Fluid Power Research Group,
Department of Fluid Mechanics,
Technical University of Catalonia,
Campus of Terrassa,
Terrassa (Barcelona) Spain
Location Terrassa (Barcelona), Spain
Contact Person Prof. Esteve Codina
Laboratory facilities About 1000 m2 
Address Department of Fluid Mechanics
Technical University of Catalonia
Colon 7-11
P.O. Box 577
08222 Terrassa, Spain
Telephone number +34 93 739 8664
Fax number +34 93 739 8633
Email ecodina@mf.upc.es
Internet Site http://www.upc.es
http://www.gencat.es/cidem

From Editor

International Journal of Fluid Power would like to introduce the fluid power research and education centres with their expertise and particular interests in this column. Jumping from continent to continent we like to offer every research centre the opportunity to present itself.


FLUID POWER RESEARCH CENTRES WORLD-WIDE

General Information

The Technical University of Catalonia (UPC) is a public institution for higher education and technology. It has about 30.000 students, and spreads across 8 campuses, with 17 schools, 7 associate schools, 38 depart-ments, 3 institutes and 1 associate institute. A significant number of the UPC schools are concentrated in Barcelona and the others in towns, which are not far from Barcelona (Terrassa, Manresa, Sant Cugat, Vila-nova i la Geltru, and Castelldefels).

The School of Industrial Engineering of Terrassa dates back to 1904, when a course in Textile Engineering was offered for the first time in Spain. The school remained exclusively dedicated to textiles until 1964, when it became a School of Industrial Engineering.

The Department of Fluid Mechanics was created in 1988 as a result of the Spanish University Reform. The Department pursues a number of research lines combining experimentation in the laboratory, the assess-ment of processes and systems and numerical modelling. The research activities of the department are or-ganized into three broad research areas:

  1. Systems with Turbomachinery
  2. Fluid Power Systems: Hydraulics and Pneumatics
  3. Matter in Fluid State

The department is divided into two sections:

  a) Campus Barcelona/Vilanova and
  b) Campus Terrassa

The section of Campus Terrassa is in charge of coursework at the School of Industrial Engineering and at the Technical College of Terrassa. It comprises of a Hydraulic Lab, a Pneumatic Lab, a Control Lab, a Fluid Mechanical and Turbomachinery Lab, a computing classroom and offices, a total floor space of 1235 m².


Fig.1: The School of Industrial Engineering, Campus Terrassa


Research Group (History)

The idea of co-ordinating efforts, optimising resources and giving education in fluid power at the Campus of Terrassa began to take shape in the early 90’s and has developed steadily since. In 1999, a collaboration agreement was formed between different research groups within the Department of Fluid Mechanics and the Department of Mechanical Engineering. This led to the birth of the Fluid Power Research Group, LABSON (LABoratorio de Sistemas Oleohidraulicos y Neumaticos).

At the beginning of this year, LABSON entered to form a part of the Network of University Centres for Technological Innovation (XIT) and it is recognized as a Centre for Technological Innovation, supported by CIDEM (an organisation administered by the Generalitat - 'Goverment of Catalunya'). As part of XIT, LABSON follows its formal agreements, with a strategic plan to encourage the transfer of technology. LABSON's structure is shown in Fig. 2.


Fig.2: LABSON's structure


The turnover of LABSON is over 150.000 Euro/year. A considerable part of this economic resource comes from private enterprise, grants awarded by the European Commission, the Spanish Government’s Inter-ministerial 'Science and Technology Commission', and the Catalan Government’s Interdepartmental 'Re-search and Technology Commission'.

LABSON is dedicated to the transference of technology through industry. This is essential for innovation and its continual development.


Fig.3: LABSON's Objective


Research Facilities

The activities of LABSON have concentrated on research and education in fluid power and the automation of systems. An essential part of LABSON’s operational strategy is the fluids laboratory, which is one of the largest and best equipped oil-hydraulics labs in Spain.

This laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation and data collection equipment. Among the equipment is a network of computers and software for data acquisition, monitoring, simulation, real time control and graphics. Some of the software packages available include Matlab, 20-Sim, Autocad, Solid Edge, DADS-3D, I'DEAS and Fluent.

The Controls Lab is a resource centre for computer interfacing equipment, sensors, amplifiers, monitoring instrumentation and various multi-channel signal analysers.

The Hydraulics Lab contains hydraulic supply units and test benches capable of supplying a total power of 295 kW, the most powerful of these units being 115 kW, with a variable velocity of 0 to 3000 rpm.

The Pneumatics lab houses two air compressors, one which is capable of generating 100 kW of power at a working pressure of 10 bar and the other 25 kW at a pressure of 15 bar.


Fig.4: Test Bench for investigating Ripple Pressure and Flow in Pumps

The laboratory staff are accomplished in the field of fluid power and can apply their know-how in most practical problems. In total there are about 25 people working in the department including professors, re-search assistants, technicians and PhD students.

Education

Today, research and development, as well as basic and further education and training are the mainsprings of scientific/technical progress. Imperative for this is the effective cooperation of all sectors of basic and further education and training:


The department provides a suitable research environment for postgraduate education of engineers in fluid power. Presently, the total number of PhD students working in the department is about 12. These are funded by industry, government grants and European research projects.

Cooperation

LABSON has established close relationships with many industrial partners both at home and abroad. But in particular it has a formed a strong collaboration with AEFTOP (Spanish Association of Manufacturers of Fluid Power Transmissions) and CETOP (European Oil Hydraulic and Pneumatic Committee). LABSON is currently working with these two organizations with regard to the harmonization of European qualifications associated with fluid power systems.

The Spanish Node of Fluid Power Net International (FPNI) is a great asset to the department. This partner-ship makes exchange of information and resources much easier and opens co-operative channels between all colleagues of fluid power at home and abroad.

Research Projects

LABSON's current research areas are:


These are applied in the following sectors:


We have also opened a new line of investigation dedicated to the miniaturisation of fluid power systems. The need for new mini-hydraulic components and systems is crucial in order to design and manufacture the new generation of hydraulic-assisted products to assist elderly and physically handicapped people in their daily tasks. Miniaturisation will represent an innovative technology that may create an entirely new dimen-sion in fluid power products.


Fig.5: Sugar Cane Harvesting Machinery - Iberoeka Programme

Some of the current projects are:



 

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