Future of gas engines and micro grids11/16/2023 ![]() ![]() “In my lab we’re doing work with a small company in Cambridge that makes bicycle assist wheels,” says Kirtley. Ĭlean transportation is another source of innovation in electric motors. A variety of innovative new compact motors are being developed all over MIT, says Kirtley, who points to an interesting variable reluctance motor for a prosthetic foot being designed at MIT’s Center for Art, Science and Technology. In the automotive industry, the average automobile has dozens of small motors for things like door locks, wiper blades, air conditioning, and seat positioners.”Įven excluding the separate field of MEMS (micro-electromechanical systems), which Kirtley is not directly involved in, electric motors are now shrinking to as small as the 1 W devices found in cellphones. “I’m now building motors on the order of 100 to 200 Watts for appliance motors, which are kinder and gentler to the system powering them. “I started working with electric motors 40 years ago designing big nuclear generators with 20-foot long rotors that were 6 feet in diameter and could produce a gigawatt and a half of power,” says Kirtley. Many of the newer types of electric motors tend to be much smaller and run on less power than in the past. “For example, I’m working with someone who is making robots for medical assist, and he needs motors with very special characteristics.” “If you take into account the specific application, you can build a motor that is far better adapted than a general purpose motor,” says Kirtley. Yet, electric motors also tend to be more responsive, and are more adaptable to new applications, especially in smaller devices.Īs one of the world’s leading experts on electric motors, Kirtley’s philosophy is that one size does not fit all. The ongoing transition from gas to electric is primarily driven by the need for more efficient devices that run with cleaner energy sources. We’re also seeing a lot more electric motors in robots.” “Electric motors are being used more widely in ships, airplanes, trains, and cars. ![]() “Something like 40 percent of electric power is used to drive motors, and that number will only grow,” says James Kirtley, a professor in MIT’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and in MIT’s Research Laboratory of Electronics. Today, they continue to replace diesel and gas engines, as well as hydraulic cylinders, while evolving into new designs optimized for robots and other technologies. Professor James Kirtley Credit: David SellaĮlectric motors have been around since Thomas Davenport built the first functional model in 1834, and they have played a growing part in our lives ever since. ![]()
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