NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY | PSEM
GREEN LETTER
Vol 14
COOLING SYSTEM This season we have decided to implement a completely new cooling system. This new one is more robust and efficient than the previous one and represents a big step designwise for the project, reducing the aerodynamic drag. The previous system used two fans that consumed a high amount of power from the batteries. With this new system, the team will be able to better manage
COORDINATOR’S REMARK
and control the battery life for other tasks and systems.
In this newsletter, the team is wrapping up the design of the GP19
Taking this into account, this season, PSEM is aiming at developing a highly efficient system as well as reducing the aerodynamic drag not
and, thus, you can learn all about its new features. In addition to this, you can also see some of the tests the team made to get the most amount of knowledge we possibly could to
only thanks to the cooling system,
verify our ideas. Right now, it is time
but also due to other factors that
to start to build the new prototype
the team has to keep secret...
and to see it come to live!
SPONSORS TECINNOV3rd EDITION SANTANDER 2019 Teclnnov is a contest financed by Santander which aims to support the participation of technologic and innovative projects from students’ groups in an international competition. Santander is a longtime sponsor of PSEM, so it is fundamental the team
REIMAN Reiman is a well-known Portuguese company. Founded in 1988, it
can count with all its support to
represents 20 world-renowned
help grow and develop the project,
companies regarding industrial
specially since the team is now
equipment.
developing a new prototype. PSEM has reached out to Reiman PSEM will use the funds awarded by
as a possible sponsor during EMAF,
TecInnov to help shore the costs of
where the possibility of a contact
the team’s trip to the qualifiers in
came.
September and the final in October, in the United Kingdom. The team’s
The biggest upside of having
trip and stay during close to a month
Reiman as one of our sponsors is
is a big share of the project’s budget
the profiles the company sent us,
given the amount of team members
allowing the team to build a printer
and the importance of the qualifiers
with great precision and tolerances
for our performance during the
thus resulting in a great printing
season.
quality for our parts.
Newsletter February 2019 | PSEM
MOTOR TESTING During the month of February, the team tested the engine’s overall capacity, since it’s one of the most sensible and complicated systems in the prototype. For the team’s testing, it was decided that the team should start by characterising the main engine parameters in order to design an effective controll er given the previous parameters, the competition’s regulations and the limitations imposed by the car’s steering system. Another goal in the testing was to quantify the engine’s efficiency as the load applied on it inscreases, the produced torque and the speed at which it spins. With these values it allows the team to project a steering system takng into account the balance between the speed the car has to achieve and its consumption during the races. Another interesting focus point during testing was to perform temperature tests to the motor in order to locate the points of higher temperature in the motor as well as the evolution of the temperature above its nominal value, drawing a comparison to the increase and the mechanical load applied to the engine. Afterwards, the team will improve the cooling system in order to avoid future engine damages and faults.
GP19 NEWS The system of the previous prototype will be reutilized and adapted for the current season, even though the components have different dimensions than the ones that make the GP17.EVO. For that, the team obtained the relations in the system and after some calculations and tests we arrived to a preliminary value that the team will submit to even more scrutiny. The team will adapt the system and search for the best solution to the new prototype. The steering system is inspired in the previous prototype, without a steering wheel and driven with two levers. The team overhauled the steering of the prototype but not totally, since the bulkheads still occupy a reasonable space. The project will be continually tested and analysed in NX to find the best solution.
Newsletter February 2019 | PSEM
GETTING TO KNOW THE TEAM In this month’s edition we present Batalha’s own, Lino Pereira. Lino is currently finishing his Masters in Electrotechnical Engineering. His attitude towards improving people’s everyday lives and the conviction that engineering is a fundamental part in society made him choose to pursue his studies at Instituto Superior Técnico and afterwards by joining PSEM.
LINO PEREIRA Although the new GP19 prototype is
Lino felt the need to use the
still being developed and perfected,
theoretical knowledge he gained
Lino claims the team is working hard
during his degree.
Since one of
his main interests is motors and
in obtaining an improved version
mechatronics, he considered the
of the prototype when it comes to
limitations imposed by Greenpower
the aerodynamic design, steering
Race as an interesting goal to accomplish.
and power train as well as the data acquisition system.
Lino believes that the whole team is motivated in creating an even better prototype and his recruits are very
Regarding his professional ventures,
interested in the project and the car’s
Lino is hoping to work directly in the
development and eager to branch
field of electrotechnical engineering
out to more responsibilities inside the project. For those reasons, Lino rests his confidence in all of PSEM’s members.
or mechatronics. That is not only a childhood dream, but also one that PSEM helped cement in his goals.
Newsletter February 2019 | PSEM
SERRALHARIA MECÂNICA DA TROFA