Founded at the end of 1997, the Center for Research in Hydraulics, Automation, and Thermal Processes (CCHAPT) is currently a well-known name both nationally and internationally in the field of high-power energy equipment (hydraulic turbines, high-power generators, and electric motors), due to numerous research, design, consultancy, development, expertise, technical assistance, and modernization studies carried out.
CCHAPT's activity has been organized in accordance with the requirements of SR EN ISO 9001:2015, SR EN ISO 14001:2015, and SR OHSAS 18001:2008, while the Laboratory for Metallographic Analysis and Performance Measurements on Hydro Units “ExpertLAB” operates as a neutral laboratory, complying with the requirements of SR EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005.
Traditional Beneficiaries of CCHAPT’s Work Include:
- Hydroelectric Power Plant Branches of Hidroelectrica S.A. Bucharest (S.H. Iron Gates, S.H. Râmnicu Vâlcea, S.H. Slatina, S.H. Caransebeș, S.H. Hațeg, S.H. Cluj, S.H. Oradea, S.H. Sebeș);
- Electromagnetica Bucharest;
- Institute for Hydropower Studies and Design Bucharest;
- H.E. DJERDAP Serbia;
- ANDRITZ Hydro Switzerland;
- ASTRÖ Austria;
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland;
- Voith Germany.
CCHAPT Carries Out Activities in:
(1) Technology Transfer in the following fields:
- Hydraulics and hydraulic machines;
- Materials engineering/surface engineering;
- Electric machines;
- Automation and control systems,
Including: technical consultancy, expertise, and acceptance testing on hydro units and hydraulic turbine models, verification of contractual guarantees, performance assessments on hydro units as a neutral institution.
(2) Fundamental and Applied Research, mainly in:
- Research on stress and strain states and estimation of the lifespan of mechanical system components under static and dynamic conditions using FEM;
- Research on the development of protective coatings against wear and corrosion;
- Research and design for excitation and automation equipment;
- Reverse engineering, rapid prototyping, and geometric optimization in mechanical component design;
- Research in additive technologies: studies on the correlation between technologies/working parameters and the characteristics of products obtained through 3D printing;
- Numerical flow simulations;
- Research on the mechanical and control systems of robots, and robot applications;
- Research in railway traffic safety installations;
- Research in renewable electric energy sources;
- Research in electrical and lighting installations.