Periodic Reporting for period 1 - FanBrake (High heat dissipating Brake for heavy duty vehicles through an enabling annular disc Fan effect (FanBrake))
Berichtszeitraum: 2015-06-01 bis 2015-10-31
The Fennaco System in an innovative, ostensibly simple yet very effective new design of brake that utilises an established physical phenomenon to markedly increase the heat conversion properties of friction surfaces. When applied in its patented form to vehicle brake systems it substantially increases critical performance metrics, including Nusselt and Reynold’s numbers. With scientific properties that deliver optimum performance at low rpm and high loading, its key applications are in the deceleration of large mass objects such as rail bogies and road heavy commercial vehicles.. By delivering increased performance with smaller size, the Fennaco System also offers system packaging benefits in areas where space is at a premium – such as crowded axle assemblies on rail bogies.
The Phase 1 project substantiated the scalability and applicability to the rail market as a stage towards entering the technology into the commercial HGV sector. Interest was established from a number of key regulators, advisory bodies and engineering and manufacturing companies involved in the supply chain from bogie manufacturer to train operator within the rail sector. The intellectual property surrounding the invention is already globally covered with one patent with a second currently being established for immediate application. A detailed search has not revealed any risk to the patent or any competitive offering in the sectors under consideration.
In evaluating the scalability of the technology from early prototype bench testing to full size applications we have established independent proof that not only does the concept work but it also delivers performance as predicted at representative loadings. With further design optimisation the Fennaco System will make major contributions to the safety and line capacity of railways and also form an enabling technology for future rail features, such as regenerative braking, where greater packaging space for undercarriage equipment is required.
In evaluating the scalability of the technology from early prototype bench testing to full size applications we have established independent proof that not only does the concept work but it also delivers performance as predicted at representative loadings. With further design optimisation the Fennaco System will make major contributions to the safety and line capacity of railways and also form an enabling technology for future rail features, such as regenerative braking, where greater packaging space for undercarriage equipment is required.
The immediate objectives are now to secure the best end-user partners for the system from those who are already expressing interest, specifying and creating the designs for the final application and developing and validating the product. Critical to achieving this will be the securing of Phase 2 funding.
Key partners have been secured and plans created to take the design from current prototype to fully engineered application within the next two years.
Key partners have been secured and plans created to take the design from current prototype to fully engineered application within the next two years.