Prof. Dr. Peter Post

 Position

 Head of Corporate Research and
  Technogoly

 Institution

 Festo AG & Co. KG

 Branche

 Automation Technology

 Origin

 Esslingen, Germany

Particulars

Dr. Peter Post was born in Haiger, Germany, in 1959. From 1975 to 1978 he completed his apprenticeship as a toolmaker, and in 1980 he started a degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Siegen, Germany, which he finished in 1984. Subsequently, Dr. Post worked as a research assistant in Siegen. He has been employed in the R&D department at Festo AG & Co. KG since 1989. In 2004 he assumed responsibility for applied research and pre-development, and since 2008 he has been head of the corporate research and technology. Dr. Post obtained the German Future Award in 2010.
In 2012 he was appointed Honorary Professor at the University of Applied Science in Esslingen.

Lecture

 Dr. Win Rampen

 Position

 Founder and Research Director

 Institution

 Artemis Intelligent Power Limited

 Branche

 Renewable

 Origin

 Edinburgh, Scotland

Particulars

Dr. Win Rampen is a founder and Managing Director of Artemis Intelligent Power which has pioneered the development of the ultra-efficient and controllable Digital Displacement® hydraulic technology. Since its creation in 1994 Win has overseen the growth of Artemis to over 40 employees. Win grew up on a farm near Toronto before training as an engineer. After graduation, he came to the UK in 1978 to work with Professor Stephen Salter and his wave power team at the University of Edinburgh. It was there that he first encountered Robert Clerk and his radical hydraulic machines - which were intended for the Salter Duck's power take-off system. After a few years working as a lecturer in Canada, during the 1980s, Win returned to the University to continue working on the advanced hydraulic machines needed not only for waves but, also, other forms of renewable energy. Win led the project at the University and developed the early prototypes. That work led to a doctorate in 1993 and the creation of Artemis in 1994. Artemis was acquired by Mitsubishi in 2010. Win is a Fellow of the University of Edinburgh, the RSA, the I Mech E and the Royal Academy of Engineers.

Lecture

The Development of Digital Displacement Hydraulics for Renewable Energy Drivetrains (or Necessity is the Mother of Invention!)

In 1974 in the wake of the first global energy crisis the UK began to look at large scale renewable energy sources. Professor Stephen Salter invented a wave energy device now remembered as the Salter Duck at the University of Edinburgh. Digital Displacement® hydraulics came about as a response to the exceptionally difficult problem of converting the slow, irregular, high force motion of ocean waves, to a constant speed rotation to drive a synchronous generator. The rethink of hydraulic power transmission, based on conventional pumping mechanisms and integrated active valves with microprocessor control, has resulted in very controllable fluid-power drivetrains with efficiencies matching, or even exceeding, those of electrical machines. The presentation will cover the early development of the technology and continue to the present where Artemis, now as a subsidiary of Mitsubishi, is assisting in the development of the 7MW SeaAngel offshore wind turbine with a Digital Displacement® driveline at its heart.

 Dr.-Ing. Peter Achten

 Position

 Director

 Institution

 Innas B.V.

 Branche

 Fluid Power

 Origin

 Breda, Netherlands

Particulars

Dr. Peter Achten is the director and owner of Innas, an engineering and innovation company in Breda, the Netherlands. His background is in mechanical engineering and thermodynamics, having a masters degree (1982) and PhD degree (1996) from Eindhoven University of Technology. He designed and developed several free piston engines, hydraulic components and drive trains. In 2008, the Mechatronics, Informatics & Control Group of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers has awarded him with the Joseph Bramah Medal.

Lecture

Innovation in The Fluid Power Industry

In the coming decade, cost reduction and energy efficiency will be the dominating success factors for any industry. Currently, the hydraulic industry is not fit to meet these demands: hydraulic systems and components are simply too expensive and too inefficient. It is important to mention that there are no fundamental reasons for the poor performance and high manufacturing, production, and engineering cost. Without doubt, hydraulics can be efficient and low-cost. However, the niche market in which the hydraulic industry operates simply does not have an alternative for the hydraulic cylinder. Without feeling the heat of competition, the hydraulic industry has not had enough incentive to invest in new products and technologies. But changes are apparent. Relatively high labour cost already threatens the production industry in Europe and North America. Moreover, the uncertainty about future fuel and energy prices, and CO2 emission demands, will force the industry to change. If it does, it will create unprecedented market opportunities, utilizing the full potential of high power, torque, and force densities, combined with flexibility in control and power management. The fluid power industry really does not have an alternative. It is convicted to innovation.

 Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. H. Murrenhoff

 Position

 Head of Department

 Institution

 Institute for Fluid Power Drives and
 Control

 Branche

 Fluid Power

 Origin

 Aachen, Germany

Particulars

Prof. Murrenhoff is Director of IFAS, RWTH Aachen University. He studied Mechanical Engineering in Aachen and earned his Dr. Degree in 1983.
In November 1986 he started an industrial career at the company Barmag AG in Remscheid. From there he got the chance to take a position at HSC Controls Inc., Amherst, NY which at that time was a subsidiary of Barmag. He was in charge of Engineering and Marketing as Vice President. In 1991 he took the position of Technical Director of the companies Magnet-Schultz MSM and Elektromechanik EM in Memmingen. He belonged to the Board as Executive Vice President.
With a lot of first hand industrial experience he went back to RWTH Aachen University in October 1994 and took over his current position. IFAS focuses on all aspects of fluid power and is divided in five research groups. During the academic career he was Head of the Collaborative Research Center “Environmentally Friendly Tribological Systems” over the 12 year period and is now part of the Excellence Cluster “Tailor Made Fuels from Biomass” (TMFB) where IFAS is responsible for the tribological research subjects.
In the academic self administration he was Co-Dean and Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and is involved in many engineering related societies. He is partner in Spin-Off companies and active as expert and consultant for industry and government agencies.

Lecture

An Overview of Energy Saving Circuits in Mobile Hydraulics

Starting from today’s commercially widespread load sensing systems the general lecture will focus on novel ideas to save fuel in mobile machines.
The overview will systematically build upon the well-known circuits divided into resistance and displacement control. The different avenues that research and development efforts in academia and industry are focusing on will be discussed with regard to their inherent advantages and disadvantages. By addressing these aspects it will become clear that a design solely focused on the hydraulic circuit is not sufficient. The combustion engine as well as the load cycle must be included into the drive’s design.
To further improve efficiency much research has been conducted into the recovery and reuse of energy in mobile machines. Against this background the lecture will consider the concept of energy storage as a method to recapture energy during a load cycle allowing downsizing of the combustion engine and enabling operation around its optimal point. For this reason the talk will cover circuit configurations allowing the use of electrical, mechanical and hydro-pneumatic energy storage. Thus it will treat hybrid solutions, clearly distinguishing between flow and pressure impressed circuits, by covering their inherent characteristics and focusing on strengths and weaknesses.
After the presentation the audience should be able to systematically classify the various solutions and identify a design guideline for application or customer specific circuits.