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CITCEA – UPC,
Center of Technological Innovation in Static Converters and Drives
CITCEA-UPC is a technology transfer cen-
tre of Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
(UPC BarcelonaTech), specialized in re-
sponding to the needs of enterprises to
build functional prototypes that can be
industrialized and commercialized. In
order to carry this out, it is built a client-
supplier relationship with the enterprises
we collaborate with.
The center is expert in all types of appli-
cations requiring the control of energy,
also known as Enertronics, and the
control of the movement, also called
Mechatronics.
Enertonics
Enertonics is the synergistic combination
of electronic signal and power, computing
and control systems. In this area CITCEA-
UPC has expertise in wind energy, photo-
voltaics, Smarts Grids and Microgrids,
railway, grid integration of electric vehicles
and IEC68150 standard. The engineers of
the center have become specialized in
double-fed induction generator, back-to-
back converters, PMSG, HVDC, off-shore
wind energy, grid stability, energy market,
FACTS, energy pricing, PSS, DigSilent and
EMTP-RV.
Mecatronics
Mecatronics combines the fundamentals
of mechanical, electrical, and computer
engineering. CITCEA-UPC develops this
field working on power electronics, drives,
motion control, electrical machines, auto-
mation and industrial communications.
Researchers operate with digital control
of power converters, DSP, frequency con-
verters, energy storage, battery chargers,
CHAdeMO, PLC, high precision synchro-
tron power supplies, automation, CAN,
industrial communications, ASi, web
servers and microprocessors.
Training
CITCEA-UPC offers training for enterprises
and professionals in its fields of expertise,
since in an economic context where
knowledge is increasingly important the
human capital of an enterprise becomes
a valuable asset. For this reason, ongo-
ing training is a basic element for com-
petitiveness. The masters, professional
courses and tailor-made courses offered
by CITCEA-UPC provide specific and cut-
ting-edge knowledge which mean im-
proved productivity in the workplace and
advances in the area of professional career.
More activities
Several patents and utility models have
been developed in the recent years in the
field of mechatronics, energy systems
and motion control. Moreover, CITCEA-
UPC is involved in several cooperation
project supported by the European Com-
mission.
In addition, the center has organizes
seminars and workshops with the parti-
cipation of internationally renowned
experts. In October 2007 the center
organized 9th edition of Electrical Power
Quality and Utilization (EPQU’07) and in
2009 the “European Conference on
Power Electronics and Applications
(EPE’09)” in Barcelona.
Since 2001 CITCEA-UPC has been part
of the TECNIO network, which provides
support for technological innovation,
driven by ACC1Ó, an organism of the
Government of Catalonia.
