Main R&D areas

Within the RESLab  research group, we address a wide range of issues of integration, operation, management and optimization of energy units with renewable energy sources, as well as the issue of energy management of buildings with RES. The main focus of the working group is mainly in the field of photovoltaic and wind power plants, hybrid energy systems, electricity storage and electromobility issues.

In our modern laboratory, we have a test facility for verifying the operating characteristics of DC / AC inverters, which consists of a programmable power supply, an artificial network with adjustable internal impedance, a battery storage simulator and a PV string simulator.

In the field of electricity storage, we solve the issue of design, setup and communication of BMS systems for lithium-based batteries, optimization of the use of lead batteries and the issue of flow-through batteries.

Part of the working group addresses issues related to the integration of fast charging stations for electric vehicles into the electricity network, including the integration of storage into power supply systems.

The working group (WG) focuses on low-frequency conducted disturbances in power systems, including transmission and distribution networks and power system users’ installations, related to power/voltage quality (PQ/VQ) and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) issues. The WG scope covers topics ranging from measurement techniques, assessment of emissions and phenomena analysis to mitigation techniques and devices immunity; from ensuring equipment EMC to coordinating EMC in power system to achieve enhanced power system utilization and resilience with the required VQ levels for VQ. Research topics are addressed in a number of projects funded by grant agencies and private entities. The WG develops testing and measuring instruments, specialized control and/or analytical software, and designs solutions for industry. The WG members are active in numerous task forces under professional organizations (IEEE, CIRED, CIGRE) on national and international level and contribute to international (IEEE, EN) and national standards (Czech industrial standards). In addition to the research and development activities, the WG provides consultancy to companies, and organizes private and public professional courses.

The High Voltage Laboratory (HV) is part of the CVVOZEPowerLab infrastructure. This laboratory is focused on research and teaching students in the field of high-voltage technology. HV lab consists of several shielded rooms, test sources and diagnostic tools for testing insulation conditions, AC/DC/LI/SI/ECI withstand voltage/current tests and performing diagnostics of power equipment up to nominal levels of 110 kV. The HV laboratory also offers the possibility to measure electrical parameters of structural solid, liquid and gaseous dielectrics and very sensitive measurements without external interference - background PD is below 1 pC.The open access research infrastructure is available to non-commercial specialists worldwide (see www.cvvoze.cz/en/cvvozepowerlab/open-access/).

The Nuclear Power Group is engaged in teaching and research at the Institute of Electric Power Engineering in the field of nuclear energy, applied nuclear physics and dosimetry of ionizing radiation. Our group deals with advanced nuclear reactors, especially systems controlled by an accelerator or a high-power laser, we also study the issue of modern neutron sources or small modular reactors. An important topic of our work is also safety analysis of second and third generation reactors, we operate a unique facility M.R.C.H.A. (Mobile Research Critical Heat-flux Apparatus) capable of analyzing critical heat fluxes on smooth and treated surfaces or on samples of advanced nuclear fuel coverage. The device can also simulate the cooling of highly superheated nuclear fuel rods during an emergency. We also deal with calculations of the reserve for the boiling crisis in pressurized water reactors using subchannel codes, calculations of 3D kinetics or analyzes of uncertainties in assessing the safety of pools and containers of spent nuclear fuel. We cooperate with prestigious foreign universities and research institutes.

Our workgroup is focused on the research and measurement of modern light sources, the simulations of lighting and optical systems, the photobiological safety of light sources and luminaires, the development of new methodology for the indoor and outdoor discomfort glare measurement and evaluation. In the last few years, we have been developing methods for measuring and evaluating light pollution, both in visible light and non-image forming radiation, and radiation affecting circadian rhythms, both in humans and other living forms. Furthermore, there is the development and testing of luminance analyser LDA in our laboratory that is capable of fast luminance measurement in the whole scene. Moreover, our workgroup carries out studies for our industry partners that are used as the design fundamental for the future development and evaluation of the modern lighting sources and luminaires.

Our working group deals with the issues of protection, operation and safety of the power system including network analysis. 

In the field of protection, the group specializes mainly in the development of new methods and systems for fault location and the use of modern (centralized) protection systems and digitized data according to IEC 61850 standard (Sampled Values). In the area of ​​distribution system operation, research activities are focused on the issue of minimizing fault currents, autonomous regulation of distributed sources and the use of distributed metering for optimizing the distribution system operation.

The part of  network analysis is focused on calculations and analysis of transient and steady states of power networks, static and dynamic models for simulating the operating states of distribution systems with elements of regulation, accumulation and distributed power generation. For these purposes, a number of modelling SW tools are used - PSCAD, MATLAB Simulink, MODES, SINCAL and also a physical model of a distribution network.

The last R&D area is focused on the evaluation of operational safety using probabilistic approaches, procedures optimization for the calculation of ground resistances and conditions for the compensated systems operation. We participate in the implementation of grant and purely private projects of mainly applied research in cooperation with electricity distribution companies, thanks to which it is possible to supplement a number of R&D activities by experimental measurements in real systems.

Our team deals with the issue of system wiring to control the indoor environment of buildings (lighting, shading, heating, cooling, ventilation). Within the group, we organize trainings, workshops, we provide advice and consultations. We participate in the implementation of intelligent building projects and the optimization of electricity consumption. Research is conducted in the field of effective control and optimization algorithms. We focus on KNX, Foxtrot, ABB Free @ Home and Inels.

The next part is focused on advanced possibilities of optimization of energy management systems in buildings.