3D Printed Electrical Steel: Opportunities and Challenges

The Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology (Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment) invites you to a webinar entitled:3D Printed Electrical Steel: Opportunities and Challenges” 

• Name of the presenter: Prof . Shanelle N. Foster
• Title of presentation: 3D Printed Electrical Steel: Opportunities and Challenges
• Date: 26 April 2022
• Time: 14:00 (Pretoria Time)

MS Teams: https://tinyurl.com/UJFEBE

Contributors:

Patrick Kwon, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University and Carl Boehlert, Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Michigan State University

Abstract:

Electrical steel plays a key role in the energy conversion of electrical machines. Machine design and operating conditions are important considerations for electrical steel selection. The magnetic properties of the electrical steel largely influences efficiency. Losses in electrical steel can contribute 15 – 25% of total loss under sinusoidal excitation and even more with non-sinusoidal excitation. Performance of electrical machines is a function of both soundness of the design and the accuracy of the manufacturing process. Additive manufacturing (3D printing) technologies are pushing the boundaries in manufacturing; realizing customized parts that are lightweight and complex. These technologies can potentially overcome many challenges currently limiting realization of innovative, efficient, and robust electrical machine designs. Additively manufacturing the magnetic core can potentially minimize the negative performance impacts of subtractive manufacturing processes to deliver the desired improvements.

This presentation includes experimentally extracted magnetic properties and microstructure of 3D printed electrical steel. The presentation also discusses opportunities to capitalize on the unique versatility of 3D printing technologies to incorporate diversity in design to realize high performance electrical machines.

Brief Bio:

Shanelle N. Foster received B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at her alma mater, where she co-directs the Electrical Machines and Power Electrics Research (EMPowER) Laboratory. Her research interests include analysis, control, reliability, and manufacturability of rotating and linear electrical machines and drives.