Electromechanical Systems Group

SHORT biography

Claudiu-Alexandru Oprea was born in 1981 in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. After graduating the Economic High School in Cluj-Napoca in 1999 he started the studies at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, where he obtained a Bachelor Degree of Electrical Engineering with specialization Electromechanics in 2004; a year later he completed within the same faculty the master studies. Since 2004 he has been involved in research and teaching activities at the Chair of Electrical Machines, Marketing and Management as PhD student and then assistant. In 2010, he defended his doctoral thesis entitled "Contributions to the study of permanent magnet linear generators systems for wave energy conversion", followed by a postdoctoral spread out over 3 years in the field of linear generators: "Development of Free Piston Engine - electrical linear generators systems for hybrid electric vehicle and renewable energy conversion applications". Since he joined the group he had several internships abroad at universities and partner companies in the European Union: Universite de Liege (March-May 2004), Newcastle University (October-November 2011), LMS International (Siemens SISW) Leuven (September-October 2013, May-June 2014, and January 2016). Currently he is Lecturer at the Department of Electrical Machines and Drives and he is responsible of Advanced Numerical Equipment for Electromechanical Systems course and of practical applications at Electrical Machines 1, Sequential Control in Electromechanical Systems, Industrial Systems Maintenance.

COURSES

Industrial System Maintenance is an optional course for the 4th year students of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering. The course will offer comprehensive guidelines to understanding elements and procedures in the development of a cost effective maintenance policy. Testing procedures of major equipment, as cables, transformers, motors, as well as their practical aspects will be presented.

Advanced Numerical Equipment for Electromechanical Systems is a course for the 4th year Electromechanics Specialization students at the Faculty of the Electrical Engineering. The course teaches elements of technical drawing, (un) conventional machining methods, Computer Numerical Control Fundamentals and elements of ISO programming language. Based on these concepts at the end of the course ISO programs are developed and deployed on CNC equipment.

RESEARCH TOPICS AND INTERESTS

The main area of interest is represented by linear electric generators. Such generators find application wherever we encounter oscillating motions: the continuous up-down movement of ocean waves, movement inside the telescopes of suspension systems of vehicles, oscillating movements of the human body during every-day activities, systems with linear engines (ICE or Stirling type) or other applications. Electric energy harvesting from renewable energy is a major area of interest, along with the study of electric motors for automotive applications. In the latest years, research has been focused on multi-physics analysis of electric motors, addressing issues of structural analysis, thermal and NVH. The results obtained led to the publication of approximately 40 scientific papers in journals and proceedings of national and international conferences and a book (as co-author).

OTHER INFORMATION

Due to the involvement in the Sequential Control in Electromechanical Systems practical applications (CSSEM) numerous diploma and masters theses have been supervised, mainly focused on PLCs and sequential control.

Hobbies

Sport in general (especially football, motor sports and cycling), computer games and Science Fiction literature.