Laboratory of the Unit of Heat and Power Technology

Welcome to Heat and Power lab! Here we conduct experimental research at high international level focusing on turbomachinery aerodynamics, aeroelasticity, gasification, combustion, concentrating solar power, energy storage and polygeneration.

Introduction

For decades we have built up our experimental expertise in heat and power. On the turboengine side, we are the main research laboratory at KTH and our research is focused on machines for land-based applications (stationary turbines) and for transport applications (aircraft engines, marine turbines). We have close cooperation outside the institutional boundaries in order to gather expertise from different areas under one roof, thus creating a unique freserach environment.

The laboratory was previously located in the current Dance School's premises. Since 2005 we conduct our operations in the mechanical engineering quarter. We have an excellent variety of experimental equipment and is the only lab at KTH, which can carry supersonic tests in constant operation. In or, for Sweden unique solar module directed heating of surfaces is generated to over 1500 degrees Celsius and is used in the research of high temperature solar recievers and its material. We have an infrastructure to handle high pressures and temperatures, a gas system for combustible gases etc. Please contact our lab manager Jens Fridh for more information on how to conduct your research here.

Supply systems

Air supply

The air supply system is the hub of all our wind tunnel testing. We have a broad spectrum of compressors and fans at disposal that we choose based on the experiment in question (low speed, high speed) and requirements on flow and pressure. The velocity span goes from Mach 0.02 to Mach 2.5 and pressure from 0.01 to 40 bar.

Electric supply

The electricity supply comes into the picture as we need a lot of controlled energy for eg heating of air flows when simulating flows in gas turbines. In addition to the standard 220V/380V, we are directly connected to the 6kV grid and have a large-scale inverter that delivers 140VDC at 6000A current.

Test rigs

The Laboratory hosts a number of different research rigs related to our research. The test rigs are often operated by the active researchers in respective research group with support of our lab engineers. Some rigs are more permanent, others are built and dissembled within a specific project cycle.

Experimental test facilities can be seen under respective research group: