UK funding for magnetic gear technology developer

The funding will be used for the Winder project, which will de-risk technology required for the manufacture of large generators for offshore wind to the UK.

Magnomatic combines a magnetic gear with a stator to form a highly efficient permanent magnet generator. The Pseudo Direct Drive (PDD) offers very high efficiencies, while the elimination of meshing gear teeth reduces maintenance requirements and improves reliability.

While the grant is intended to encourage the development of highly efficient and reliable generators for the UK offshore wind market, Magnomatics has also identified podded propulsion, winch gears and main engines in the marine segment as potential target markets for its solutions.

In addition to Magnomatics’ PDD solution, Magnomatics has also developed a highly integrated power split unit, which eliminates the need for epicyclic gears for the automotive sector. The company claims that it offers the ability to filter torsional vibration from an internal combustion engine without efficiency losses.

Magnomatics was formed in 2006 as a spin-out from the University of Sheffield. The company is commercialising novel products based upon its highly efficient proprietary magnetic gear technology.

Magnomatics’ magnetic gear technology has been implemented in oil and gas pumps, as well as in renewable energy applications.