Head: Roberto Perini

The Laboratory ECMD is focused on the research Group “Converters, electrical machines and drives” activities and studies design and modeling aspects of standard and novel electrical machines; besides, it is involved in analysis of power electronics converters, electrical drives and related control systems.

One kind of electrical machine the group has been analyzing in depth for several applications is the permanent magnet machine, equipped with conventional or innovative windings (with tooth coils): wind power systems; special motors (with dual concentric rotors); high speed micromotors.

A second activity concerns the stability of isolated micro-grids, fed by power electronics converters non-interacting among them, and the problem of synthetic inertia.

Another research topic is the electromagnetic and dielectric analysis of reactors, transformers and magnetic devices in general.

A last but not least sector regards the sensorless control (without speed and position sensors) of doubly fed induction machines.

Head: Vincenzo Dossena

The research group working at the Lab. of Fluid Machines (LFM) is active in the field of experimental and numerical Fluid Dynamics, with particular emphasis on turbomachinery for compressible and incompressible fluids. The lab is equipped with a number of largescale and advanced facilities for experimental research: two wind tunnels for transonic and supersonic linear cascades, a high-speed closed-loop test rig for turbine and compressor stages (800 kW), a closed-loop rig for large scale (1m) turbine stages operated up to transonic conditions, a test-rig for studying the supersonic fluid dynamics of organic vapours, and a test rig for hydraulic turbines and pumps (100 kW).

The available measurement techniques range from classical Hot Wires and multi-hole directional pressure probes, to the own developed single and multi-hole Fast Response Aerodynamic Pressure Probes (FRAPP, up to 80 KHz) and optical systems (Schlieren, LDV and PIV). The numerical research group has developed several in-house codes for the performance and flow analysis and for the design and optimization of turbomachinery stages and components.

The most common commercial codes, such as Ansys Fluent and CFX are also available at the LFM.
Many research contracts with major international companies operating in the turbomachinery market (GE Oil&Gas-NP, Ansaldo, Turboden, etc.) as well as the achieved competitive research funding (PRIN, FP7, etc) demonstrate the capabilities of the research group operating at LFM Among the other facilities, two modern test sections for industrial R&D and product certification of safety valves operating in both air and water are also available.

Head: Sonia Leva, Giampaolo Manzolini

The Laboratory of MicroGrids (LMGs) is an experimental Low Voltage rig operating in the Department of Energy of Politecnico di Milano since 2018 in collaboration with ENGIE EPS. The LMGs includes programmable and non-programmable generation units (solar PV modules, natural gas fired combined heat and power engine), different types of storages (electrochemical batteries, bi-irectional power-to-gas system and thermal storages) and various types of loads representative of the most future on- and off-grid applications for MultiGoods MicroGrids (electricity, heating and cooling, desalination, electric bikes and electric cars).

The LMGs has three power centers which serve as power hubs and local controllers. They ensure the electrical and logical connection between all MG assets, reproduce the electrical effect of long distribution lines in between the PCs and connect/disconnect to the main electrical grid. A Programmable Logic Controller oversees real-time MG management and monitoring based on the deployed EMS.

This experimental setup is an effective testbench for developing innovative Energy Management Systems, implementing Artificial Intelligent tools in the MG management and load/RES forecast, testing innovative components and integrating Electric Vehicles with bidirectional power flows (from grid to vehicle and vehicle to grid) in the MG management.

Head: Andrea Casalegno

The MRT Fuel Cell Lab contributes to the development of electrochemical technologies for energy conversion and storage. The research activities are focused on both experimental and theoretical-modeling studies of transport phenomena, with the aim to:

• characterize the limiting physical phenomena
• develop innovative components
• optimize system operation and lifetime

The ongoing projects regard polymer electrolyte fuel cells, redox flow batteries and Lithium-ion batteries for automotive application and stationary energy storage. The lab experimental facilities are:

• experimental stations for automated characterization of performance, degradation and transport phenomena in single cell
• systems for local characterization by means of segmented cells and reference electrodes
• instrument for in-situ electrochemical characterization (EIS, CV, LSV)
• instrument for the analysis of gas composition

Head: Roberto Faranda

Established in 2005, PhOS laboratory is located in the Department of Energy in Politecnico di Milano – Bovisa Campus, its activities are in Electric Power Systems field. Worldwide, in this area, the research is focused on the sustainability of generation and consumption.

Research group mainly works with Italian firms and the activities are mainly aimed at providing innovative solutions in real contexts to practical industrial problems. Therefore, generation from RES, Dispersed Generation, Smart Grids with storage (at different voltage levels both ac and dc), load management and power quality in LV network, are the main research topics considered.

Ongoing research activities are focused on: the development of power electronic devices to enable DSO to increase power quality of the network and the minimization of END USER electric bill; load behavior under voltage variation (providing experimental investigation and analysis on different load types behavior including traditional lighting loads, more recent lighting type specially LED systems and some thermal loads) and RES system design and optimization, inverter control and MPPT control algorithms, management of storage system and optimal inverter sizing for PV system.

The main highlights of PhOS Laboratory mission includes but are not limited to:

• Power Quality (PQ) and Custom Power (CP)
• Power Electronics, application in LV distribution network
• Smart Grid and Microgrid Systems
• Load Management
• PV systems
• Storage systems
• Lighting Systems
• Electro Magnetic Application

Head: Sonia Leva, Giampaolo Manzolini

Established in 2011, Solar Tech Lab is located on the roof of the Department of Energy of Politecnico di Milano. The main research objective of this laboratory is the development through experimental investigation of electrical and thermal power generation systems based on solar energy.

The following research lines are addressed at the SolarTech Lab:

• Performance assessment of PV module under real operating conditions on energy base for long period. Typical measurements aim at evaluating the impact of innovative PV module design/components (bi-facial PV modules, advanced glass and PV cells) or typical degradation phenomena (i.e. snail trails)
• Robust modeling for predicting and optimizing the system production is critical to increase the interaction of PV systems with smart electricity grids and to optimize energy use, delivery and storage.
• Integrating PVT modules for heat production in the so-called Solar Assisted Heat Pump configuration. Innovative SAHP have been manufactured and tested to assess the energy and economic advantages;
• Application of UAV for monitoring of PV plants to control and monitor performance over time. The purpose of this research line is also to propose in the near future a reliable, fast and cost effective method for PV plant planning and performance analysis, using unmanned systems even in other energy sectors.

Solar Tech Lab provides qualified scientific research, technic al consulting and testing services in the field of photovoltaic, photovoltaic-thermal and concentration systems.