The TAOIDE project was structured such that the design and decision process for each work package overlapped and complemented each other in order to reach an optimal final design. Each work package had inputs to other work packages. Parallel processing across work packages was imperative for the success and convergence of work for the final system testing. The structure of the TAOIDE project can be broken down into three phases during its 51-month duration.
Phase 1: During the first phase of the TAOIDE project, work focused on system definitions for each subsystem. These definitions were facilitated by face to face meetings by Project participants which ensured design goals were met. Upon completion of system definitions, the preliminary design phase was undertaken. During this phase of the Project an early stage design of the subsystem was conducted, which was then presented to the Project participants leading other work packages for feedback. This design review was an integral step of the design process to tune design parameters to meet the needs of other subsystems of the power take-off.
Phase 2: During phase 2, the critical design of each subsystem was undertaken. This design work was informed by all participants from the preliminary design review at the end of year one. Critical design involved the final mechanical designs of the bearing and seal solutions, and the simulation of turbine, electrical, and control systems. Phase 2 also saw the start of the subsystem testing, including laboratory verification tests of power electronic modules at UCC’s testing facility. At the end of phase 2 a critical design review was held, including all Project participants to finalize system design choices.
Phase 3: The final phase of the TAOIDE project focused on testing of the full system at IKM’s test facility (originally to be conducted at UCC’s test centre but changed by agreement under Amendment AMD-727465-16). Upon validation of each subsystem, the full system was assembled and tested in accordance with the agree generator test plan devised during phase 3.
