Solutions

GnoSys provides solutions based on analysis, modelling and laboratory investigations where required.

Not just an analytical service!

With Gnosys UK you will get far more than a list of numbers and graphs, our experts have a sound knowledge base, so your results will arrive fully interpreted with the answers you need.

We will tailor our services to your needs and provide rapid solutions. We will work closely with you through all stages of your project.

• Problem solving and troubleshooting services
• Technical expertise for research and development
• Development of research projects and programmes for specific needs
• Experimental design and maximising data use
• Materials selection advice
• Development or refinement of quality assurance methods

Examples of Recent Projects

Electrical Equipment Manufacturers

Damping Materials

Problem: Generator windings suffering fatigue degradation from vibrations.
Solution: Worked closely with equipment designers to gather data and review appropriate visco-elastic materials, followed by sourcing and testing of the candidate materials to meet exacting requirements. The best candidate materials were further analysed and the data fed into in-house vibration models to predict performance enhancement. This scoping study is informing future designs to improve generator manufacture and long-term performance.

Resin QC Issues

Problem: Client has a large capital investment tied up in a resin batch that has failed its QC tests for unknown reasons.
Solution: A detailed chemical and reaction analysis was carried out on the complex resin mixture using multiple techniques including NMR, GPC and Raman. This allowed us to identify extremely low level variance within components responsible for variation in reaction. We also developed a novel Raman real-time cure analysis to prove the cause of failure chemically. GnoSys indentified corrective measures and is developing improved QC processes to prevent future issues arising from the supply chain and long-term storage.

Thermally Conductive Insulating Composites

Problem: Research and development required for thermally conductive insulating composites.
Solution: GnoSys has explored many thermally conductive insulating additives and has demonstrated the benefit of combining several property and performance measures in selecting the most appropriate additives. The project is now continuing to look for viable routes to manufacturing nano particulate additives to optimise composite performance. This has included novel external collaborations as well as internal modification of materials.

TSB Collaboration - National Grid, Dow Chemicals and Southampton University

Sustainable Power Cable Materials Technologies with Improved Whole Life Performance

Problem: Current power cable materials utilise XLPE which is limited to low working temperatures and is non-recyclable. Increased efficiency could be achieved at higher operational temperatures and a recyclable cable would be environmentally and economically beneficial.
Solution: Research and develop new thermoplastic cables that can be recycled and produce the required breakdown strengths and mechanical properties required. GnoSys is project managing this development, as well as analysing materials and carrying out life cycle assessment based cost and environmental analysis through our LEETS software. If successful the cable technology will address global medium and high voltage power cable markets.

BT Design

Optical Fibre Cable deployment

Problem: During the deployment of the cables, slipping was occurring as well as a build up of residue.
Solution: Bespoke rigs were designed and set-up to enable dynamic friction cable deployment measurements to be performed for optical fibres in cables and cables in deployment ducts. Multiple combinations were evaluated to identify best materials options and stop residue build up.

Cable Sheath

Problem: BT could achieve substantial cost savings by utilising new optical fibre cable suppliers, but required their cables to be tested and validated to be confident in its procurements.
Solution: An analytical program including dynamic friction and defect analysis was carried out to compare and validate new cable design options relative to historic and current experience. A number of issues were highlighted that allowed the design of new cables to be improved.

Instrument Manufacturer

Material Selection

Problem: The developer of a new high voltage test instrument were finding that the prototypes produced were not meeting operational specifications, particularly with regards to operation at elevated temperatures. After initial investigation this was thought to be due to shortcomings of the resins selected.
Solution: A program of work was undertaken towards replacing one resin system and towards improving a second resin system in use. This included variation of some of the additives and assessment of the new materials produced using analytical methods, microscopy and Dielectric Spectroscopy. Once the optimum formulation had been found all of materials were then tested in situ and subjected to flame retardancy tests to demonstrate that the new prototypes met the specifications for the instrument.