New electrical engineering equipment to encourage hands-on learning

The energy transition is throwing up an array of challenges for generating, converting and storing renewable energy. It’s essential that electrical engineers be trained specifically on these subjects – and the best way to do that is by giving students an opportunity to experience first-hand some of the problems and constraints they’ll encounter later in their careers, when they begin conducting R&D.

EPFL faculty members and students now have access to state-of-the-art equipment for experimenting with smart systems and grids, electric machines, motors, batteries and converters. The DLL in power systems engineering (room ELD040) was equipped with 20 new workbenches last summer for these kinds of hands-on projects.

“This is the result of a four-year undertaking,” says Sylvain Robert, an engineer and EPFL lecturer in electrical engineering. He spearheaded the construction of the new workbenches, which each contains synchronous and asynchronous motors, a DC motor, and five different power supplies. They’re also equipped with connectors that measure speed (both manually and digitally), the torque exerted on a shaft connecting two machines, voltage and current, and a machine’s active and reactive power. These measurements are logged and can be stored on a computer or another data acquisition system, making it possible to analyze and adjust machines in real time.

“We worked with EPFL faculty members to design equipment that can be used for all types of lab sessions, enabling students to perform experiments under conditions that are as representative as possible,” says Robert. “For example, we can simulate an unstable power grid.” In a lab exercise he developed with André Hodder, a fellow EPFL lecturer, students work in groups of 2–3 to simulate the turbines and generators in stand-alone hyrdopower plants, using the DLL’s DC motor and synchronous motor. Then all the students’ generators are connected together like an island grid. “That’s usually where things get tricky and problems arise,” Robert adds.

Degree programs designed for industry needs

Prof. Drazen Dujic, who heads EPFL’s Power Electronics Laboratory, also believes it’s important for students to get hands-on experience confronting real-world challenges. His branch of electrical engineering – power electronics – deals with electrical energy conversion.

Prof. Dujic and his group have developed the Power Electronics Teaching Setup (PETS): a wheeled configuration that connects to the workbenches in room ELD040. Designed to give students more opportunities to experiment, it consists of an AC and DC power supply and two industrial converters with programmable digital controllers. “We developed the PETS so that students can get actual experience using digital controls for power converters,” says Prof. Dujic.

Students first use a digital twin of the PETS to develop and test a control model with offline and online simulations. Then they use the PETS to run the model’s algorithm, which they can validate on the grid. “The goal of this process is to let students experiment with various concepts safely,” Prof. Dujic explains. “In power electronics, experiments can quickly become risky and explosive.”

The PETS was used for the first time last semester and received positive student feedback. “This kind of practice is necessary to train engineers who are able to find solutions to problems. Before EPFL, I worked for five years at ABB. I know the industry’s needs and expectations – and I think’s important to provide an education that meets them,” he concludes.

Translated from French