Projects / Programmes
Control of electromechanical systems
January 1, 2015
- December 31, 2019
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.12.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Electric devices |
|
| 2.03.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Energy engineering |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T190 |
Technological sciences |
Electrical engineering |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 2.02 |
Engineering and Technology |
Electrical engineering, Electronic engineering, Information engineering |
Electrical devices, electromagnetic devices, energy conversion, electrical drives, AC electrical drives, power electronic converters, DC-DC converters, switching devices, electrical power system, analysis, load frequency control, renewable sources, smart grids
Researchers (24)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
Proposed research programme Control of electromechanical systems represents continuation of the current programme. It consists of two major parts connected with common elements in a form of electrical devices and a need for improvement of technical specifications in terms of increased dynamic responses, increased operational reliability, reduced production expenses and increased energy efficiency. The last requirement for design of electrical devices, complex systems assembled from a number of individual electrical devices and control systems in a broad sense with improved efficiency, directly comes from the requirements of the European Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) on 20% reduction of consumed energy by year 2020. In regards to this binding requirement, a fact that in a brand new resistance spot welding (RSW) transformer a target degree of efficiency increase for around 10% is accounted for, while a target degree of efficiency increase of a RSW system with an integrated input inverter and output rectifier is set to 25%, which represents enormous reduction of losses with concurrent large reduction of amount of used raw material. Design of the system for RSW will be carried out with assistance of optimization methods and analytical calculation.
With development and implementation of advanced control concepts in Electrical Power System (EPS), enormous financial savings is feasible to be achieved. However, in regards to increase of efficiency or decrease of losses, savings in light of the European EED on reduction of consumed energy are impossible to predict precisely. In addition, a change of a control of EPS will increase operational reliability of EPS, which is nowadays becoming a prevailing requirement. On contrary to the above, introduction of alternative renewable energy sources into generation of electrical energy, largely contributes to decrease of consumption of classical fuels. A topic of the research in this area will be development of novel approaches for introduction of alternative and renewable energy sources into distribution systems. Due to presence of necessary control, these types of systems are called smart grids. With our research activities on basic components of the smart grids we plan to amend difficulties currently present in majority of European countries with a large proportion of alternative sources bounded to sun and wind energy. The key point is development of micro converters and control system that will not cause substantial counteractive effects on primary EPS and electricity transmission system. Solving the mentioned problem represents a major challenge on a global scale.
In the area of development of advanced approaches for control of electrical drives, great energy savings as known from previously presented examples cannot be expected here. However, in spite of the anticipated savings, this professional area is of our great importance for domestic electro-metallic processing industry, which is mostly export-oriented.
Significance for science
The programme group deals with solving real life problems with which companies in electric and metallic industry and the operators of EPS face on a daily basis. The problems encountered in the companies in development of new products and in control of EPS working on the limit of capability are often so complex that they can only be solved with use of scientific research methods. This type of work is managed only by those qualified researchers which own both, a solid theoretical knowledge, as well practical experiences. However, in the field covered by our planned research group there are only a few qualified researchers, but unfortunately they do not reach critical amount of the required knowledge if they are not joint together. Therefore, the established cooperation of all kinds, particularly the international one is all the more important for the transfer and exchange of new scientific knowledge. The cooperation is inevitable for development of sciences at home and in the world. A similar view is shared by researchers in various European countries with which we were able to establish bilateral cooperation. It appears that themes from electrical engineering are not in up front development priorities, which is particularly evident in Europe. Therefore, some European countries already import qualified researchers.
The associates of the programme group established good research cooperation with researchers from research institutions in Slovenia, Croatia, Austria, Germany, Belgium, France, Finland, Poland, Greece and USA. A quality level of cooperation is embodied in joint publications, a number of which is increasing over the years. The number of publications in quality journals is also increasing, which means that the results being interesting also for a broader international community. All the publications in the quality international journals were based on original innovative solutions. Increased response to the publications in a form of citing them clearly displays the originality, innovation and an advanced level of the proposed solutions. This is one of the important objectives of the posed research programme.
The members of the programme group are permanent associates of numerous research groups abroad. They are active there as visiting researchers and professors. Most of the members conducted research work abroad for an extended period of time. Projects were different and so are the benefits of the cooperation. The largest benefit gets an individual as the cooperation in a research group within international research environment enables it scientific growth by means of newly acquired knowledge. An indirect benefit goes to an international professional community. A direct benefit is seized by domestic companies. They are establishing contacts with foreign researchers by exchanging the researchers within the programme group. The companies are benefiting from their valuable scientific experience and their expensive research infrastructure.
Significance for the country
The domestic electric and metallic industry is inevitable for social-economical and all round developmental growth of Slovenia due to the industry's vast export orientation. The existence of several companies with which we cooperate is dependent on innovation and quality of proposed solutions in design of novel apparatuses and systems. Search for successful businesses lays in management of their own development of their future products. Into their development, the companies include competent domestic and foreign researchers as well as infrastructure potential the researchers possess. This is a blueprint for effective development of new programmes. In there, researchers from companies interact with researchers who are co-financed by a national research programme. Competent foreign researchers are also included in the work. A similar pattern was successfully implemented also in the work with operators of EPS. The EPS represents a basic infrastructure for various other activities. Its flawless operation in a context of the prescribed specifications is a prerequisite for any development, such as economic and social. All modes from classic to alternative energy production are important to be considered upon questioning operation quality of EPS.
The proposed research programme is aligned with and connected to the development objectives of Slovenia on several key areas. These areas are: (-) higher education and research activities, (-) introduction of new high-tech products, (-) rational production and use of electrical energy (environmental protection) and (-) sciences. A success of the approach was confirmed in the development of the advanced control of RWS system (e. g. a signed contract on long-term cooperation and sales of patent submissions), the development of the system of the non-linear control for various types of AC machines and the development of new devices of EPS. In a span of only six years, the associates of the programme group were granted in total of 7 patents and 14 patent submissions were filed in. This says all about innovation and applicability of the developed solutions. The research group intends to maintain a similar pattern of work in future.
Effective technological development in individual branches of electric and metallic industry requires also investments into development of human potential – researchers and equipment. A critical range of researchers and equipment are ensured by companies across Slovenia in cooperation with our research group. This critical range is a prerequisite for the successful developmental work. Cooperation with researches from the above mentioned European countries and USA assists with specific technological knowledge coming into Slovenia in the shortest way possible, if the development of such knowledge is at the moment not conducted in the group. Expensive laboratory and software equipment is used by exchanging researchers. The benefits are multiple, which confirms the interest of participants.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2015,
interim report,
final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2015,
interim report,
final report
