Together the Unit members represent a unique coalition of research teams. The Unit’s expertise widely covers the important elements of electric energy systems and also the most important other engineering fields related to the Unit’s fields of expertise – embedded systems, mechanical engineering and fluid dynamics. Together we are capable of solving challenging research and development questions related to power electronics based new systems. The Unit is proud of its competitiveness and scientific strengths for which it is renowned in the international engineering scientific society.
The Unit in all its research operations is purposefully and target orientedly supported by the expertise of the research teams. As research at the Unit covers all the crucial elements from distributed production of electricity via intelligent transmission to the energy efficient utilization of electric energy, these are the significant fields of expertise that is represented by the senior Unit members.
Prof. Larjola’s team is the leading team in Finland in the field of high-speed technology and fluid dynamics. Very many of the research objectives are related with the development of high-speed rotating machinery. Prof. Larjola’s team brings the best available knowledge in heat transfer and fluid dynamics to the Unit. These areas are extremely important both in electrical machines and power electronics.
Prof. Mikkola’s team is extremely important in the field of mechanic interactions in rotating machinery. Their expertise in the application of rotor dynamics to high-speed technologies is irreplaceable. Also the modelling of the whole drive train starting from the mechanics to the power electronic control of the system could not be done without the help of Aki Mikkola’s team’s expertise in virtual modelling. Juha Pyrhönen, Aki Mikkola and Jaakko Larjola have intensively ongoing common projects in the field of high power high torque wind generators. One of the most important targets is to create new extremely powerful direct drive technology for wind power applications. The team pushes the boundaries of physics to create a totally new technology in the field.
Prof. Silventoinen and his team are important workers in the core research of the Unit. Their wide expertise has been used in numerous scientifically challenging power electronic systems’ development projects which are carried out in close collaboration with Vacon Oyj. As there are no traditional boundaries between The Unit’s core teams the Unit is capable of effectively using the expertise of Prof. Silventoinen’s team in very many research projects. For example, Pyrhönen and Silventoinen have collaborated in the research and development of a 3 kV seven level converter for based on H-bridges. The research covered all possible topics from the special transformers to the modulation methods and data transfer systems in a medium voltage converter.
Prof. Ahola’s team is concentrating on embedded control systems and utilization of new data transmission possibilities in the maintenance and energy efficiency of the power electronic drive systems. Expertise in embedded systems, is one of the core competences of the Unit.
Prof. Partanen and his research team are active in the field of electricity distribution and experts in the concept of smart grid technology. Partanen has been an active developer of new distribution concepts. His research in the field of new innovative DC-delivery systems has combined the expertise of all electrical engineering professors of the Unit. Advanced power electronics based DC-distribution systems are creating a revolution, especially in the rural distribution systems by improving the reliability and energy efficiency of the system in a remarkable way. The smart grid concept is efficiently and intensively researched at the Unit under the leadership of Prof. Partanen. The concept provides visionary possibilities e.g. in the field of electric and hybrid cars. Finland already has to a large degree suitable distribution and generation systems for wide utilization of electric drives in cars.