Research on electrical drives primarily focuses on the modeling, dynamic behavior, and control of various electric drives, including induction machines, permanent magnet synchronous machines, and switched reluctance motors. Additionally, the research extends to the design of electric machines, addressing critical aspects such as energy losses and electromagnetic noise.

A significant portion of the research involves power electronics for electrical drives, encompassing both DC-AC inverters and DC-DC converters. This work aims to improve the efficiency, performance, and reliability of electrical drive systems, with applications spanning industrial automation, renewable energy systems, and electric vehicles. The integration of advanced modeling techniques, machine design innovations, and cutting-edge power electronic components is central to advancing the field of electrical drives.

Present Research

• Axial-flux permanent magnet machines with high efficiency and power density
• Integrated Modular Motor Drives
• Synchronous reluctance machines
• Magnetic materials for high-speed electrical machines
• Condition monitoring and active fault compensation of electrical machines
• High-speed electrical machines
• Analytical modeling of electrical machines

• High performance cooling of electrical machines

• Electrical Variable Transmission
• Sensorless control of permanent magnet drives
• Direct Torque Control of Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines
• Identification of electrical machines
• Image Registration of Electrical Drives
• Line-Start Permanent Magnet Machines
• Design of Electrical Machines for Sustainable Energy Applications
• Additive Manufacturing for Electrical Machines

• Additive Manufacturing of Coated Windings for Electric Machines

Past Research

• Sensorless control of switched reluctance drives
• Multi level converters for AC-motors
• Optimal design of switched reluctance motors

Available Expertise 

• Numerical Analysis of Electrical Machines
Numerical field calculation methods for machine design and analysis: finite element tools in 2D and 3D, time and frequency domain methods have been developed and are used for e.g. magnetic noise analysis, optimal design of machines, …  

• Modelling and simulation of electrical machines and drives: the lab has a long-standing (more than 30 years) expertise in non-linear dynamic modelling and identification of electrical machines and drives. Using a combination of numerical and analytical methods several pioneering principles and results regarding e.g. saturation modelling have been obtained. 
• Digital Control of Electrical Drives
The lab has thorough theoretical and practical experience in digital control, applied not only for control of power electronic converters but also for drive control (e.g. discrete time direct torque control of induction machines) (Zie Digital_control.doc)

Experimental Facilities

The machine lab has numerous test benches for electrical machines and drives with controllable DC and AC supplies, several load machines, VXI data acquisition systems, torque, current and voltage sensors and position resolvers or encoders.