We design motors, actuators, generators and control technology for power supplies

Huygens Engineers has engineers with experience in designing electromagnetic equipment, including permanent magnet generators for wind and tidal turbines up to 3 MW. The design of generators and engines is a cross-disciplinary enterprise. Consider aspects like both the sought for and unwant-ed coupling forces, such as vibrations and high loads on bearings. In addition, there is the interaction between the Lorentz force and reluctance that arises in the copper wiring of the motors and generators. While keeping track of all these, the equipment also must be as light and small as possible. Finally, the durability strongly depends on the effectiveness of the cooling in critical spots.

To this end, we developed analytical tools to calculating various aspects of generators. We use Ansys Maxwell and Altair FEM software for detailed analysis during engine and generator design. This allows us to keep track of how much a motor can be loaded and what the design margins are for the couples that we produce. This way, we can create an optimal interaction between the magnetic field and the mechanical position of the motor. We simulate the magnetic fields and current of the electrical machine, design the required geometry and choose the converters.

Our engineers have expertise in the design of large generators with capacities around 20 MW. These are high-couple machines with low rpms: large engines that are more challenging to cool but that are meant to last around twenty years. We make test plans with converters and execute these to demonstrate the functioning of the systems. In these projects, we work from concept to detailed design. This includes mapping out heat flows, cost optimisation, pipe drawings for the coils and calcu-lation of insulation systems.

Huygens Engineers has various clients for whom we work on energy storage and connecting energy sources to the power grid. This is done through industrial converters that convert direct voltage to alternating current and vice versa. In particular, we have specialists at our disposition in the field of new converters for tidal and wind turbines. 

With the increase in green energy, the influence of converters on the supply and behaviour of the power grid keeps increasing. However, improper use can cause problems with voltage quality, and the converters are sensitive when being put into commission. We therefore develop comprehensive step-by-step plans for the hardware, carefully choose the right components, test the setups and provide support during the construction and putting into commission of converters and associated control systems. 

We perform on-site measurements when issues occur with converters that are already in use. To this end, we select the correct measuring equipment, carry out the measurements and sometimes have to analyse many gigabytes of data. New firmware for converters can also lead to problems in existing applications or installations. We regularly resolve these types of malfunctions.

Huygens Engineers has various clients for whom we work on energy storage and connecting energy sources to the power grid. This is done through industrial converters that convert direct voltage to alternating current and vice versa. In particular, we have specialists at our disposition in the field of new converters for tidal and wind turbines.

With the increase in green energy, the influence of converters on the supply and behaviour of the power grid keeps increasing. However, improper use can cause problems with voltage quality, and the converters are sensitive when being put into commission. We therefore develop comprehensive step-by-step plans for the hardware, carefully choose the right components, test the setups and provide support during the construction and putting into commission of converters and associated control systems.

We perform on-site measurements when issues occur with converters that are already in use. To this end, we select the correct measuring equipment, carry out the measurements and sometimes have to analyse many gigabytes of data. New firmware for converters can also lead to problems in existing applications or installations. We regularly resolve these types of malfunctions.

Converters for high power systems may require an average of ten man-years in order to configure the software and control systems for proper operation. Our engineers have experience in mapping all parameters and carefully fine-tune them. In a heterogeneous power grid with storage systems and generators, converters interact with each of these elements. The systems and generators often have their own software-based control that consists of multiple layers. Huygens Engineers is experienced in the use of the advanced functions of converters. We have physical insight into the configuring of generators and storage systems and the stabilisation of micro nets.