Tests to check whether the devices do not emit too high levels of the electromagnetic field and whether they are resistant to external electromagnetic fields will be conducted by the EMC Testing and Certification Laboratory, which officially started its activity at ZUT on Friday, March 4, 2022.
The establishment of the laboratory is the result of a joint project of an interdisciplinary group of scientists from two faculties of the university: Electrical and Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics. The new laboratory is part of a larger concept called "Retrofitting the Technology Hall in the e-Production Laboratory implementing the concept of Industry 4.0", headed by Dr. Eng. Agnieszka Terelak-Tymczyna.
The laboratory is located in the Technological Hall Laboratory and is supervised by a team of researchers from the Center for Engineering of Electromagnetic Fields and High Frequency Techniques (Faculty of Electrical Engineering): prof. Przemysław Łopato, prof. Grzegorz Psuj and prof. Marcin Ziółkowski.
In the world around us, there are more and more electrical and electronic devices. Thanks to them, our life becomes more comfortable and our work more efficient. Devices such as: TV, computer, washing machine, mobile phone, or energy and telecommunications systems (mobile telephony, LTE, 5G, WiFi, IoT) use electromagnetic fields (EMF) in their operation. Therefore, it is important that these devices do not interfere with each other, i.e. are electromagnetically compatible - explains Prof. Przemysław Łopato from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering.
As he added - In the event of the lack of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), there could be uncomfortable or even dangerous situations, such as disruptions of electronic devices for flight control in an airplane or medical devices in a hospital as a result of the operation of a mobile phone exceeding the emission standards.
In the EMC laboratory, tests of devices and systems for electromagnetic compatibility will be carried out, which consist in checking whether the devices do not emit too high levels of an electromagnetic field and whether they are resistant to external electromagnetic fields.
All devices that are on the European Union market must be electromagnetically compatible. Tests of this type can be carried out in an anechoic chamber, which is part of the EMC Testing and Certification Laboratory - says prof. Łopato.
During the emission test, the scientists will place the working device in an anechoic chamber on a special rotating table, and the antenna on the mast will pick up the electromagnetic waves emitted by the device.
In this way, we will check that the emission level does not exceed the appropriate standards. During the immunity test, the operating device will be exposed to high intensity of the electromagnetic field radiated by the transmitting antenna. During the test, we will observe whether the device works properly in unfavorable conditions - explains prof. Łopato.
Currently, the university has taken steps to obtain the accreditation of the Polish Center for Accreditation. After receiving it, a unique in the region laboratory will provide services and research in the field of emissions and immunity of devices for enterprises mainly from Western Pomerania.
The EMC Testing and Certification Laboratory cost PLN 3.7 million. The project is co-financed by the European Union from the European Regional Development Fund under the Regional Operational Program of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship 2014-2020 and the Ministry of Education and Science.