Uniflow Power Cobber

Uniflow Power is a small Australian R&D company developing a biomass fueled steam engine to generate electrical and mechanical power. It’s intended for use in regions where commercial fuel infrastructures are not available, but where biomass is abundant. The concept is based on an idea pioneered, and originally designed by Ted Pritchard from the late ‘60s to the early 2000s.

As the lead engineer (under contract), my primary (initial) core responsibility was to collect, organize and consolidate the electro-mechanical design package for international collaborators. This included building the complete solid model and drawing set for collaborative distribution.

Secondarily but ultimately more critical, my responsibilities included developing a complete system mechanical simulation and sound theoretical documentation for understanding of not only the original design but also current and future development plans. This included the development of a Matlab/Simulink-based dynamic simulation of the steam cycle, fuel variability, mechanical parameters  and factors to better understand the physical performance and optimize the overall system for peak, long-term performance.