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

heliumThere 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.

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?

What is an engineer?A fun questionnaire

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.

An electronics engineer can have a central skill in a specific area, examples are:-

Control and InstrumentationProgrammable Control systems and automationHigh Power and High Voltage equipment Radio Frequency microwave systems and

communicationsProgrammable Circuitry

Electronics Engineering Skill Areas

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 designJim 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”“I need to talk to you about the flashing light to warn you the water has got too hot!”This is

Jim

The human factor of designThen 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 be3.Can it fit on the control panel or be external4.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 technologyThe 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)?

Control Software needs writing and testing it works as designed.

A. How to program the PLC using the software language the PLC uses.

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

Water flow

Temperature sensor

WATER PUMP

DUTY OPERATORS CONTROL PANEL WITH INDICATOR AND SOUNDER

PLC UNIT

FIBRE OPTIC CABLE

COPPER POWER CABLE

GYROTRON

CONTROL ROOM HIGH VOLTAGE AREA

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.

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