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UPDATES
FPmonthly to BImonthly
The Center would like to announce the distribution of its FPmonthly newsletter to a bi-monthly basis. We appreciate your feedback! If you have comments or suggestions or news worthy items to share, we would love to have them! Please feel free to contact Alyssa Burger at aburger@me.umn.edu
Two New Scientific Advisory Board Members
The Center is proud to announce the addition of two new representatives to our Scientific Advisory Board (SAB): Prof. Ato Kitagawa of the Tokyo Institute of Technology and Professor Yong Xiang Lu of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The Center expresses its gratitude to the current members of the SAB: Dr. Hans Aichlmayer, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; Prof. Richard Burton, University of Saskatchewan; Dr. Christine Cunningham, Museum of Science, Boston; Prof. Kevin Edge, University of Bath; Prof. Frank Fronczak, University of Wisconsin; Prof. Stephen Jacobsen, University of Utah; Dr. Lonnie J. Love, Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Prof. Noah Manring, Princeton University; Prof. Dr. Ing. Hubertus Murrenhoff, RWTH-Aachen; Prof. Jan-Ove Palmberg, Linkoping University; Prof. Masayoshi Tomizuka, University of California-Berkeley; Prof. Galip Ulsoy, University of Michigan.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Save the Dates
CCEFP Annual NSF Site Visit: February 20 – 21, 2008. University of Minnesota
CCEFP Annual Meeting: May 28 – 30, 2008. Milwaukee School of Engineering
IFPE 2008
The Center will be an exhibitor at the International Power Transmission Exposition in Las Vegas, Nevada, March 11-15.
Fluid Power Documentary is Near Completion!
The CCEFP, in conjunction with the National Fluid Power Association and Twin Cities Public Television, is in the final stages of producing a two-part documentary on fluid power. The first 30-minute documentary will focus on an in-depth introduction of fluid power. This documentary is aimed at K-12 children, and a general audience with no knowledge of fluid power. The second documentary, which is also being sponsored in part by several international fluid power societies, will emphasize current research in the field, with the intention of highlighting careers in engineering. For more information, refer to FPmonthly Issue 7 or contact Stephanie Bettermann at sbetter@umn.edu .
RESEARCH
Experimental Setup for Fluid Power Noise Evaluation
Ken Cunefare, Professor, GeorgiaTech
Fluid power components naturally produce fluid-borne noise in their normal operation. This noise can be a major source of vibration as well as adverse human impact in terms of annoyance and even risk to hearing. While modeling methods are under development for the predication and optimization of fluid-borne noise, it is essentially to be able to measure the actual noise production and noise control performance of fluid power devices. When noise propagating in fluid lines encounters a fluid power device, such as a silencer, a portion of the noise is reflected, some is absorbed, and some is transmitted. A technique has been developed that permits the accurate measurement of each of these noise components, using a spectral-based method and multiple “microphones”. In a fluid power system, pressure sensors take the place of the more familiar microphone for the measurement of noise. Spectral decomposition and application of appropriate transfer function relationships to the pressure signals recorded upstream and downstream of a fluid power device permit the accurate resolution of the noise components. The method also permits the measurement of the input acoustic impedance of fluid power devices. Knowledge of a device’s mpedance is a valuable for the modeling of fluid power systems.
When applied to devices such as fluid power silencers, the method yields the frequency-dependent “transmission loss” of the silencer. For silencers, this characteristic is a measure of how much incident energy actually transmits past the silencer. The test rig developed for this purpose provides the means to assess existing commercial devices as well the prototype components that are being developed as part of the Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power.
INDUSTRY
The Center would like to thank its Industry Members!
The Center would like to thank its Industry Members for their great support in 2007 and we look forward to working closely with you in the upcoming year! AAA Products International, Air Logic, Bimba Manufacturing Co., Bobcat, Bosch Rexroth Corp., Caterpillar Inc., Command Controls Corp., Deere & Co., Deltrol Fluid Products, Donaldson Co. Inc., Eaton Corp., Enfield Technologies, Festo Corp., Fluid Power Educational Foundation, G.W. Lisk Co. Inc., Gates Corp., HĂgglunds Drives Inc., Haldex Hydraulics Corp., HECO Gear, Inc., Hedland Flow Meters, High Country Tek, Inc., HUSCO International, Inc., HYDAC Corp., Hydraquip Corp., INA USA Corp., International Fluid Power Society, Kepner Products Co., Linde Hydraulics Corp., MAIN Manufacturing Products Inc., Master Pneumatic-Detroit, Inc., Mead Fluid Dynamics, MICO, Inc., Moog Inc., MTS Systems Corp., National Fluid Power Assoc., National Tube Supply Co., Netshape Technologies, Inc., Nexen Group, Inc., Parker Hannifin Corp., PHD, Inc., PIAB Vacuum Products, Poclain Hydraulics, Quality Control Corp., R. T. Dygert International, Ralph Rivera, RB Royal Industries, Inc., RohMax USA, LP, Ross Controls, Sauer-Danfoss, Shell Global Solutions, Simerics, Sun Hydraulics Corp, Sun Source, Tennant, The Toro Co., Trelleborg Sealing Solutions U.S. Inc., Veljan Hydrair Private Limited.
 EDUCATION and OUTREACH
Support an intern!
The CCEFP Internship Program for engineering students is one of the Center's key initiatives. This program provides opportunities for engineering students to gain hands-on knowledge of hydraulic and pneumatic principles and applications through first-hand experiences with fluid power industry leaders. These internships also facilitate industry's access to a diverse, talented pool of engineering students. For information on internship opportunities visit http://www.ccefp.org/internship, or contact Alyssa Burger, Education & Outreach Director at 612.624.4991 or aburger@me.umn.edu.
 CCEFP
Fall 2007
gidakiimanaaniwigamig “GIDA” Science Camp
Cloquet, Minnesota
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, together with the Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power (CCEFP) and the National Center for Earth-surface Dynamics (NCED), organizes camps known as gidakiimanaaniwigamig (Our Earth Lodge, in Anishinaabe), for students in 3rd through 10th grade. Offered during the summer as well as after school and weekends (on a quarterly basis), these camps provide students with a mix of lab science and field science experiences. Program highlights include an introduction to the scientific method and a focus on Native American culture. During the fall camp, the CCEFP presented a workshop on hydraulics and pneumatics principles using syringes and hoses and air balloons. The students had the opportunity to experiment with water rockets and air balloons in which students estimated could reach heights up to 50 feet!
 Purdue University
Fall 2007
Eighty-one students from the Future Farmers of American visited Purdue’s Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department. Faculty of the Center had students interact with the hydraulic and
pneumatic trainers during the tour.
 University of Minnesota
Fall 2007
FIRST Robotics workshop
Faculty of the CCEFP presented an interactive fluid-power workshop to students attending an event held in conjunction with the FIRST Robotics competition. The FIRST Robotics competition will begin January 5. The CCEFP is sponsoring a rookie team from the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation in Cloquet, Minnesota.
 GeorgiaTech
Fall 2007
CCEFP Faculty and students from GATech hosted an outreach session targeted towards high school students who are preparing for the FIRST Robotics Competition and/or the VEX Robotics Competition. Over 50 students and teachers attended the workshop.
GATech gave a 25-minute presentation on fluid power principles and then had a small challenge competition in which the students built a pneumatically actuated catapult.
GETTING TO KNOW US
The Center would like to introduce its talent. In each issue get to know the Center's students, researchers and leadership team.
Students
 Jonathan Baker earned his undergraduate degree at Davidson, earning a BS in Physics and is pursuing his masters degree at Purdue University. Jonathan is considering pursuing a PhD. His research within the Center focuses on the efficiency of pumps. Today's pumps typically operate at high efficiency in a limited range of operating parameters. Outside of this range pump efficiency drops. The goal of Jonathan’s research is to investigate and develop design principals that increase pump efficiency outside of the optimal operating parameter range. This will lead to a generation of pumps that operate at higher efficiencies across a larger range of operating parameters. Current pump inefficiencies account for a significant portion of the energy lost in today's hydraulic systems. Improving pump efficiency will therefore improve overall hydraulic system efficiency leading to greater fuel savings. Successful design principals will be implemented on prototype pumps and their performance tested on TB-1, the Bobcat mini-excavator. Fuel consumption can be measured before and after installing the new pumps to measure fuel efficiency improvements associated with the alternative pump design. Outside of the lab, Jonathan enjoys traveling when he finds the chance and often visit nearby family and friends. As far as daily activities, he has continued to run post-college and have gotten a few marathons under his belt. Currently, he would LIKE to go skiing more often but is still waiting for the chance.
 Mark Elton earned his undergraduate degree in physics from California Polytechnic State (CalPoly). He is currently in his second year at Georgia Tech pursuing a Masters degree. Mark is researching how hydraulic machinery can be more efficiently operated with a more intuitive controller. Current multi-functional hydraulic machinery, like the excavator that is the focus of Mark’s work, use two joystick controllers that take extensive training to be able to use efficiently. The aim of his research is to develop a controller and control algorithms that allow both novice and experienced machine operators be able to complete the same task in less time and with less mental strain while maintaining safety considerations. If the time to complete a given task can be reduced, the cost associated with completing that task will also be reduced (such as fuel cost for operating the machine, operator pay, machine rental and maintenance, etc). Also, other jobs that were waiting on the current task to be completed could be started earlier, resulting in saved time. The new controller being developed maps the position of the controller to the position of the excavator arm and also provides haptic feedback. Haptics refers to the sense of touch, and so a haptic controller engages another of the operator’s senses, giving him a better feel for the environment and for what the machine is doing. The control algorithms being implemented will control variable displacement pumps rather than hydraulic valves, which should result in greater fuel efficiency. All of these savings should reduce the cost of whatever project the machine is working on such as constructing a building or digging ditches for city pipes. Greater fuel efficiency will result in less pollution. Outside of the lab, Mark also enjoys being outside either hiking and camping or playing sports. The past two semesters he has been on the intramural volleyball championship team. He also enjoys tutoring, reading to, and playing with elementary and middle school students in Atlanta’s West End.
Researcher
 Paul Michael earned his BS in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee and his MBA from the Keller Graduate School of Management. Paul started his industrial career in the field of lubrication in 1978 and is an experienced formulator of petroleum-based and synthetic lubricants for fluid power and transportation applications. Paul co-authored the “Handbook of Hydraulic Fluid Technology” in 2000, the “ASTM Fuels and Lubricants Handbook” in 2003 and the “Handbook of Lubrication Technology” in 2006. After many years of teaching fluid power seminars at MSOE he joined the Fluid Power Institute in 2005. Paul works on the Optimize Engineered Fluid project for the Center. Engine oils formulated for passenger cars have been optimized for maximum fuel economy. Paul is investigating novel additive chemistries for hydraulic fluids with the same goal in mind. Paul is Chairman of the NFPA Fluids Committee and active in ASTM and ISO standards committees. Outside of the lab, Paul is a director of a food pantry in his neighborhood. He loves to camp and fish with his sons Ben and Sam.
Leadership Team
 Kim Stelson earned his undergraduate degree from Stanford and completed both his S.M. and Sc.D. from M.I.T. 1982 in mechanical engineering. The University of Minnesota has been home to Dr. Stelson since 1981. Kim was a visiting faculty member at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, University of Auckland and University of Bath. Kim serves as the CCEFP Director. His job is to facilitate a large interdisciplinary research mission spanning many individuals and organizations. Internally, the CCEFP must have a clear vision, sound decision making and frequent communication. Externally, Kim must help those outside the CCEFP understand the importance of fluid power and its research. This is a new type of challenge for Kim, and he is enjoying it. Dr. Stelson does miss being as active in teaching and research as in he previous roles, nevertheless, he does continue to advise some graduate students and teach the fluid power lab at Minnesota. Outside of the Center, Kim loves playing classical music and jazz, though he doesn’t practice enough to be good. Kim particularly enjoys playing the keyboard works of Bach on piano as well as the trombone in a Count Basie style big band.
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