Test bench for electric machines and electric motors

The test bench for electric machines at Fraunhofer IFAM enables comprehensive testing and validation of electric motors and electric drive systems under realistic conditions (both in the power range <3 kW and in the range from 20 kW to 100 kW) . This allows the performance, efficiency, and operational behavior of electric motors to be reliably investigated and optimized - even during development.

The test environment is suitable for research and development projects in the fields of electromobility, industrial drive technology, and energy-efficient systems. Precise measurements and flexible test conditions enable development processes to be accelerated and new drive technologies to be brought to market readiness in a targeted manner.

For the electric drives of tomorrow

Our services are centered on technology assessment within the development field of electric drives. We assist the industry by transferring innovations from scientific research into practice and evaluating their effectiveness. This approach offers our customers a robust foundation for making informed decisions. Crucially, practical proof of performance is paramount - the functional demonstrator must validate its efficiency in real-world scenarios.

The advantages we offer our customers are paramount: they experience reduced risks in pre-series and development projects. Our decision-making tools are based on practical performance evidence. For example, early functional commissioning identifies faults and weaknesses before the extensive final testing, saving both time and money. Our flexible utilization options in terms of project scheduling and testing capacity (e.g. allowing test specimens to remain equipped during interruptions) provide advantages in the implementation of R&D projects. Through characterization and sensitivity analysis, we assess the impacts of manufacturing processes and new materials, such as the use of recycled permanent magnets, like recycled permanent magnets, to enhance the precision and efficiency of design processes. As part of special designs, we evaluate unique cooling conditions, such as direct liquid conductor cooling in the stator, to provide insights into optimizing heat dissipation.

Essentially, we provide our customers a solid basis for decision-making through practice-oriented testing, which minimizes risk and paves the way for successful innovations. Leveraging years of experience, our scientists bring their expertise in the development and design of electric drives. This enables us to support the transition of manufacturing innovations from science to the industrial implementation of electric drives of the future.

Examples of our testing options

• Verification of the performance and efficiency of prototypes
  • Characterization of the performance characteristics
  • Comparison and assessment of innovative components and approaches
• Functional testing and proof of concept of innovative e-machines
• Characterization and analysis of influence on innovation demonstrators
  • Assessment of recycled materials
  • Design and setup of test environments with for heat dissipation optimization
• Provision and analysis of measurement results for data-supported applications
  • Analysis of manufacturing and material influences
• Long-term tests to determine ageing on components such as bearings, laminations, magnets, insulation, conductors and electrical joints
  • Concept development for the qualification of machine components

Please contact us for more information on our service range.

More details on the technical data of the test bench can be found here.

Further information on the field of “Electric Drives”