University of Utah Electric Motor Team

(Grand Canyon Project)

This team of four mechanical engineering students will focus on the Year I deficiencies of insufficient motor performance and excessive heat buildup. This team’s goals include acquiring and implementing a new electrical motor to either replace or work with the current electrical motor platform, quantifying and optimizing the performance of the electric motor(s), providing sufficient cooling to dissipate heat from the motors and wires during all modes of operation, and limiting noise created by the motors and drive system. Anticipated difficulties for this group include meeting the heat dissipation requirements and implementation of the new motor into the current configuration in order to meet power requirements from GCROA.

Specific tasks to be completed include:

Performance testing of Year 1 electric motor using dynamometer

Performance comparison with existing gasoline motors using dynamometer

Review of electric motor options to match/exceed gasoline motor performance

Acquisition of new higher-performance electric motor

Incorporation of new electric motor onto UofU lower unit from Year 1

Performance testing of new electric motor

Evaluation of cooling needs: design of cooling system for motor

Performance testing of new electric motor using UofU snout with instrumented thrust plate (with Thrust Plate Team)

Performance comparison of new electric motor with existing gasoline motors using UofU snout with instrumented thrust plate (with Thrust Plate Team)

The Electric Motor team will collaborate with both the Thrust Plate and the Power Control System teams from the University of Utah. Additionally, the Electric Motor team will collaborate with the outboard “Lower Unit” teams from both Northern Arizona University and Arizona State University.

 

Mid-Year Presentation