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For
30 years Puma Power Plant has provided high quality power generation
equipment to industry, hospitals, airports, water authorities,
superstores and other users both in the UK and world-wide.
Puma's
sphere of expertise is in control design for:
- Manual
or automatic start in the event of mains failure.
- Manual
or automatic synchronising and load sharing of generating
sets.
- Fully
automatic synchronising and load sharing of a number of generating
sets in parallel with the mains supply for no break mains
return and peak lopping requirements.
These
controls and related instrumentation are highly sophisticated
and until recently have been implemented using standard CMOS
logic. However the company realised that this design was dated,
it was having increasing difficulty sourcing component supplies
and manufacturing costs were too high.
To
ensure its continuing success in the world-wide market for power
generators PUMA realised that it required an understanding of
modern embedded systems which, if design was successful, could
be incorporated into their future products.
Role
of the Support Centre
In
2000, John Inglis, Managing Director of PUMA approached the
DTI's Electronics Design Support Centre at the University of
Kent to discuss the company's training requirements for acquiring
the necessary expertise in embedded microcontrollers.
Under
the Electronics Design programme two PUMA employees, Paul Willett,
Technical Director and Robin Bailey, Senior Electrical Engineer,
received the required training and were then able to determine
that Puma's engine speed control unit was a suitable candidate
for the implementation of embedded microcontroller technology.
The engine speed control unit was selected on the evaluation
criteria that it presented a well defined problem, and could
be redesigned to be more cost effective.
To
expedite the project, PUMA then sponsored an MSc student, Clive
Maxted, who, under the direction of Winston Waller of the Electronics
Design Centre, worked with Paul in the development of a microcontroller-based
engine controller. This project achieved its objectives and
the prototype was then successfully tested on a range of generators.
Within
twelve months the prototype engine controller was ported to
PUMA to be engineered for production and to be adopted as a
direct replacement for the company's previous product.
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Greater
Flexibility
Production
of the controller began recently, having undergone stringent
testing procedures to ensure total reliability in mission
critical applications. The benefits of the new controller
are already apparent, with both manufacture and testing being
simpler and more efficient for the company. PUMA can also
see that when the whole family of controllers has been developed,
customers will experience both increased reliability and longevity
of the controllers they have installed. The new controllers
will also provide increased flexibility, greater accuracy
and resolution, all of which will ensure that PUMA is able
to continue to meet market demands.
Robin
Bailey believes there have been internal benefits for the
company too,
"This
project has developed a product that everyone wants, from
sales to support, and has involved the whole organisation"
Teaching
Company Scheme
As
a result of the excellent working relationship developed between
PUMA and the Support Centre a Teaching Company Scheme bid
was produced by John Inglis and Paul Willett for the development
of an entire new generation of Generator Control Units. The
TCS bid was successful and the chosen Teaching Company associate
was in fact the MSc student whom PUMA had originally sponsored
two years previously. This Teaching Company scheme is ongoing
and is running on schedule, bringing immediate benefit to
PUMA.
Paul
Willett, Technical Director, is enthusiastic about the University
Of Kent's Support Centre contribution:
"For
many industries it is nigh on impossible to keep up to date
with microelectronics technology. Working with the University
has allowed us to tap in to extensive, up to date expertise
on a regular basis. This has meant our new products are built
on state of the art technologies"
For
further information visit: www.pumauk.com
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