Design Article
Univ. of Wisconsin is cranking up the power
Junko Yoshida
8/24/2012 6:06 PM EDT
Affordable electrification, anyone?
Three University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering graduate students developed what they call a “Microformer,” a low-cost transformer built with recycled paint cans and transformers recycled from microwave ovens discarded on streets in Madison after the school year.
Its purpose is to create cheap, medium-voltage transformers, which can be used in an inexpensive distribution network to deliver electricity.
By using electricity that may be generated in churches, schools, town halls or wind turbines, the microformer delivers power to small, remote homes that have no electrical infrastructure nearby.
Three grad students above won second place and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 2011 Distinguished Student Humanitarian Prize for their work on the Microformer.
Three University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering graduate students developed what they call a “Microformer,” a low-cost transformer built with recycled paint cans and transformers recycled from microwave ovens discarded on streets in Madison after the school year.
Its purpose is to create cheap, medium-voltage transformers, which can be used in an inexpensive distribution network to deliver electricity.
By using electricity that may be generated in churches, schools, town halls or wind turbines, the microformer delivers power to small, remote homes that have no electrical infrastructure nearby.
From left: Dan Ludois, Jonathan Lee and Patricio Mendoza Araya
Three grad students above won second place and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 2011 Distinguished Student Humanitarian Prize for their work on the Microformer.
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Robotics Developer
8/25/2012 10:06 PM EDT
It looks like a great setup for learning and the hands on experience will be beneficial for getting jobs out of school. On the whole I think this is a great approach with external funding and big company involvement.
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elctrnx_lyf
8/26/2012 4:50 AM EDT
A great place to go if you are interested in power electronics. Real nice campus!
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junko.yoshida
8/26/2012 12:48 PM EDT
It is a great school in such a gorgeous setting...the only problem is, of course, the winter...
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betajet
8/27/2012 7:47 PM EDT
What's the matter with Mad City winters? It's great fun to ski or skate on that lake. -20 F isn't that cold -- it's not like Northern Wisconsin where you get -30 F and all the vehicles are "plug-in" whether they're hybrid or not :-)
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DrQuine
8/27/2012 9:56 PM EDT
Edison's 1901 electric car battery design is being "reinvented" with nanotechnology as a very competitive power source at Stanford University. Perhaps the combination of historical perspective, hands on experience, and leading edge research can enable scientists at the University of Wisconsin to uncover other innovative power sources.
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kinnar
8/28/2012 6:27 AM EDT
It is really a happening environment with developments going on at every possibilities. At University level I am very glad to see this kind of energy at developments, my other professor friends will differs who are mainly focusing towards researches. Every university should be like this college great positivity.
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betajet
8/28/2012 7:30 PM EDT
I remember the Power Electronics group in the ECE department as being unusually cohesive and cooperative. I think part of their collegiality was that every week they had a Seminar with a talk given by a faculty member, grad student, or guest. Seminar was immediately followed by Symposium, using the Greek origin of the word which meant to get together for the purpose of drinking (look it up!) Symposium took place at a nearby tavern.
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GREAT-Terry
8/29/2012 2:52 AM EDT
A very nice environment and seemingly very energetic engineering team. Maybe it can help doing good research and cultivate innovation culture.
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Tom K
8/30/2012 7:45 AM EDT
They also have a distance learning program but the cost is prohibitive.
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