Electrical Power Research Lab
Power Electronics, Drives and Machines Lab
The Electrical Power Research Lab is home to the Electrical Power Research Group.
The Group carries out pioneering research using state-of-the-art equipment housed in a purpose-built research laboratory.
The Lab specialises in technologies used in transport, renewable energy, power networks and low-cost manufacturing.

Dynamometers
DynamometersOur test rigs are suitable for testing a large range of mechanical and electrical machines and drives for automotive and renewable applications.
Torquemeters 100kW Dynamometer
- Speed rating to 30000 r/min
- Torque rating to 477 N.m
- High performance AC induction motors for drive / load
- 100kW Control Techniques regenerative Unidrive inverter with current rating 210A
Torquemeters 500kW Dynamometer
- Speed rating to 20000 r/min
- Torque rating to 2387 N.m
- High performance AC induction motors for drive / load
- 500kW Control Techniques regenerative Unidrive inverter with current rating 935A
Magtrol Custom Motor Test System
- 70 kW
- 2 quadrant operation
- Low inertia
- Smooth transition of torque profile
Control Techniques 10kW Dynamometer
- Low power
- 4 quadrant operation
- Regenerates energy back into the grid
Control Techniques 15 kW Dynamometer
- Low power
- 4 quadrant operation
- Regenerates energy back into the grid
Power Supplies
Power SuppliesSimulation of frequency, voltage, wave form, phase angles and current for laboratory testing.
TDK-Lambda High Voltage Power Supply
- 500 Volts / 30 Amps
- 10 kW power supply
- Switch mode
ET System EAC AC Source Power Supply
- Variable power supply up to 350 Volts
- Adjustable frequency up to 400MHz
TopCon Quadro DC Power Supply
- Programmable DC Power Supply
- 100 Volts / 120 Amps
TopCon Quadro DC Power Supply
- Programmable DC Power Supply
- 100 Volts / 200 Amps
In addition to the ET System and TopCon Quadro Power Supplies, we also have a number of other units with different ranges. Contact us for further details.
Chambers
ChambersThe following environmental chambers can be used to test the effects of specific environmental conditions on electronic devices and components.
Binder Environmental Simulation Chamber
- Suitable for materials testing between -40°C and 180°C
- Height: 600mm, width: 800mm, depth: 500mm
- interior volume: 240 litres
- Airflow design guarantees exact measurement
Cosmotec Industrial Water Chiller
- Cooling capacity up to 16kW
- Interior volume: 100 litres
- High and low pressure switches
- Designed to accurately control the temperature of the water or liquid to be cooled
LOC Air Oil Cooler
- Optimized for industrial applications
- Cooling capacity up to 25kW
Battery Testing
Battery TestingOur range of testing equipment is used to analyse electrochemical energy storage systems.
Biologic HCP-1005 Potentiostat/Galvanostat
- High Current Potentiostat/Galvanostat/EIS
- Voltage range from 0.6 - 5 V
- Current range of 100 Amps
- Can be used to test industrial Li-ion battery modules
Simulation
SimulationOur research is supported by an extensive range of computation facilities and specialist software.
MATLAB (Matrix Laboratory)
- Numerical multi-physics computer program used to solve matrices
- Allows interface with other computer programs written in C++, Java and Fortran
ANSYS
- Engineering simulation software providing finite element analysis
- Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) element
MAGNET
- Finite element analysis software package for electric magnetics
JMAG
- Simulation software for the design and development of electrical devices e.g. motors, actuators and circuit components
Simulink
- Graphical multi-domain simulation software
- Used for modelling, simulating and analysing multi-domain dynamic systems
MotorCAD
- Thermal analysis package
- Considers both electromagnetic and thermal aspects of machines design
Sabre-RD
- Desktop design and analysis of Power Electronic Systems
- Multi-domain physical modelling capability
PLECS
- Piecewise Linear Electrical Circuit Simulation
- Simulation toolbox for system-level simulations of electrical circuits
Data
DataPower measurement devices are used in our research to obtain data on voltages and currents.
Yokogawa WT1600 Digital Power Meter
- Voltage range from 1.5 - 1000V
- Measurement of large currents for evaluating large sized loads
- Can also be used to measure extremely small currents in energy saving equipment
Agilent Switch Unit 34970A
- Multi-channel data logger
- 3 slot mainframe with built-in GPIB and RS232 interfaces
Tektronix DPO 2014
- Digital Power Oscilloscope
- 4 analogue channels
- Up to 1 GS/s sample rate on all channels
- 100 MHz bandwidth
Tektronix MSO 4034
- Mixed Signal Oscilloscope
- 4 analogue channels
- Up to 2.5 GS/s sample rate on all channels
- 350 MHz bandwidth
In addition to the oscilloscopes listed above, we also have a further two devices with an increased bandwidth up to 700 MHz. Please contact us for more details.
Press
PressA heavy duty shop press is used in metalwork applications where a lot of tonnage is required to press.
Baileigh Hydraulic Press
Heavy duty shop press designed to handle 176 tonnes of pressure
2-speed hydraulic system
400V 3 phase motor
Manual or automatic operation