Polymeric electrets have been widely used as a sensor due to their light weight and low cost. The long term performance and reliability of the sensors rely on the charge stability. Surface potential measurement is one of the most useful tools to gauge electrical properties of materials. However, the surface charges (or surface potential) tend to decay over a period of time, therefore, affects the lifetime of the sensor. For corona charged sample, it has been observed that the potential of sample with an initial high surface potential decays faster than that with an initial lower surface potential, known as cross-over phenomenon. This mechanism is also affected by room temperature, humidity and initial charging time. The phenomenon has been found a few decades ago and various theories and models have been proposed. The common feature of the existing models is that they are all based on single charge carrier injection from corona charged surface. With our recent space charge measurement results on corona charged sample, double injection from both electrodes has been verified. Based on this new fact, a new model based on bipolar charge injection has been proposed. In this research, the details of the new model will be tested both experimentally and numerically. If fully verified, it is expected that a new set of parameters related to the material can be extracted and these parameters can be useful in assess the material. Having understood the charge transport mechanisms, another objective of the present project is to improve the stability of the charge. The improvement could be achieved by using nano particles loaded polymers.
Associated research groups
- Electrical Power Engineering
- Electronics and Electrical Engineering
- Date:
- 2009-2012
- Themes:
- Nanomaterials and Dielectrics, Solid dielectrics
Nanocomposites are a class of material that have been generating increasing amounts of interest in recent years. The combination of nano-sized particulates within a virgin material can enhance its properties dramatically and has the potential of improving the performance of the system. As it is believed that the key to nanocomposite behaviour manifests itself within the nanoparticle-matrix interface, it is of great importance to study how changing the surface chemistry can aid nanophase dispersion and affect the material characteristics. This project sets out to use a range of techniques, including confocal Raman spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy,dielectric spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy to investigate how differently functionalised nanoparticles can change the electrical and optical properties of a nanodielectric system.
Primary investigator
- asv
Secondary investigator
- cy3g09
Associated research group
- Electronics and Computer Science
- Date:
- 2009-2010
- Themes:
- High Voltage Engineering, Condition monitoring, Solid dielectrics
- Funding:
- EDF Energy Networks Ltd. (507762102)
Power distribution cable networks are inherently inaccessible and complex systems; many of them are coming to the end of their expected lifespan and are being loaded beyond their original design specifications. The ability to accurately monitor and record the real-time health of these systems is of vital importance to utility companies for activities such as planning, asset management, and pin-pointing possible weaknesses of the network. Partial Discharge (PD) activity has been highlighted as both a cause and symptom of electrical degradation of high voltage equipment. Utilities increasingly use the analysis of PD signals to make more robust maintenance and asset replacement decisions. Additionally, it reduces the likelihood of future supply interruption, and allows replacement or repairs to be planned in advanced. Finally, the use of on-line PD sensing systems can reduce costly down time and help to avoid catastrophic failures.
An EDF Energy Networks sponsored project is taking place at the Tony Davies High Voltage Laboratory, University of Southampton. It involves the introduction of known faults into medium voltage three-phase PILC cable and aims to closely replicate operational conditions. The results produced by the experimental rig in the lab will be obtained using conventional techniques covered by IEC 60270, in parallel with commercially available PD monitoring equipment that is installed in distribution networks worldwide. It is hoped that the research being undertaken will develop the understanding of fault progression with respect to 11 kV three-phase PILC cables.
Primary investigators
- Paul Lewin
- djs
Secondary investigator
- lh3
Partners
- EDF Energy Networks Ltd.
- PPA Energy
Associated research group
- Electronics and Computer Science
- Date:
- 2009-2012
- Themes:
- Pervasive Computing and Networks, e-Science
- Funding:
- JISC
This JISC funded project will develop a set of sustainable tools and framework that will allow neuroscientists to efficiently and effectively use existing e-Infrastructure and by doing so will enable a more productive research cycle, streamlining the laboratory experience from conception of experiment to publication of the research results. The framework and tools will be the product of in depth user requirements analysis, adaptation of existing software, development of key missing components and a tight collaboration between neuroscientists, technologists and resource providers at three HEIs. The collaboration leverages the e-Research South consortium and builds on both a strategic regional activity and University strategy that will provide sustainability beyond the lifetime of the project. The research outputs will include open source software as well as best practice guides and training material.
Primary investigators
- Professor Philip Newland (Neuroscience)
- Professor Vincent O'Connor (Neuroscience)
- Professor Jeremy G. Frey (Chemistry)
Secondary investigator
Partners
- University of Oxford
- University of Reading
Associated research groups
- Intelligence, Agents, Multimedia Group
- Web and Internet Science
- Date:
- 2009-2010
- Theme:
- Virtual Communities and Social Systems
- Funding:
- Medical Research Council (MRC)
There is a need for effective smoking cessation support that can reach smokers who are unwilling or unable to access face-to-face sessions or telephone support (>90% of smokers). There is also a need to develop an incremental technology of behaviour change. The internet could meet both those needs. The proposal is to develop an interactive internet-based smoking cessation programme and evaluate its effectiveness, attractiveness and usability in comparison with a simple system that delivers untailored smoking cessation advice. If effective, this system would form a module for the NHS LifeCheck programme and the NHS Health Trainers Programme.
The proposed research addresses how smokers can be better assisted in their attempts to stop. It aims to: 1. To develop an effective interactive internet-based smoking cessation programme for use in the UK that will have wide potential reach by virtue of being attractive and easy to use and that will, in particular, meet the needs of smokers from routine and manual occupational groups. 2. To obtain reliable estimates of the effectiveness of this programme compared with a simpler internet-based programme that presents advice and tips on quitting but is not interactive.
Primary investigators
- Gary Wills
- Prof Robert West (Epidemilogy and Public Health)
- Prof Lucy Yarley (Health Psychology)
Secondary investigator
- aco
Partner
- ucl
Associated research groups
- Electronic and Software Systems
- Learning Societies Lab
- Date:
- 2009-
- Themes:
- Applied Electromagnetism, Modelling and Simulation, Environmental modelling
- Funding:
- EPSRC
Mapping the underworld (MTU) is a multi-disciplinary, multi-university, research project has been funded by EPSRC to develop the means to locate, map in 3-D and record, using a single shared platform, the position of 100% of buried utility service pipes and cables without excavation. Its research areas include:
1. Development of the multi-sensor array 2. Fusion of sensor data with asset records 3. Enhanced ground penetrating radar 4. Acoustics for pipe location 5. Low frequency electromagnetic field technologies 6. Magnetic field technologies 7. Tuning of the multi-sensor device to the ground conditions 8. Proving trials and specification of a national MTU test facility
This project is one package (WP6) of the whole MTU project. Its aims are to utilise a passive array of magnetic sensors together with advanced signal processing techniques to detect underground electricity cables and other metallic buried infrastructure, and to develop the technique so that it can be integrated in the multi-sensor device.
The work package consists of three interlinked activities: First, finite element modelling of fields from cables and the development of suitable optimisation techniques for estimating their location, using finite element implementations of Maxwellââ¬â¢s equations. Second, small-scale laboratory experiments to compare the theoretical results with fields from cables and adjacent metal pipes. Third, large-scale field trials in a controlled environment in the Frnakfurt Test Facility, and at different ââ¬Ëliveââ¬â¢ sites provided by the project partners.
Primary investigators
- sgs
- Paul Lewin
Secondary investigator
- pw3
Associated research group
- Electronics and Electrical Engineering
- Date:
- 2008-
- Themes:
- Healthcare, Healthcare in ECS, Wireless Sensing and Sensor Networks
Forearm crutches are frequently used in the rehabilitation of an injury to the lower limb, by enabling the patient to reduce or remove weight-bearing on the affected limb. Both excessive loading and unloading of the limb can slow healing or cause further damage, suggesting a need for a program of graduated weight-bearing and activity. Therefore, a patient is instructed by their physiotherapist to apply a certain fraction of their body weight through the crutch axis as they walk. Instructing patients on partial weight-bearing is a difficult task for the physiotherapist as there are currently few objective means of measuring how much weight is going through the affected lower limb. A patientââ¬â¢s perception of the loading on their leg is often prone to considerable error and clinicians can give only subjective feedback as a result of visual inspection.
Primary investigators
Secondary investigator
- Georgina Hallett
Associated research groups
- Electronic Systems and Devices Group
- Electronics and Electrical Engineering
- Date:
- 2009-2010
- Funding:
- JISC
The Microviews project aims to develop a Javascript library that is capable of rendering a preview of an EPrint page that can be used as a tooltip and also as a specialised interface for mobile devices. The preview will show selected EPrints fields with the aim of providing enough information for users to choose whether to follow the link to the full EPrint page. The library will include a simple Javascript hook that can be included on any page containing links to an EPrint. The hook will display the preview as a graphical tooltip when users hover over the link. The JavaScript will also detect mobile devices and rather than a tooltip will insert a mobile friendly gateway page when users select the link.
Microviews will be useable without modifying the EPrints installations themselves, and the scripts will be referenced from a central Microviews server for easy maintainability.
Primary investigator
Secondary investigator
- mmr
Associated research group
- Learning Societies Lab
- Date:
- 2009-2009
- Theme:
- Accessible Technologies
To build an application to replace the TechDis Toolbar and to supplement other tools like those provided by Google and Firefox. To help staff and students irrespective of their skills and abilities when they are interacting with information environments.
Phase 1 Assemble the requirements for the sets of tools and the rationale for delivery and for support
Phase 2 Develop the preferences tool set and the Study tools set
Phase 3 Evaluation and testing with users and other agencies to produce the finished application
Primary investigators
Secondary investigator
- Sebastian Skuse
Partner
- JISC TechDis
Associated research group
- Learning Societies Lab
- Date:
- 2009-2010
- Theme:
- Accessible Technologies
This project funded by JISC TechDis includes the harvesting of the existing accessibility content from previous JISC funded projects, making the data commonly available and searchable and making sure that the engine and data are secure, portable and able to be mirrored.
The development of a system to link the related data, capable of accessing any of the content by searching across the whole data range will be required. Content will need to be viewed from different perspectives, e.g. pedagogy, technology, disability etc.
Primary investigators
Secondary investigators
- Russell Newman
- Sebastian Skuse
- dwf
- tg2
Partner
- JISC TechDis
Associated research group
- Learning Societies Lab