Driven by global warming pressures on energy output and environmental concerns arising from fossil fuel usage, a ‘new electric society’ is rapidly emerging. The recent expansion of the electric car industry has been well observed but fully electric trucks, highways, and even aeroplanes are all under development.

Magnetic properties

With their well-defined magnetic properties, electrical steels are the basis of the electricity generators, power and distribution transformers, and electric motors at the heart of electrification technologies. Cogent’s facilities in Wales, Sweden, and Canada are focusing on producing 150,000 tonnes of both grain-oriented and non-oriented steels for these applications. Energy efficiency is critical and even small gains here will lead to significant cost savings and an edge over competitors in this expanding sector.

Cogent are benefitting from the wide range of cutting-edge materials characterisation and modelling techniques available in CEEM, which specialise in understanding the properties of electrical steels down to the nanoscale. Such a combination of experimental and theoretical expertise offers Cogent a unique set of facilities not available with their other academic partners.

Dr Andrew Pratt, from the University’s School of Physics, Engineering and Technology said: “CEEM incorporates state-of-the-art electron microscopy, electron spectroscopy, and magnetic measurements with world-leading materials modeling capabilities so that we are extremely well-placed to work with companies such as Cogent to develop energy efficient materials.”

Partnership working

The partnership is broad in scope with CEEM researchers working on a number of defined projects that span novel magnetic alloys, grain and domain characterisation, and the effects of surface treatment and roughness on performance. Additionally, thermophotovoltaic materials developed in CEEM show great potential in recovering heat from steel processing and feeding electricity back into the plant.

Site visits to Orb Electrical Steels Ltd, Cogent’s facility in Newport, have allowed CEEM researchers to fully appreciate the scientific goals from an industry standpoint. Conversely, reciprocal visits by Cogent’s R&D team to York have showcased CEEM’s facilities and expertise and sharpened project objectives. The collaboration has also benefited from two CEEM Summer Studentships. A York undergraduate is also currently working at Cogent’s plant in Surahammar, Sweden, as part of the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology Year-in-Industry programme.

Dr. Fiona Robinson from Cogent Power said:“As a result of our relationship with the academics at CEEM, Cogent Power have been introduced to the WRIPA Year-in-Industry (YII) programme at York.

“This has enabled us to engage an excellent second year student who is based at Surahammar, Sweden undertaking electromagnetic measurement and characterisation work on non-grain oriented electrical steels to support our automotive EV ambitions. The student is benefiting from both relevant industrial experience and spending 12 months living and working in Sweden.”

With such a variety of projects and extensive people and knowledge exchange activities, the partnership between CEEM and Cogent has great potential for helping drive the development of better and more efficient materials for electrification technologies.