacent null-flux coils. The levitation force first increases and subsequently decreases with the levitation height. The total levitation force of the SCM increases with the superconducting coil (SC) number, while the average levitation force of an SC decreases with the SC number. The total levitation force nonlinearly increases with the SC number.

The authors introduced an inductance criterion for better understanding and using the analytical model, and they also proposed a 3D FEM method. The 3D FEM method could be extended to simulate the other EDS systems with more complex structures which the numerical model is no longer applicable. The results of the parameter study could deepen people’s understanding of EDS.

Compares matched samples of precision engineering plants in Britain and The Netherlands. Suggests that labour productivity levels in British industry are 25‐30 per cent lower than in The Netherlands. This is seen to reflect slower investment in new capital equipment and lower average levels of workforce skills in Britain. The widespread provision of full‐time vocational education in The Netherlands is said to enable Dutch employers to carry out further training to technician and craft levels more quickly and cost‐effectively. Although British engineering companies are devoting more resources to initial and continuous training, this is insufficient to offset the initial Dutch advantage.

The purpose of the paper is to investigate the performance of induction machines with fractional‐slot concentrated‐windings.

This paper examines induction machine performance with fractional‐slot concentrated windings using the standard distributed lap windings as reference. Four designs are compared and various performance tradeoffs highlighted. The first machine has integral‐slot distributed 2 slots/pole/phase lap winding and it serves as the reference winding. The second machine has a double‐layer 1/2 slot/pole/phase winding, a workhorse for brushless DC machines. The third machine has double‐layer 2/5 slot/pole/phase winding. Lastly, the fourth machine has single‐layer 2/5 slot/pole/phase windings. The comparison includes torque‐speed curves (including the effects of major space harmonic components), rotor bar losses, and ripple torque levels.

Based on the analysis results presented here, the traditional distributed lap winding is proven to be superior to FSCW in terms of torque production and rotor bar losses for induction machine applications. The 1/2 spp shows some promising results in terms of torque production, in addition to significant reduction and simplification of end turns with lower number of coils albeit with more turns/coil (12 slots vs 48 slots). The penalty is the additional rotor bar losses due to the 2nd and 4th harmonic mmf components. The 2/5 spp is not promising for torque production and should be avoided. The transient simulation results that simultaneously take into account the effects of all space harmonics and magnetic saturation showed comparable trends compared to the harmonic analysis results. It has also been shown that FSCW tend to have higher torque ripple compared to distributed windings.

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this paper for the first time attempts to quantitatively address the tradeoffs involved in using FSCW in induction machines.

This study aims to extract an analytical model for five-phase fault-tolerant permanent-magnet vernier machines (FTPMVMs) based on the analytical solution of Maxwell’s equations, which has some advantages than the finite element model.

FTPMVMs enhance the torque density by combining the vernier characteristics and the fault-tolerant feature. The principle operation of FTPMVMs is discussed based on the magnetic field modulation due to both permanent magnets and armature current. The analytical solution of the magnetic vector potential in each sub-region is obtained based on the sub-domain technique.

According to the calculated magnetic vector potential, the magnetic flux density, torque, self- and mutual inductance and back-electromotive force are calculated. The FEM is used to validate the results obtained from the proposed analytic model.

Two-dimensional analytical method is used to obtain the electromagnetic model of FTPMVMs.

The purpose of the paper is to show that how a new magnetic circuit, which the paper could not imagined beforehand, may be obtained using a newly developed ON/OFF topology optimization method by applying it to the design of magnetic head and motor.

ON/OFF optimization technique combined with finite element method.

It is shown that 3-D topology optimization of SPT head, in which the recording head is increased and the leakage flux is decreased, is possible using the proposed method. The optimization of IPM motor with the minimum torque ripple and the maximum toque is also examined.

3-D ON/OFF optimization method applied to practical problems considering the nonlinearity and rotation of rotor, etc.

This study seeks to apply finite element analysis to study the proximity effect in a multi‐pickup inductively coupled power transfer system, quantify the effect and propose improved pick‐up configurations.

A mixture of approximate analytical formulae and accurate finite‐element simulations has been used as a tool for qualitative and quantitative analysis. Simplified consideration of magnetic flux paths aids understanding, whereas detailed numerical computation provides reliable performance prediction.

It is shown that a multi‐pickup formation of conventional E‐pickups may lead to power loss due to negative coupling between neighbouring pickups and that the phenomenon is nonlinear. Thus, two novel configurations for multi‐pickup systems have been proposed, an alternately‐directed Z‐pickup and a spilt‐type E‐pickup, both showing improved linearity, increased total power and more efficient use of ferromagnetic material.

The investigation aimed mainly at the electromagnetic performance, while economic issues will still need to be addressed.

The proposed pick‐up configurations may be very helpful in systems where improved performance is needed but space or configuration limitations restrict or eliminate the possibility of using other designs.

The finite‐element aided magnetic field simulation has proved invaluable in achieving difficult design objectives. The combination of a simplified analytical approach and detailed numerical analysis has provided a reliable tool for accomplishing improved designs.

As arc suppression coils (ASCs), magnetically controlled reactors (MCRs) are usually operated in the single-phase mode. Due to the lack of a third order harmonic compensation circuit, the current harmonics are high. The purpose of this paper is to propose a novel structure of MCR and a genetic algorithm (GA) to determine the parameters which will result in minimum total harmonics.

This paper proposes the structure and the working principle of the multi-valve controlled saturable reactor (MCSR). There are several sorts of magnetic valves in the iron cores of the MCSR. The saturation degree of each magnetic valve is different when the same direct component of the magnetic flux is generated in the iron core, therefore current harmonics of different phases emerging, i.e. the total harmonics can be reduced. The magnetization characteristics and the mathematical model of the current harmonics of the MCSR are presented by introducing three parameters. The optimal values of the parameters that result in the smallest total harmonic distortion in the output current are calculated by a GA.

The simulation and experimental results are coincident with the theoretical analyses, which prove the effectiveness of the proposed method on harmonic suppression.

The method proposed in this paper can successfully reduce the current harmonics of the conventional MCR, including but not limited to the ASC. A prototype MCSR (540 kVA/10 kV) has been designed and constructed.

In this paper, a MCSR is proposed. The mathematical model of the MCSR for harmonic analysis is developed. The optimal parameters that result in the smallest THD in the output current are calculated. The mathematical model can be also used for the harmonic analysis of conventional MCRs.

The purpose of this paper is to analyse and improve the temperature uniformity of aluminium billets heated by superconducting DC induction heaters.

A 3D electromagnetic model coupled with a heat transfer model is developed to calculate the heating process of the billets which are rotated in uniform transverse DC magnetic field. A laboratory-scale DC induction heater prototype has been built to validate the model. The results from simulation and measurement have a good agreement. The model is used to investigate the factors affecting the temperature uniformity of aluminium billets.

The results from simulation show that lower rotation speeds always mean better temperature uniformity along the radial direction, due to the increase in power penetration. However, the situation is very different for the temperature distribution along the axial direction. When the rotation speed is low, the temperature at the ends is lower than other parts. The situation reverses as the rotation speeds increase. This phenomenon is referred to as the “ending effect” in this paper.

Because of the ending effect, a lower rotation speed does not always result in better overall temperature uniformity, especially for billets of smaller sizes.

There is an optimal rotation speed that yields the best overall temperature uniformity. Lower rotation speeds are not always preferred. The results and numerical model developed are very useful in the design of a superconducting DC induction heater.

The temperature uniformity of aluminium billets heated by DC induction heaters is investigated and optimized.

This paper aims to report the modelling and simulation work that predicts the behaviours of both a Josephson junction (JJ) and a dc superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). It is pertinent to predict the SQUID magnetometers’ behaviours via simulations, before subjecting them to real experiments because they are quite expensive to acquire, and can be easily damaged during test analysis.

To achieve this, power simulation (PSIM) was used to model and simulate a JJ, using the basic equation that describes the effective current through it. A dc SQUID magnetometer, which is composed of two JJs, was then modelled and simulated using the modelled JJ. Thermal noise simulation is also included, to observe its effects on the magnetometer’s output. A directly coupled flux-locked loop circuit was later included in the simulation to amplify and linearise the SQUID’s output, which is usually sinusoidal.

When steady bias currents were applied to the JJ, the resulting voltage across it was seen to oscillate. The JJ’s and SQUID’s voltage–current characteristics, and voltage–flux characteristics were also observed in the simulations, and the results respectively agree with the behaviours of a typical JJ and dc SQUID magnetometer.

A way of simulating SQUIDs, without a superconducting simulation tool, is presented. The work provides a much simpler way of studying the behaviour of dc SQUID magnetometers, due to the easy accessibility and fast simulation capability of the software used, with an added advantage of being able to simulate the thermal noise effects, without having to import this facility from secondary software.

Metaheuristic algorithms have been commonly used as an optimisation tool in various fields. However, optimisation of real-world problems has become increasingly challenging with to increase in system complexity. This situation has become a pull factor to introduce an efficient metaheuristic. This study aims to propose a novel sport-inspired algorithm based on a football playing style called tiki-taka.

The tiki-taka football style is characterised by short passing, player positioning and maintaining possession. This style aims to dominate the ball possession and defeat opponents using its tactical superiority. The proposed tiki-taka algorithm (TTA) simulates the short passing and player positioning behaviour for optimisation. The algorithm was tested using 19 benchmark functions and five engineering design problems. The performance of the proposed algorithm was compared with 11 other metaheuristics from sport-based, highly cited and recent algorithms.

The results showed that the TTA is extremely competitive, ranking first and second on 84% of benchmark problems. The proposed algorithm performs best in two engineering design problems and ranks second in the three remaining problems.

The originality of the proposed algorithm is the short passing strategy that exploits a nearby player to move to a better position.