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Welcome to the "Laboratory of Materials Engineering and High Voltages".
The lab is located in the Department of Electrical Engineering of Bologna
University. The name LIMAT was attributed in 1997, but since 1970 a
High Voltage Lab was activated at Institute of Industrial Electrotechnics. . In the 90s, the High Voltage Lab
has become one of the most important research centre in the world involved in
insulation system design and diagnosis, under the guide of
Prof. Gian Carlo Montanari, head of the Lab.
LIMAT staff is composed by
1 Full Professor, 2 Associate Professors, 1 Assistant Professor, 2
Technicians, 3 researchers (post-doctoral, PhD students and fellows) and
several other co-workers. For more details click the link at the top of the
page.
The main fields of activity are
related to dielectric material characterization and diagnosis of electrical
power systems through partial discharge (PD) and space charge measurements.
Significant work on nanomaterials, and HT superconductive materials,
cellular piezoelectric materials, magnetic materials has been also carried
out. Other research topics are reliability and maintenance of electrical
systems and apparatus, power quality and energy market, applications of
artificial intelligence to electric power system control and diagnosis.
The characterization of insulating materials has done a significant step
forward after 1997, when a measurement system for space charge investigation
in insulating materials
through the pulse electroacoustic method (PEA) was realized (the first in Italy). After that, a PEA cell for measurements under AC fields
(from 0 to 104Hz) was
developed (the first in Europe). Finally, a system for space charge
evaluation on HV cable length or models was built up. Besides measurement system development, a huge theoretical
and experimental activity was carried out.
Innovative techniques for partial discharge measurements and data processing
(through neuro-fuzzy and statistical tools) have been developed with the
purpose to perform diagnostics and condition based maintenance on insulation
systems (e.g., transformers, cables and accessories, rotating machines,
insulators, etc.)
LIMAT has carried out a tight
collaboration with major international labs and companies involved in
the field of electrical insulation systems (e.g. CESI, ENEL, EPRI,
CNR France and Canada, ABB, Alstom, Bo realis, Pirelli, etc.) and has
been involved in major European Projects (IV and V framework programme).
For detailed information on
research activities at LIMAT, please visit the relevant link located at the
top of the page.
In 1999 Prof.
Montanari and some LIMAT researchers have founded a company,
TECHIMP Srl, a
spin-off of Bologna University, aimed at realizing diagnostic instruments
for insulation systems, providing service in the field of diagnosis and
maintenance of power systems, developing innovative technologies for material
characterization and carrying out other services relevant to energy market.
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