A/ProfPeter Watterson

Peter's primary research interest is electric motor and generator design. For a new motor application, he first seeks the most appropriate motor type, which often requires a novel topology of the basic engineering materials - magnets, iron and copper. Then he uses computer software to optimise the design, with the performance of each possible design assessed by a finite element solution of Maxwell's equations for the electromagnetic fields in the motor or generator.

Peter has completed many machine design research and consulting jobs. Up to 1998, these were mostly in collaboration with the CSIRO. The formation of the Centre for Intelligent Mechatronic Systems within the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology at UTS has brought all the necessary expertise together for the design, construction and testing of electric machine prototypes. Some projects are completed within a subset of this Group called the "Centre for Electrical Machines and Power Electronics", CEMPE.

A particular focus of Peter's research has been the application of motor design and electromagnetics to biomedical devices, such as artificial hearts. Currently, he is exploring a novel non-invasive method of activating nerves, namely by creating electric fields within the body via high speed rotation of a configuration of magnets outside the body.

Peter welcomes any enquiries on electric machine design, electromagnetics or mathematical problems. He also invites potential higher degree research students with a strong mathematics background to browse his recent publications on nerve activation to consider if research on that topic might interest them.

Peter has been a key member in the following successfully completed research projects:

The Ventrassist implanted rotary blood pump for chronic heart failure - an "artificial heart" to assist the left ventricle - in collaboration with Ventracor (with funding from an Australian Research Council Collaborative Grant, a $3 million AusIndustry R&D Start grant, and then the stock market). Several US patents granted including 6,227,797, 6,250,880, 6,866,625 plus continuations. After extensive animal trials the first implantation in a critically ill man occurred on 28 June 2003 at the Alfred Hospital. There were over 400 recipients until Feb 2009. From 2005-2009, Peter led a UTS team collaborating with Ventracor on the development of a Transcutaneous Energy Transfer System, funded by an Australian Research Council Linkage Project grant.

The Sunshine Heart "artificial heart" device. Peter co-ordinated a CEMPE team in the design, construction and commissioning of the motor mechanism and controller for the device, which pumps blood by squeezing the aorta out of time with the natural heart ("extra-aortic counterpulsation").

A high speed 75 kW motor to drive a turbine compressor for an air-conditioner. One US patent granted 6194852 B1. In production since 2002. This compressor uses just 65% of the power of alternative leading compressors (oil-flooded screw type) of the same cooling output, providing significant greenhouse gas abatement.

Electric motors for a hybrid (solar, wind and LPG powered) catamaran ferry, Solar Sailor. A light, efficient, corrosion resistant 40 kW motor and matching controller were designed and a pair of each was built, one for each hull, the prototypes going into service just in time for the Sydney Olympics 2000.

Wind turbine generator design for the Australian CRC for Renewable Energy (now closed). Three units of a 20 kW generator designed by colleagues at UTS and CSIRO are installed in the Westwind turbines in operation at Exmouth, Western Australia. Peter has developed new transverse flux designs for generators of power up to 3 MW (with and without superconductors). A prototype generator of rating 20 kW has been constructed and is under test. This new machine is half the size of the earlier conventional (radial flux) machine. Enquiries are welcome from manufacturers of turbines of all ratings, but the topology can also be applied to any high torque, low speed machine.