Department of Energy and Mechanical Engineering

Fluid Power Laboratory

Research focuses on improving energy efficiency and efficiency of design of mechatronic systems with high power requirements, such as non-road mobile machines (NRMMs). To do this, we develop physics-based, data-driven and hybrid models that are validated with experiments at our laboratory.
Machine bed at the Fluid Power Laboratory

Current research setups at the lab include:

  • Large-scale mobile machine infrastructure intended to validate new, more efficient system architectures.
  • Electro-hydraulic actuation coupled with multi-pressure system focusing on improving linear actuator efficiency
  • Passive and active damping systems, which reduce wear and ensure long-lasting operation
  • Hydraulic accumulator development for better component-level efficiency
  • Waste heat utilization system, which turns low waste heat into useful work.

Main challenges investigated in our research include efficiency, performance, control, price, reliability and usability tradeoffs and limitations. Main challenges investigated in our research include efficiency, performance, control, price, reliability and usability tradeoffs and limitations.  Some of the fundamental scientific questions we seek answers to include: How can we accelerate the transition to zero-emission mechatronic systems? How can we utilize generative design, ML and AI to improve design process performance and support innovation?

Recent updates

    Differential Dual-Motor System (DDMS) of powertrain and
working hydraulics.

    “Electrification drives and enables the design of new solutions that can outperform older technologies. While components of heavy mobile machines should be as small, inexpensive, and reliable as possible, all components should also be utilized extensively to maximize space usage. My research focuses on system-level design, which involves the proper sizing and multifunctional use of all primary system components.” Topias Tyni

    CFD simulations of adsorption process.

    "Adsorption is a promising method for carbon capture and gas compression systems using waste heat. We are studying the optimal design of an adsorption reactor using CFD simulations, including its shape and size, operating conditions and adsorbents to improve the energy efficiency of existing systems." Ali M. Sefidan

    Electro-hydraulic actuator.

    Electro-hydraulic testbench where the control challenges of moving from one loading quadrant to another is studied. The four loading quadrants are defined by the movement direction and loading direction.

    Cylinder vibration testbench.

    Passive damping of hydraulic cylinders is studied by utilizing a cylinder coupled with a hydraulic accumulator or a constant volume. Active damping is achieved by predictive and high-frequency valve control.

    a small hydraulic cylinder with multiple sensors and their cables

    Research Projects

    This page summarizes the industrial research project carried out by Aalto Fluid Power laboratory.

    Department of Energy and Mechanical Engineering

    Latest publications

    Development of a low-temperature heat engine using rapid thermal swing adsorption of CO2 onto activated carbon

    Gabriel Juul, Anna Kaisa Korhonen, Ganesh Neupane, Heikki Lagus, Jyrki Kajaste, Mika Järvinen, Jari Vepsäläinen 2025 Applied Thermal Engineering

    CFD modelling of CO2 adsorption onto activated carbon : Insights into reactor and process design

    Ali M. Sefidan, Jari Vepsalainen 2025 Case Studies in Thermal Engineering

    Effects of Oscillating Injection Conditions of CO2 onto its Adsorption Performance within a Packed-Bed Reactor

    Ali M. Sefidan, Jari Vepsalainen 2025 Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Fluid Flow, Heat and Mass Transfer, FFHMT 2025

    Displacement Control for Electric Motor Driven Open Center Mobile Hydraulics

    Juho Lehto, Jari Vepsäläinen 2024 The 12th JFPS International Symposium on Fluid Power

    Modular Representation of Components to Enable Generative Engineering

    Rohail Malik, Muhammad Ahmad, Jari Vepsäläinen 2024 2024 IEEE International Conference on Electrical Systems for Aircraft, Railway, Ship Propulsion and Road Vehicles and International Transportation Electrification Conference, ESARS-ITEC 2024

    A Model for Selecting Software Tools for Fluid Power Systems

    Fletcher Porter, Jari Vepsäläinen 2024 The 12th JFPS International Symposium on Fluid Power 2024

    Architecture for determining the cleanliness in shared vehicles using an integrated machine vision and indoor air quality-monitoring system

    Nilusha Jayawickrama, Enric Perarnau Ollé, Jesse Pirhonen, Risto Ojala, Klaus Kivekäs, Jari Vepsäläinen, Kari Tammi 2023 Journal of Big Data

    Infrastructure camera calibration with GNSS for vehicle localisation

    Risto Ojala, Jari Vepsalainen, Jesse Pirhonen, Kari Tammi 2023 IET Intelligent Transport Systems
    More information on our research in the Aalto research portal.
    Research portal

    Aalto Fluid Power Laboratory
    Sähkömiehentie 4 O
    02150 Espoo

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