Transcript here - Little Heath Sixth Form

Julian Hawes BEng(Hons) CEng MIET
A brief Description of Fusion
The method of creating electricity by using the energy
created by fusing atoms together.
Then the energy created is used to heat water to
produce steam to turn a turbine generator.
Benefits: No nuclear waste. The by-product is helium
There is plenty of Deuterium Fuel
(an isotope of heavy water)
Fusion Power is clean energy
The Sun creates energy by fusion
The average person now is more knowledgeable how electronic
products function than people were 20 years ago.
What is an engineer?
A fun questionnaire
 Is it a person that makes engines?
 Is it a person that designs software?
 Is it a person that repairs the fridge?
 Is it a person that services the coffee machine or
chocolate vending machine?
 Is it someone that repairs the gas boiler?
 Is it a person that operates the sound desk at a
recording studio or music festival?
An engineer is:A qualified person which has knowledge of a
technology to make a manual job or life easier. Can use
technology to solve a problem that a human cannot do
or complete.
Electronics Engineering Skill Areas
An electronics engineer can have a central skill in a
specific area, examples are: Control and Instrumentation
 Programmable Control systems and automation
 High Power and High Voltage equipment
 Radio Frequency microwave systems and
communications
 Programmable Circuitry
A microwave generator called a Gyrotron
This device is used to heat
the gas to a plasma state.
Output Power is 300,000W
max
An equivalent power to 300
large microwave ovens
Operating voltage 80,000V
A typical control cubicle
This cubicle uses the following
technologies as an example
• Fibre Optic Control
• Fast detection circuits
• Programmable power supplies
• Remote indicators
• Power contactors
Scientists are clever people
But they
are not
engineers!
A typical day for an electronics engineer at a science lab
A physicist may come to you and ask
“Hey I need your help, Can you do a design for me?”
“I need a device that measures temperature, shuts off
the water pump and flashes a light when the water gets
too hot. A duty operator will be watching the
equipment when it is operating”
How big is the water pump?
Where is the point you need to
measure the water temperature?
It could be
in a high
voltage area
or not very
accessible
What does the area look like?
The human factor of design
Jim has been working many years.
He has lots of experience in his field
as duty operator.
“Hi Jim. I am designing a new
over temperature trip for that
water pump the physicist has
just fitted”
This is Jim
“I need to talk to you
about the flashing light
to warn you the water
has got too hot!”
The human factor of design
Then you find out:
Jim mentions he is colour blind and gets tired about
3pm. So how is he going to see the flashing red
indicator?
1. Ask what colours is Jim happy with.
2. How big does the indictor have to be
3. Can it fit on the control panel or be external
4. Suggest to fit an audible sounder
(to help in the afternoon)
Some Examples of Indicator
The engineer has to choose what
technology to use to solve the task in hand
 Temperature sensor can be thermocouple or imbedded
into the pipe.
 A fibre optic cable is best used to transmit signals
across the high voltage boundary.
 The pumps can be controlled by a Speed Controller or
if a small pump a contactor switch.
 The light and sounder has to meet legislation in the
area it is used.
Decide on different technology
The whole design could be controlled by a
Programmable Logic Controller.
Q. What different skill does the engineer have
to know or learn to use a Programmable Logic
Controller (PLC)?
A. How to program the PLC using the
software language the PLC uses.
Control Software needs writing and testing
it works as designed.
The design is now chosen
So now we have the design and chosen the
technology by thinking about:
1. The function of the problem to solve.
2. The difficulties involved. Example high voltage or high
up access.
3. How to warn the operator and the ergonomics suitable
for the task.
A SIMPLISITC VIEW OF THE DESIGN
CONTROL ROOM
HIGH VOLTAGE AREA
FIBRE OPTIC
CABLE
Temperature
sensor
PLC UNIT
DUTY OPERATORS
CONTROL PANEL
WITH INDICATOR
AND SOUNDER
COPPER
POWER
CABLE
Water flow
WATER
PUMP
GYROTRON
A Serious Note to Think About
“ It is the engineers responsibility to design and
build equipment to function safely and suitable
for people to use”.
The fun part is being creative in
solving problems or coming up
with a useful design people like.
THANK YOU
FOR LISTENING