New industrial electromagnetic sensor systems improve safety processes and optimise capabilities in the UK's energy, rail and manufacturing sectors

Impact: Economic, Technological

Narrative

Sensor systems based on electromagnetic induction (EMI) inspection techniques have wide-ranging industrial applications including rail inspection, steel production and food safety. Historically these techniques have been empirical, with limited theoretical understanding restricting their performance. University of Manchester research has delivered theoretically-based, quantitative electromagnetic inspection systems, pioneering the development of revolutionary EMI tomography and spectroscopy techniques. This has optimised industrial processes, resulting in cost savings, and improving confidence and accuracy of important safety processes in UK rail, energy and steel production:
1) Rail – introduction of a new EM track inspection system.
2) Energy – introduction of a new graphite inspection technique for the UK fleet of gas cooled nuclear reactors for EDF Energy, broadening the base of the safety case;
3) Steel production – creation of the first micro structure inspection technology –EMspecTM – enabling Tata Steel to inspect over 30Mtonnes of strip steel;
4) Metal detection – development of innovative technologies resulting in the introduction of new metal detection products.
Impact date1 Aug 2016 → 31 Jul 2020
Category of impactEconomic, Technological
Impact levelAdoption

Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms

  • Advanced materials
  • Energy

Documents & Links

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