The 75th Nuremberg International Invention Exhibition (iENA) took place from October 28 to 30 at the Nuremberg International Exhibition Center in Germany. International judges selected prizes such as gold, silver, bronze, and special awards during the exhibition. The Department of Electrical Engineering and Applied Electronics (EEA) at Tsinghua University achieved outstanding results with all five projects showcased at the event, including three gold awards, one silver award, and one bronze award.

Chinese delegation participated in iENA

The project “Urban Rail Flexible Straight Intelligent Energy Management System”, led by Professor Lu Chao and Assistant Researcher Li Xiaoqian, received a gold award. The project proposed real-time optimal control technology for urban rail flexible straight systems based on approximate optimal mapping, and developed software for the intelligent energy management system. By flexibly and rapidly adjusting the current distribution of the urban rail flexible straight system, the project significantly improved energy efficiency and carbon reduction, reducing dependence on the urban power grid and demonstrating notable economic benefits and practical value.

Urban Rail Flexible Straight Intelligent Energy Management System

The project “Economically Safe Full-Through Flexible AC Traction Power Supply System”, led by China Railway Electrification Bureau Group and Associate Researcher Wei Yingdong from Tsinghua University, received a gold award. The project utilized power electronic equipment to construct traction network voltage, implemented wide-area dynamic coordinated control functions based on BeiDou satellite synchronization and high-speed optical fiber communication. Currently, this technology is applied in China’s first full-through flexible AC traction power supply system on the Beijing Daxing International Airport line. Compared to existing traction power supply systems, it solves issues such as phase separation and power quality, improving power supply distance and locomotive regenerative energy utilization.

Fully Integrated Flexible AC Traction Power Supply System Valve Tower

The project “Complementary Coordination and Optimization Scheduling Technology for Wind, Solar, Hydro, and Multi-Energy Power Systems”, led by Researcher Hu Wei, received a gold award and a special contribution award. The project focused on the complementary modeling and quantitative evaluation of wind, solar, hydro, and multi-source power, elucidating the coupling characteristics of various resources and the regulatory complementary mechanism of different types of power sources. The project proposed flexible complementary and optimization scheduling strategies for multi-energy power systems across multiple time scales, enhancing the integration capacity of renewable energy generation in scenarios with a high proportion of renewable energy. The project has broad applications and promotional value in scenarios with a high proportion of renewable energy.

Illustration of Complementary Coordination and Optimization for Multi-Energy Power Systems

The project “Smart Collaborative Optimization Operation Technology and Platform for Virtual Power Plants”, led by Associate Professor Zhong Haiwang, received a silver award. The project aggregated and managed distributed resources such as electric vehicles, air conditioners, and various types of energy storage, achieving efficient collaborative operation of virtual power plants based on feasible domain projection and dimensionality reduction techniques. The platform has been successfully applied in domestic virtual power plant construction and operation projects, supporting the safe and efficient utilization of distributed energy resources.

Intelligent Collaborative Optimization Operation Platform for Virtual Power Plant

Another project “Intelligent Monitoring and Analysis Terminal and System for User Electricity Consumption”, completed by researcher Hu Wei and his team, received a bronze award. The project, based on big data and artificial intelligence technology, combined with non-invasive load decomposition algorithms, obtained real-time operating curves, start-stop, and working status of devices. The project monitored electricity consumption data and intelligently analyzed electricity consumption behavior, achieving fault monitoring and disaster warning. It formulated reasonable and accurate customer service plans and decisions, meeting personalized service needs, and reducing casualties and property losses caused by equipment failures and electrical fires.

Real-time Monitoring of User Electricity Consumption and Analysis of Usage Patterns

The Nuremberg International Invention Exhibition (iENA), founded in 1948, is one of the world’s oldest and most influential international invention exhibitions. With over 30,000 inventions showcased to the public, it enjoys the highest authority and reputation in the international exhibition industry for its fair judging and large scale. The awards are widely recognized by governments worldwide. This year’s exhibition gathered more than 500 patented inventions and technologies from various countries, covering industries such as medical, aviation, environmental protection, machinery, construction, and electricity. According to the opinions of the Chinese Consulate in Nuremberg and the delegation appointed by the Ministry of Science and Technology, China Association of Inventions has participated in the exhibition as a group every year since 2010. The Chinese delegation set a record for the largest exhibition scale this year, with around 80 inventions from institutions such as Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University, Fudan University, CRRC Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Research Institute, and Angel Group showcased at the event.