Source: jamesdysonaward.org

College Students Win Design Award for Device That Curbs Microplastics Emitted From Tyres

Four students at Imperial College London have won this year’s James Dyson Award for their device to capture micro-plastic emissions from vehicle tyres.

Tackling toxic tyre emissions: student inventors win Dyson Award

Four Imperial College London students have won this year’s James Dyson Award for their device to curb microplastic emissions from vehicle tyres. The Tyre Collective, founded by students from the Dyson School of Design Engineering, won the UK prize of the international design competition with their solution to the growing problem of pollution caused by tyre wear from vehicles. Their device captures microplastic particles from tyres as they are emitted and could help to reduce the damaging pollution they cause.  

We all know tyres wear down, but never consider where it all goes. Microplastics are commonly associated with single-use plastics but we were shocked to discover that half a million tonnes of tyre wear is produced annually across Europe. It enters our waterways, the food we eat, and the air we breathe; accounting for up to 50% of PM2.5 & PM10 emissions from road transport.
The device uses electrostatics to collect charged particles flying off the tyre. We all know tyres wear down, but never consider where it all goes. Microplastics are commonly associated with single-use plastics but we were shocked to discover that half a million tonnes of tyre wear is produced annually across Europe. It enters our waterways, the food we eat, and the air we breathe; accounting for up to 50% of PM2.5 & PM10 emissions from road transport. Source: jamesdysonaward.org

The Tyre Collective: Saving our air from tyre wear

The Tyre Collective, founded by students from the Dyson School of Design Engineering, won the UK prize of the international design competition with their solution to the growing problem of pollution caused by tyre wear from vehicles. 

Their device captures microplastic particles from tyres as they are emitted and could help to reduce the damaging pollution they cause. 

Wear and Tyre 

Every time a vehicle brakes, accelerates or turns a corner, the tyres wear down and tiny particles become airborne, producing half a million tonnes of tyre particles annually in Europe alone.  

The team’s winning device is fitted to the wheel of the vehicle and uses electrostatics to collect particles as they are emitted from the tyres, using air flows around a spinning wheel. They claim that their prototype can collect 60% of all airborne particles from tyres, under a controlled environment on their test rig. 

Once collected, the fragments can be reused in new tyres or other materials such as ink. The Tyre Collective have demonstrated this by printing their business cards using ink made from collected tyre dust. 

Source: Imperial.ac.uk

As we move towards electric vehicles, it is crucial to consider the implications of tyre wear, so we are not replacing one pollution source with another. Last July, the UK government issued a call to action and are looking for solutions; The Tyre Collective set out to answer it.
The device is positioned close to where the tyre touches the road to maximise effectiveness. As we move towards electric vehicles, it is crucial to consider the implications of tyre wear, so we are not replacing one pollution source with another. Last July, the UK government issued a call to action and are looking for solutions; The Tyre Collective set out to answer it. Source: jamesdysonaward.org

It’s common knowledge that tyres wear down, but nobody seems to think about where it goes

The team are made up of students Siobhan Anderson, Hanson Cheng, M Deepak Mallya, and Hugo Richardson who all studied Innovation Design Engineering, a course offered jointly by Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art.

 “As a team, our strength lies in our diversity,” Hugo Richardson told The Guardian. “We come from all four corners of the globe and bring with us a wealth of knowledge in mechanical engineering, product design, architecture and biomechanics. 

“It’s common knowledge that tyres wear down, but nobody seems to think about where it goes, and we were really shocked to discover that tyre particles are the second-largest microplastic pollutant in our oceans. At the Tyre Collective, we incorporate sustainable and circular values into product design to capture tyre wear at the source.” 

The World Health Organisation estimates that outdoor air pollution causes 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide per year. Most air pollution related deaths are linked to exposure to small particulate matter of 2.5 microns or less in diameter, which can penetrate deep into the respiratory system. Their harmful effects on health include cardiovascular and respiratory disease, as well as cancers. 

Greater adoption of electric vehicles will cause a reduction in exhaust emissions, but tyre dust will continue to pollute the air. The team estimate that tyre emissions may even increase, as electric vehicles are heavier due to the added battery weight. 

Source: Imperial.ac.uk

The team discovered that rubber particles coming off the tyre are positively charged due to friction. Using a single array of electrostatic plates, our design currently captures 60% of all airborne particulates on our test rig. It is low energy and can be powered directly from the car’s alternator.
The Rig, which mimics a tyre skidding on the road, was built to test out prototypes. The team discovered that rubber particles coming off the tyre are positively charged due to friction. Using a single array of electrostatic plates, our design currently captures 60% of all airborne particulates on our test rig. It is low energy and can be powered directly from the car’s alternator. Source: jamesdysonaward.org
The device is attached to the steering knuckle. Captured tyre particles are stored within the device and collected during servicing. Once refined, they are extracted and used in a variety of applications, creating a closed-loop system.
Positioned close to where the tyre meets the road, the device takes advantage of air flows around the spinning wheel. The device is attached to the steering knuckle. Captured tyre particles are stored within the device and collected during servicing. Once refined, they are extracted and used in a variety of applications, creating a closed-loop system. Source: Imperial.ac.uk

The device is intended as part of a closed-loop system

The team discovered that rubber particles coming off the tyre are positively charged due to friction. Using a single array of electrostatic plates, our design currently captures 60% of all airborne particulates on a test rig. It is low energy and can be powered directly from the car’s alternator. 

The tested solution is the result of collaboration with experts in Aerodynamics and Material Science from Imperial College, facilitated by design. 

Positioned close to where the tyre meets the road, with sufficient ground clearance, the device takes advantage of various air flows around the spinning wheel. It is attached to the steering knuckle, free to move and turn with the suspension, and adaptable to different vehicles. Captured tyre particles are stored in a cartridge within the device and collected during servicing. Once refined, they are extracted and used in a variety of applications, including new tyres, 3D printing and dyes, creating a closed-loop system.

The James Dyson Award, which is in its 16th year, operates in 27 countries and is open to university students and recent graduates studying product design, industrial design and engineering. It recognises and rewards imaginative design solutions to global problems with the environment in mind. 

Source: JamesDysonAward.org

Their invention will be entered into the international contest for the final leg of the James Dyson awards in November. The team take home £2,000 prize money and the chance to enter the international round of the competition with the opportunity to win a £30,000 top prize. Earlier this year, the team won the The Moonshot Prize in Imperial’s Venture Catalyst Challenge. They were also recently named as winners in the Mayor of London’s Entrepreneurship Programme.
The Tyre Collective team: Hugo Richardson, Siobhan Anderson, Deepak Mallya, and Hanson Cheng. Their invention will be entered into the international contest for the final leg of the James Dyson awards in November. The team take home £2,000 prize money and the chance to enter the international round of the competition with the opportunity to win a £30,000 top prize. Earlier this year, the team won the The Moonshot Prize in Imperial’s Venture Catalyst Challenge. They were also recently named as winners in the Mayor of London’s Entrepreneurship Programme. Source: jamesdysonaward.org
Tyres: The stealthy microplastic pollutant we never thought about. Tyre wear and tear is the second-largest microplastic pollutant in our environment. As we move towards an electric future, tailpipe emissions will reduce but tyre emissions are projected to increase due to the added battery weight. The future of vehicle pollution will not come from tailpipe emissions, but from tyres. The Tyre Collective aims to mitigate emissions by capturing them at the source, stopping them from entering our environment. Source: YouTube/The Tyre Collective

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