The scope of work conducted at the Institute of Power Engineering covers the fields of Energy Conversion and Energy Supply, whereby both areas cooperate closely with a number of partners in industry and research, especially with the Centre for Energy Technology Brandenburg (CEBra) and with other Chairs that teach similar subjects. A detailed research profile is provided here: CEBra

•  Chair of Power Plant Technology  (Professor Dr.-Ing. H. J. Krautz)
• Chair of Electrical Machines and Drives  (provisionally filled by Visiting Professor Dr.-Ing. C. Heinrich)
• Power Electronics (Visiting Professor Dr.-Ing. C. Heinrich)
• Electronic Switching Devices (Siemens-Research Visiting Professor Dr.-Ing. H. Fien)
• Reactor-security technology (Visiting Professor Dr.-Ing. U. Kleen)

• Chair of Power Distribution and High-Voltage Engineering  (Professor Dr.-Ing. H. Schwarz)
• Chair of Energy Economics  (Professor Dr. rer. pol. F. Müsgens)
• Chair of Power Distribution and Electrical Engineering of Power Plants   (Visiting Professor Dr.-Ing. K. Pfeiffer)
• Chair of Control Engineering  (Professor Dr.-Ing. G. Lappus)
• Honorary Chair of Decentralised Energy Economics (Professor Dr.-Ing. R. Bitsch)
• Honorary Chair of Shielding and Systems Control Technology (Professor Dr.-Ing. Lemmer)
• Honorary Chair of Medium and Low-Voltage Engineering (Professor Dr.-Ing. G. Pfeiffer)

The research focus of Energy Conversion concentrates mostly on theoretical and practical efforts to further advance modern power stations (increasing efficiency and reducing emissions), in addition to energy use and renewable natural resources. Examples of larger R&D projects include:

• Oxyfuel process to reduce CO2 emissions from coal-fired power stations
• Pressure-drying of brown coal (lignite)
• Circulating pressure-fluidised bed combustion
• Cyclone furnace technology
• Dynamic and availability modelling of power station units

It is important to note that the Institute possesses modern laboratories and complex, large-scale experimental equipment that can facilitate comprehensive experimental investigations in all the aforementioned subjects.
The field of electric machines (propulsion units and generators), in conjunction with power electronics, is geared to improving efficiency through computer-supported simulations, modelling and optimisation processes. Examples of research topics in this field include:

• Permanently-excited axial flow machines of high power density
• Complex multimotor drive systems
• Control processes for matrix converters
• High efficiency emergency power generators.

In the future, close attention will also be given to electronic power applications in electrical networks, e.g.:

• Flexible AC Transmission Systems for power electronic supply of reactive power in AC transmission and distribution networks.
• High voltage DC connections for long-distance transport of large quantities of energy on the basis of high-voltage DC transmission.

The research focus Energy Supply looks at a number of new challenges against the background of an increasingly decentralised and deregulated in-supply and distribution of electrical energy in order to guarantee secure energy supplies. Research endeavours in this regard involve both technical, as well as economic aspects.
The field of Power Distribution and High-Voltage Engineering covers the entire process chain 'from the power station to the wall socket’, i.e. safe and low-loss transfer of energy from the producer to the consumer. Related fields of activity include planning and securing of energy transfer and distribution networks, high-voltage measurement and testing techniques, requisite equipment and switching units, insulation materials, as well as electromagnetic tolerability of large systems. Selected fields of research include:

• Optical measurement of high voltages and currents
• Pilot plant for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing of large systems (locomotives)
• Power plant in-house networks
• Network integration of decentralised power supplies

Our excellent laboratory-scale facilities include a large, fully shielded high voltage chamber (1000 kV alternating current, 1600 kV direct current, 1800 kV pulse voltage), an 8-metre high climatic chamber (-50 to +80 °C) and a complete optics electromagnetic-compatible laboratory.
In essence, the field of Energy Economics deals with the complete added value chain of primary energy sources, ranging from primary energy carriers to energy conversion and transport steps to demand-oriented energy use. We perform analyses on the basis of a number of methodologies which include the principles of business administration, theoretical economics and social science and then augment them with engineering science insights. Current research topics include:

• Production and investment planning in competitive energy markets
• Industrial energy management
• Energy and environmental policies
• Development and deployment of model-based approaches to intelligent decision support systems.

Energy technology applications in the fields of control engineering and systems control technology include

• Classical control engineering for technological power station systems
• Deployment of process control systems in power station units
• Particularly for large high-pressure gas distribution networks
• Simulation, state estimations, control systems, leak monitoring, capacity calculation.

The field of decentralised energy systems and storage technology is concentrated on the attempt to integrate decentralised energy systems, decentralised energy management, consumption-oriented application optimisation and virtual large-scale plants. Topics of related interest include:

• Modelling, simulation and optimisation of decentralised, total supply systems
• Decentralised optimisation of generating, storing and loading
• Optimal utilisation of existing utilities.

Speciality subjects in the fields of shielding techniques of electrical networks (concepts, equipment, algorithms) and medium and low-voltage engineering (surveying of networks and switching units to ensure highly reliable supplies) complete the courses offered by the Institute offerings.