Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation

ePowerHub

Our laboratory provides high-quality, state-of-the-art research equipment to four research groups and for teaching purposes

Equipment

Our 230 m2 of laboratory space includes high-quality, state-of-the-art research equipment to address a wide range of energy-related issues.

Thanks to the 750 kVA electric generator, the mechanical rotation of the electric motor smooths out even the slightest distortions in the electricity network. The disturbances from the tram and metro do not affect the quality of the electricity produced for the ePowerHub.

The back-to-back motor/generator configuration has been a flagship of our laboratory for several decades. The development of the control algorithm in the power converter has brought several breakthroughs that form a strong backbone for our industrial collaborators. Electrical energy can be produced and used with greater efficiency, while the reliability of the drive is improved thanks to sensorless control.

The ePowerHub also contributes to the transition to renewable energy, where wind turbines, photovoltaic panels, batteries, hydrogen electrolyzers and fuel cells are expanding their influence in our world. The development of a reliable power grid requires at least an emulation of these complex sustainable systems.

Our laboratory is recognised worldwide for its advanced magnetomechanical characterisation of electrical steel sheets used to improve the performance of electric motors. Additional losses associated with the manufacturing process are experimentally quantified at the ePowerHub. This characterisation unlocks the potential of our researchers to develop accurate simulation tools for the electrical components.

Photos from the ePowerHub laboratory

Click on the pictures to enlarge them. Photos: Aalto University/Mikko Raskinen.

EEA-Health laboratory equipment photo taken by Vujaklija Ivan

750 MVA electric generator of the ePowerHub

Research and teaching

Four research groups are working in the ePowerHub facilities. The most important things in the ePowerHub laboratory are:

The possibility to test different high electric power devices needed in the green transition (motors, generators, inverters)
The possibility to simulate, in a controlled environment, the behavior of, e.g.
- Hydrogen production and utilisation devices (referring to the Regatron power supplies)
- Solar and wind energy conversion devices (referring to the Regatron power supplies)
- electric power system operation (grid following and grid forming)
- Control methods for the above device among others (referring to the power electronics and inverters)
Increasing the output power of energy conversion deices by increasing their rotational speed under controlled operation (6-phase machines and force generation)
Characterisation of materials for elctromechanical energy conversion (magnetic materials characterisation under different loading).

In the laboratory, we offer hands on teaching of energy conversion devices (drives and machine labs for students). Teaching focuses especially on master's students and doctoral students in the field of electrical engineering and automation.

The following research groups are working in the ePowerHub facilities.

Electric Drives

Electric drives play an important role, e.g., in a large number of industrial applications, electric and hybrid vehicles, elevators, and robotics. Electric drives are systems where the electric motors or generators are controlled by power-electronic converters (such as a frequency converter).