Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre
Rolls-Royce opened a new University Technology Centre (UTC) at The University of Manchester in 2004 to pursue research into innovative electrical technologies for aerospace, marine and energy applications.
About Rolls-Royce UTC
The Rolls-Royce UTC at Manchester is the focal point for research on Power Conversion Systems.
We are involved in a broad spectrum of electrical research activities that support Rolls Royce in its aim to use electrical technologies to improve the environmental impact and efficiencies in all of their business sectors: aerospace, marine and energy.
We are seeing a progressive merging of electrical and mechanical power systems to meet the increasingly complex demands on Rolls-Royce products. This trend is creating a considerable demand for new electrical power technology and systems understanding.
Paul Stein / Chief Scientific Officer, Rolls-Royce plc 2011
Our expertise
Why electrical power systems matter
The vision of this development reflects the rapidly increasing importance of electrical power systems in each of the company’s key markets.
The quest for enhanced technologies is driven by customer demands for improvements in performance, capabilities and services. Emerging electrical technologies have the potential to meet these demands by enabling major improvements in system integration and product functionality.
Designing systems in extreme environments
The Centre designs electrical systems for air, sea and land vehicles operating in extreme environments, such as aircraft at 60,000ft and ships in freezing waters.
The Centre, part of the University's Power Conversion Group, houses a modern, industry-standard laboratory - the Intelligent Electrical Power Networks Evaluation Facility (IEPNEF) - in which all of these conditions can be tested. This major Rolls-Royce £1 million-plus facility has been installed as part of a national project to devise and develop more-electric technologies for future aircraft, marine and land-based vehicles.
Our research focuses on designing lighter, more efficient electrical systems than those used on ships and planes today, reducing weight to lower fuel consumption, emissions and overall costs. We are experts in:
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Aerospace
Electrical system architectures, energy management, fault reconfiguration, power electronic interfaces, energy storage, intelligent agents, high-voltage cable design, low temperature power.
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Marine
Electrical propulsion systems, electrical system modelling, rim thrusters, submarine electrical actuation systems.
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Energy
Superconducting technologies, fault current limiting, tidal and wind generation.
