Multi-Functional Test Benches for Electric Drive Instructional Laboratories

Modern electric drives enable to increase efficiency in a vast variety of industry applications.By 2030 the electric drive market is expected to exceed 200 billion USD from 121.81 billion in 2021 [1].There is a special demand for mid-power range electric drive power systems (1 -37 kW) sharing about 75% of the entire world market [2].Moreover, the extensive control abilities over electric drives fit well the IoT concept further increasing the demand for specialists in the electric drive field.Laboratory based hands-on classes are essential in electrical engineering education providing the trainees with practical skills required for professional activity in the industry [3].The core of practical activity comprises series of controlled assignments usually Laboratory based hands-on classes are essential in electrical engineering education.The market available laboratory equipment for basic training courses in the field of electric drives and automation features mainly low power range.Lack of installations with industry standard rated power components in order of several kilowatts predestined collaboration between Moscow Power Engineering Institute and ABB Russia.As a result, a joint instructional laboratory of electric drives was designed for training both students and industry partners.It allows to safely conduct experiments with DC, synchronous and induction machines of 5.5 kW installed power with a variety of corresponding sensors, power converters, programmable logic controllers, relays and protection devices.This paper deals with design aspects of such a laboratory and illustrates the available functionality for experiment conduction and the corresponding results visualization.The flexibility of the laboratory equipment enables to train various aspects of real mid-power range hardware operation within several disciplines hosting approximately 300 students yearly.