efb-LAB

AVIO AERO and Politecnico di Bari have realized an integrated multidisciplinary laboratory called “Energy Factory Bari” (EFB), to develop research activities, and development of technologies in areas of common interest in the fields of aerospace and energy. The laboratory is located inside the university campus in Bari.

Research activities:

High speed electrical machines and power converters
Thanks to the recent advances in the field of power electronics, the interest of industry and academia towards high speed electrical machines has increased in the last years also due to the their potential advantages in terms of increased power density and elimination of gear-boxes. Possible applications of such technology can range from aerospace field to the generation of electrical energy from renewable sources, and cogeneration.

Control systems
The design stage cannot be considered separate from the development of the electric machine control system to ensure optimum utilization of the entire energy conversion system. In particular, sensorless control strategies (without position and speed sensors) are very interesting to increase system reliability and reduce its complexity. The control algorithms must ensure accurate control performance, compensating for uncertainty and nonlinearity with innovative and effective strategies also in terms of computational cost. In addition, the action performed by the controller will have to present such trends to ensure no additional loss or stress for vibrations and overheatings.

Thermo-fluid dynamics of machinery and power systems
The research lines in the field of the thermo-fluid dynamics of machinery and power systems are primarily focused machines and systems in aeronautical applications and the exploitation of energy from flows related to renewable energy sources. In particular, we intend to approach the study of turbomachinery integrated to generators (both traditional and based on the next-generation technology, i.e. annular, polyphase, variable frequency, generator) for the production of electricity both on board of aircraft, which could complement current conventional systems or that can operate in emergency conditions using gas flows present on the aircraft, and in stationary installations on- and off-shore that can harness the of wind, waves and marine energy.

Mechanical design and construction of machines
The purpose of the research proposed in the field of mechanical design and mechanical engineering is the study of stress and the response of materials used in innovative systems of turbines integrated with electric generators to ensure reliability levels suitable to the respective applications. The main phenomena to investigate are the issues concerning multi-axial fatigue, dynamics and stability of rotors, the mechanical behavior of joints, the fretting fatigue in the mechanical components in contact.