Projects: Projects for Investigator UKERC Home UKERC Energy Data Centre Projects Choose Investigator All Projects involving NIA_NGET0132
Reference Number	NIA_NGET0132
Title	UltraWire
Status	Completed
Energy Categories	Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution) 100%;
Research Types	Applied Research and Development 100%
Science and Technology Fields	PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Metallurgy and Materials) 25%; ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 75%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation	Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator	Project Contact No email address given National Grid Electricity Transmission
Award Type	Network Innovation Allowance
Funding Source	Ofgem
Start Date	01 August 2013
End Date	01 August 2017
Duration	48 months
Total Grant Value	£2,750,000
Industrial Sectors	Power
Region	London
Programme	Network Innovation Allowance
Investigators	Principal Investigator	Project Contact , National Grid Electricity Transmission (100.000%)
Web Site	http://www.smarternetworks.org/project/NIA_NGET0132
Objectives	The ultimate objective of this proposal is to define a pilot process route capable of high volume production of a copper-based conductor wire (UltraWire) with at least 40% improved electrical conductivity and significantly enhanced physical properties for use in the electrical distribution and automotive industries. The primary success criteria for this project are: ; to test demonstrator UltraWire under conditions required by electrical transmission and automotive specifications; to identify those joining methods for UltraWire that maintain, as far as possible, the electrical properties across the join and minimises reductions in other physical properties; to define suitable methods for recycling UltraWire and returning it into the copper processing chain. A further option is to recycle material from either route back into the continuous casting experiments at AGH and determine any loss in electrical conductivity. ; to ensure that all the above methods and processes pose minimal Health & Safety risk from the use of nano-materials.
Abstract	This projects describes the scientific development and pilot-fabrication of electrical wire made from ultra-conductive copper (Ultrawire), an advanced copper-carbon nano composite material. Wire is the most common form in which copper carries electrical energy today, and this is the most useful form for immediate take-up by the energy industry. The project brings factory processes and science together using leading European copper, cable and manufacturing equipment industries. Copper nanocarbon composites could form the next generation of conductors, where copper contributes the benefits of electrical conductivity, whereas nanocarbon brings to this composite its low weight, flexibility, mechanical reinforcement and thermal management. Recent breakthrough in the chirality control of carbon nanotubes could contribute significantly to the electrical conductivity of these composite materials beyond the performance achieved by bulk copper conductors. The material and process costs required to achieve improvement of the overall performance of copper based electrical conductors, need to be compatible with large scale conductor manufacturing and overcome the issues such as the cost of the nanocarbons and the difficulty of scaling up the production processes. ResearchWP1 - Synthesis & Characterisation of nano-structures CarbonWP2 - Electrolytic Plating of Copper on to nano-carbon fibre yarnWP3 - Synthesis & Characterisation of nano-structured Cu-C composites using continuous casting method. WP4 - Production & Characterisation of nano-structured carbon-copper composite wire. WP5 - Joining of Nano-structured carbon-copper composite wire. WP6 - Applications of Nano structured copper composite conductors. WP7 - Recycling of Nanocarbon containing copper. WP8 - Pilot plant planning and industrial implementation. WP9 - Safety & RiskWP10 - Exploitation & DisseminationWP11 - Project Coordination and ManagementNote : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above
Publications	(none)
Final Report	(none)
Added to Database	17/12/18