The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Higher and Further Education
The team at the Tony Davies High Voltage Laboratory (TDHVL), University of Southampton is part of a group of engineers who are conducting world leading research into ensuring the UK’s railways are electrified, future proofed and resilient to climate change. The University’s pioneering research has gained royal recognition, winning the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Prize for Higher and Further Education which includes research from the across the institution - Tony Davies High Voltage Laboratory, Optoelectronics Research Centre, UKCRIC (UK Collaboratorium for Research on Infrastructure and Cities) National Infrastructure Laboratory in Southampton and the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research.
“The TDHVL is a unique facility, which can act as a commercial testing house, whilst supporting experimental and theoretical research as well as student project work. Our long-term collaboration with Network Rail is an excellent example of our range of capabilities as well as the impact of our work,” Paul Lewin, Professor and Head of Electrical Power Engineering.
The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Higher and Further Education is the UK's highest national honour for educational institutions. It recognises outstanding work in universities and colleges that benefits the wider world through innovation and excellence.
“The Tony Davies High Voltage Laboratory is proud to have been working with Network Rail since 2010 to produce high quality research and development of industrial standards” Neil Palmer, TDHVL Laboratory Manager
Collectively the work has saved billions of pounds of public money and improved the resilience of the ageing rail network. In railway electrification alone, high costs led the Government to pause a major programme in 2017. The University developed new standards to cut the need for bridge reconstruction, and to reduce the depth of the foundations for the support masts on overhead electrified lines. These two measures prompted the Government’s decision to restart railway electrification, saving the UK economy several billion pounds.
“The research to reduce electrical clearances has an estimated savings of over £200 million so far and is likely to increase with any further electrification. Interest has been expressed worldwide.” Richard Stainton, Engineering Expert [Electrification], Network Rail Technical Fellow
Prior to this award TDHVL was part of the team winning the Railway Industry Innovation Award in 2018 due to savings of £40m at the Cardiff intersection bridge electrification project.
Charlie Reed, Test Engineer at the Tony Davies High Voltage Laboratory said:
“I have really enjoyed the research projects undertaken with Network Rail. The project that stood out for me was one of our most ambitious projects. We had to replicate a miniature version our test facility in a confined space under the wind tunnel, so that we could complete a set of electrical tests in the RJ Mitchel Wind Tunnel at University of Southampton.
One part of the research carried out at Tony Davies High Voltage Laboratory looks into the likelihood of an electrical sparkover from an energised source to either a train roof or nearby infrastructure. Up to 193,000 Volts was applied in both dry and misty conditions and results recorded and analysed.
Members of TDHVL also undertaking modelling work to predict and understand real world problems. One such research project was a simulation study, to understand a set of design parameters which affect arcs development, decay and extinction. Dr Igor Golosnoy, Associate Professor in Electrical Power Engineering said about this project:
“Under bridges and inside tunnels, wild birds often rest on contact wires, and unfortunately, they may touch nearby surfaces, initiating arcs. While it is impossible to eliminate such incidents entirely, we can work to suppress the growth of these arcs. Modelling helps us understand the dynamics of arc behaviour and guides the development of optimal arrangements for surface dielectric coatings. This approach ensures that “wildlife” arcs to the structure are extinguished quickly, while powerful lightning strike flashovers are diverted to specialized diverters and managed by surge arrestors.”
Dr Thomas Andritsch, Associate Professor in Electrical Power Engineering said:
“It was very exciting to be able to apply years of research into High Voltage insulation to the real-world problem facing the electrification of the railways. The standards for electrical clearances were first written in the 1970s and need to be updated in line with recent advances in material science research. It is important to experimentally verify that new insulation systems that have been developed are safe before standards are updated. It was a great experience to present some of this work at the World Congress for Railway Research to an international audience and deliver a tangible impact that can accelerate the electrification of the railways in the UK.”
Professor Mark E. Smith, President and Vice-Chancellor, said:
“We are immensely proud of the strength of our rail engineering research here in Southampton. It has been world-leading work for a sustained period making pioneering breakthroughs over many years, and it continues to have a huge impact on the rail network as well as the economy. We are honoured that this research has deservedly been awarded a Queen Elizabeth Prize for Education.”
Sir Damon Buffini, Chair of the Royal Anniversary Trust, said:
“The Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Higher and Further Education celebrate the power of education to change the world for the better. This much-loved national honour recognises, at the highest level of state, outstanding work in UK universities and colleges, and the remarkable benefit they bring to our economy, society and the wider world.”