Department of Electrical Engineering and Mechatronics

The research of the staff of the department are about numerical modeling and measurement verification of devices such as:

• transformers,
• chokes,
• linear motors,
• magnetic bearings,
• electromagnetic actuators,
• magnetic launchers,
• antennas and wave propagation,
• induction heating systems.

Calculations of the objects above include:

• simulation of electromagnetic fields,
• calculation of integral parameters of the fields above (energy, power, force, inductance, torque, etc.),
• thermal field simulation,
• structure optimization.

Calculations are verified with the use of original measuring stands in the field of basic electromagnetic parameters of the above-mentioned devices.

In the field of design and optimization of transformers and chokes, two projects were carried out: one financed by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (2003-2005), and the other by the National Science Center (2010-2013). The first of the above referred to testing modular transformers with amorphous cores. The second concerned transformers operating at increased frequency.

For several years, the interdisciplinary activity of the Department has included research in cooperation with the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of Opole University of Technology (PO). The first element of this cooperation was the development of innovative actuator structures for the purposes of fatigue testing, which resulted in the realization (in 2008-2010) of the NCBiR research and development project No N R01 0026 04 in cooperation with the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Fundamentals of Machine Construction.

Another stage of interdisciplinary activities was the cooperation (in the period 11.2017-04.2018) with the Department of Vehicles of the PO and the Science and Technology Park (PNT). The result of this cooperation was the development of innovative ways to control the position of internal combustion engine valves within the project No. RPOP.01.01.00-16-0063/16-00 co-financed by the European Union. Additionally, in 2018, the commissioned work No. BU-02/18 concerning actuators to drive valves in automotive vehicles was completed.

In the field of material research, cooperation with the Department of Mechanics and Fundamentals of Machine Design of the Opole University of Technology is carried out. These tests include simulation and measurement verification of the heating of multilayer materials. They concern close cooperation with the Explomet company, which is the only Polish producer of explosive-bonded layered materials. Due to the novelty of the aforementioned technology, KEM also conducts measurement tests in the field of parameters of multilayer materials. In the field of induction heating, the Department has been participating (since 2019) in the NCBiR TECHMATSTRATEG2 / 412341/8 / NCBR / 2019 project.

The above-mentioned research includes the development of field-circuit numerical models using commercial and proprietary software. In the case of transformers and induction heating, research is conducted at elevated frequencies using innovative simulation models developed by faculty members.Research on magnetic cores has included analyzing amorphous, nanocrystalline, and composite materials (e.g., Somaloy) for potential applications in electromagnetic devices operating at elevated frequencies.In the field of linear motion actuator research, many innovative designs for electromagnetic launchers and linear actuators have been developed and patented. Field models are used in variational calculations of the designs, which enables their optimization with respect to electromagnetic field distribution, thermal field distribution, and integral field parameters.

In each case, measurement verification is carried out, using the prototypes of devices and measuring systems built for this purpose. The research carried out takes into account a number of physical phenomena occurring in these devices, such as eddy currents, magnetic hysteresis, thermal phenomena, etc. The Department is also capable of performing electromagnetic field measurements in the radio frequency range (from hundreds of kHz to single GHz).

The department’s employess are reviewers for the following journals, among others:

1. Transaction on Magnetics (USA)
2. Transaction on Mechatronics (USA)
3. Compel (UK)
4. Sensors (Switzerland)
5. Energies (Switzerland)
6. Actuators (Switzerland)
7. IET Electric Power Applications (UK)8) IEEE Access

They have also authors or co-authors the following books:

• Gieras J.F., Piech Z.J., Tomczuk B.: Linear synchronous motors, Taylor & Francis, USA, 2012.
• Koteras D., Waindok A., Tomczuk B.: Electrical engineering – problems, OWPO, Opole, 2019.