Scientific Area:  Engineering & Technology.

EXPR: Electrical Technology.

Name of the service: Electrical drivelines and Electrical power system.

Main responsible: Boel Ekergård – Assoc. Professo.

Category of the service: Research group.

Target group: Industry.

Background:

The ongoing electrification of society, which is part of the industry reaction on the climate change, has led to a strong demand for advanced level competence in electrical engineering. The electrification of society includes, among other things, large consumers of energy such as the vehicle fleet and energy-intensive industry, which leads to these sectors needing more and more competence in electrical engineering for the technological transition. With increased consumption of electricity, increased production from new types of producers is also required. This, together with changed power flows in the grid, places new demands on the power system of the future, and increased competence is needed in all parts of the power system in order to maintain a stable and robust power system in the future as well.

Electric machines and energy-storage are today considered elemental in the green transition and driven by the proliferation of rechargeable EVs. To accelerate the energy transition and achieve the energy policy goals, it is critical to analyze the extraction, production, and handling of materials in EVs. While EVs offer clear benefits in reducing emissions during their operational life, their production phase presents significant environmental, social, and economic challenges. Addressing these challenges requires a holistic approach to manufacturing processes, including technical innovations, cleaner energy sources, improved battery and motor technologies, recycling programs, and a consideration of social and economic factors. 

Scientific refence:

At University West, electrical engineering is a prioritized area, with research within the electrical power system and all subsystems of the electrical driveline. The foundation of the research within the electrical power system is the demand of a stable electrical grid. A stable electrical grid is a prerequisite for today´s society and University West has a great focus on research regarding voltage- and transient- stability. 

The foundation of the research within electrical driveline is to only utilize national materials with the requirement that the technical subsystem must be designed for recycling and reuse. With an electric machine utilizing ferrite as the magnetic material and research regarding replacing cobolt and lithium with iron phosphate in the battery-system the research in electrical engineering at the University of the West is at the absolute forefront and has great opportunities to achieve a technical solution that meets all three global sustainability goals. Through collaboration with relevant industry, see for example, Högskolan Väst deltar i ny satsning på elektrifiering | Högskolan Väst (mynewsdesk.com), the research group spreads the possibility of the technical solutions including the ability to reuse/recycle with an electric driveline to relevant industry. Högskolan Väst is thus to the highest degree involved in and drives development within technical solutions that meet all three global sustainability goals.

Offer description:

Research within electrical engineering at University West is divided in number of steps. Analytical and numerical calculations give the foundation to the modelling and laboratory verifying tests, leading to fullscale experiments. Within the experimental environment, full scale electrical drivelines with ferrite based electrical motors are designed, assembled and experimental verified. The experimental environment offers power sources, measuring technics including EMC-, and NVH-chambers, inhouse developed power electronics, research regarding automated assembling and disassembling for recycle and reuse. 

Scientific Area: Engineering and Technology.

EXPR: Production Technology.

Name of the service: Flexible Automation.

Main responsible: Fredrik Danielsson – Professor.

Category of the service: Research group.

Target group: Industry.

Scientific refence:

The research group specializes in advanced automation systems with several key focuses: 1. Plug & Produce: Modular systems that allow for seamless integration of new products and resources into existing setups without significant downtime. 2. Smartness: Incorporating AI systems with multi-agent technology, machine learning, and optimized decision-making for enhanced efficiency. 3. Circularity: Developing automation systems that facilitate the reuse of resources such as robots, machines, and tools. 4. Human-Centric: Designing systems centered around human interaction for production planning and collaborative features for safe human-machine engagement. 5. Flexibility: Creating systems that can quickly adapt to changing requirements without extensive reprogramming. The group envisions a future of sustainable smart automation that integrates human perspectives, responding to the limited focus on human-centric design in Industry 4.0 (I4.0). The emergence of Industry 5.0 (I5.0) aims to balance technology with sustainability and resilience. At University West, research on self-adaptive systems enhances the agility and interoperability of automated manufacturing, supporting equipment life extension. This interoperability relies on adaptable agents that collaborate using tailored Large Language Models (LLMs). The group explores AI-driven automation techniques such as deep learning, reinforcement learning, and generative adversarial networks to tackle real-world challenges. The ultimate goal is to create automation systems that understand user intentions without requiring programming, leveraging AI performance to advance automation capabilities.

Offer description:

The research group have an edge within this field and emphasize: Plug & Produce: Modular automation systems, where new products and resources can be seamlessly incorporated into an existing system without significant downtime or complex setup. Smartness: AI systems, incorporating multi-agent technology, machine learning, and optimised decision-making. Circularity: Automation systems that enable the reuse of resources (robots, machines, tools etc.) and products. Human-Centric: Automation systems that are centred around (i) human interaction for production planning and (ii) collaborative features for smart and safe human-machine interaction. Flexibility: Automation systems that quickly adapt to changing requirements, product variations, or external factors without the need for extensive reprogramming. The human-centric smart automation envisions the development of sustainable smart automation systems that integrate human perspectives. As a response to the lack of human-centric perspectives in I4.0, Industry 5.0 (I5.0) has recently arisen to balance and complement the dominating emphasis on technology by focusing on sustainability, human-centric, and resilience. At University West we work on self-adaptive systems that enhance the agility and interoperability of automated manufacturing to support equipment life extension. The interoperability will be based on adaptable agents that collaborate by leveraging tailored Large Language Models (LLMs) to devise comprehensive solutions. Our research in AI-driven automation explores techniques such as deep learning, reinforcement learning, and generative adversarial networks to address real-world challenges in diverse industrial settings. We focus on AI based planning; AI planning involves the process of generating sequences of actions to achieve specific goals. The final goal is automation systems that require no programming but understanding of what the user wants. We utilize the performance of AI to reach the next level of automation.

Scientific Area: Engineering and Technology.

EXPR: Production Technology.

Name of the service: Thermal Spraying.

Main responsible: Shrikant Joshi– Professor.

Category of the service: Research group.

Target group: Industry.

Scientific refence:

Thermal spraying is a process where materials, typically in powder form, are heated to a molten or semi-molten state and then propelled onto a surface to create a coating. This versatile method allows for the deposition of various materials, including metals, alloys, ceramics, plastics, and composites, achieving thicknesses from 20 microns to several millimeters at high deposition rates. The group’s advanced spray facilities include an axial feed atmospheric plasma spray (APS) system and a high-velocity air-fuel (HVAF) unit. These systems allow for the optimal thermal spray approach based on the coating material. With the ability to spray a wide range of materials, the coatings can be tailored to meet specific functional requirements for applications in gas turbines, diesel engines, bearings, pumps, compressors, and critical components in the oil, gas, steel, and pulp and paper industries. The group’s leadership in thermal spraying research is supported by its two key systems: the APS, known for providing the highest thermal energy among thermal spray variants, and the HVAF, which compensates for lower temperature processing with high kinetic energy. Historically, the group’s research has concentrated on thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) for aero-engine and land-based gas turbine applications, as well as the automotive industry. Recently, the focus has expanded to include coatings for environmental barriers, wear resistance, and corrosion protection, enhancing its expertise across various sectors.

Offer description:

Thermal spraying is a process wherein a material, traditionally fed in the form of a powder, is heated to a molten or semi-molten state in a high-temperature high-velocity zone and the resulting particle or droplet is propelled onto the surface to be coated. The range of materials that can be deposited include metals, alloys, ceramics, plastics, and composites, and can be built up in the thickness range of 20 microns to several mm over a large area and at a high deposition rates. The unique spray facilities available in the group comprise an axial feed capable plasma spray system and a high-velocity air-fuel (HVAF) unit that enable the most appropriate thermal spray route to be adopted depending on the material to be coated. Due to the huge spread of materials that can be sprayed, the coating properties can be tailored to meet the functional requirements of a wide spectrum of applications relevant to gas turbines, diesel engines, bearings, journals, pumps, compressors etc. as well as key components required in oil & gas, steel, pulp & paper industries. The group’s current position as a global leader in TS research is facilitated by the availability of two following spray systems: An axial feed capable atmospheric plasma spray (APS) system, providing the highest thermal energy among all TS variants. A high velocity air fuel (HVAF) spray system, relying on very high kinetic energy to compensate for low temperature processing. Functionalities addressed: For many years, the group’s research focus was oriented towards development of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) primarily for aero-engine and land-based gas turbine applications as well as automotive industry. Over the past few years, the research group has gradually extended its expertise towards other applications such as coatings for environmental barriers, wear resistance and corrosion protection.University West – Thermal Spraying – a vast playground for exciting research and application development (hv.se).

Scientific Area: Engineering and Technology.

EXPR: Production Technology.

Name of the service: Welding and Welding-based Additive Manufacturing.

Main responsible: Jörg Volpp, Professor.

Category of the service: Research group.

Target group: Industry.

Scientific refence:

The Welding and welding-based additive manufacturing (AM) group at KAM-PT is one of the largest in the Nordic region, comprising around 30 members, including senior researchers, PhD students, and engineers. Research is divided into three key areas: 1. Metallurgy: This area focuses on fundamental studies of welding and AM technologies to enhance understanding of microstructures and defects and their impact on mechanical performance. Research spans various materials, including nickel-based superalloys, duplex stainless steels, aluminum, and titanium alloys. 2. Physical Process Simulation: Here, models are developed to describe heat sources like electric arcs and lasers, predicting outcomes such as porosity, defects, temperature, and stress gradients. 3. Process Control: This area aims to enhance process parameterization and automation through effective sensing, monitoring, and control strategies. The interplay between these research areas fosters collaboration, enabling a multidisciplinary approach that sets this group apart in the Nordic countries. The group’s activities align with industry demands, focusing on producing components from “hard-to-weld” materials and optimizing additive manufacturing processes. With a commitment to improving production rates and understanding of welding processes, the group is actively engaged in national and international organizations, including the International Institute of Welding (IIW) and the Swedish Production Academy (SPA), and has established research collaborations globally.

Offer description:

Welding and welding-based AM is one of the largest research groups within KAM-PT, comprising about 30 people (including senior researchers, PhD students and engineers). The group’s research is grouped into three main areas: Metallurgy: Metallurgy research focuses on fundamental research of welding and welding-based AM technologies to improve the understanding of microstructure, defects, and their effect on mechanical performance. Research is carried out on a wide range of materials from nickel-based superalloys, stainless steels including duplex stainless steels, to aluminium and titanium alloys. Physical Process Simulation: The area of Physical Process Simulation develops models to describe heat sources such as electric arc or laser, as well as the melt pool that can be used to predict the formation of porosity, defects, temperature, and stress gradients etc. Process Control: The area of process control focuses on improving process parametrization and automation (sensing, monitoring, and control). The overlap of the research areas enables a close collaboration and exchange of experience within the group which in turn allows a multi-disciplinary research approach that makes the Welding & Welding based AM group unique in the Nordic countries. Research activities are in line with industrial demands to improve system efficiency through producing components of “hard-to-weld” materials as well as tailoring components based on industrial demands using additive manufacturing methods. Needs of increased production rate and fundamental understanding of arc and laser welding are met by the research performed in the Process control as well as by Process simulation areas of research. The welding research group is the largest group in the Nordic countries and aims to become both nationally and internationally recognized. The group is actively involved in both national and international organizations and societies such as the International Institute of Welding (IIW) and the Swedish Production Academy (SPA) and has established active research collaborations with international partners from both academia and industry.

– Development of organisations and policy: How work creates the means by which knowledge is developed in and between organisations for policy development.

– Health promotion in the workplace: How knowledge is acquired to create health on equal terms and a healthy working life / workplace.

– Development of leadership: How work creates the means for development of knowledge and leadership in and between professions.

Scientific Area: Engineering and Technology.

EXPR: Petroleum engineering, (fuel, oils), Energy and fuels, Renewable Energy.

Name of the service: Center of Scientific Research Excellence- CUT.

Main responsible: Director Center of Scientific Research Excellence of CUT.

Category of the service: Research group.

Target group: Energy Engineering Companies.

Scientific refence:

Scopus Author ID: 36500044800.

Offer description:

Over 15 years experience in cooperation with industry. Coordinator of Horizon 2020 project RESHeat on Renewable Energy Systems for Buildings.