RIVER POWER PLANTS TO RETURN TO THE ELBE?
08.07.2015 -
The University of Magdeburg is the most important research transfer partner in initializing the regional growth center Fluss-Strom Plus.
The Otto-Von-Guericke-University Magdeburg is supporting energy production for the future using Europe's rivers with four research transfer projects. Within the framework of the regional growth center FLUSS-STROM PLUS, ecologically sound river power plants are to be implemented for environmentally friendly energy production.
Under the University of Magdeburg's leadership, a network of seven research facilities and 19 industrial partners will develop, or rather optimize, the necessary know-how and the fitting technologies. The approaches here range from swimming river water power plants to small, universal back pressure waterwheels for existing barrages. Ready-to-use, efficient serial production small water power plants shall be transported to the usage sites on European rivers in the future.
In prelude to this interdisciplinary technological development project, a kickoff event took place with all participating partners on 08 July 2015.
Research and technology transfer from the University of Magdeburg
University of Magdeburg scientists are intensively involved in the research transfer services in four out of a total of five sub-projects.
Process engineer Prof. Dominique Thévenin will simulate the river's complex flow and turbulences using the Faculty of Process and Systems Engineering's testing facilities. The goal is to hydrodynamically optimize the newly developed turbines and waterwheels. "Research dealing with waterwheels was halted at the end of the 19. century, since - thanks to water impoundments - turbines became much more efficient. Thus, we are starting where our colleagues left off 130 years ago, but with completely new methods. I am very curious to see what we will bring out of this with modern technology," says the flow expert.
Additionally, Prof. Roland Kasper and his team for the development of novel gearless generators from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering are involved in the project, as well as Prof. Roberto Leidhold's team from the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
The regional growth center Fluss-Strom Plus developed out of the technology expertise network Fluss-Strom and the preceding 2012 innovation forum FLUSS-STROM Plus. The Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) is funding the technological developments in a total of six collaborative and 30 sub-projects from 2015 to 2018 with approximately 11 million Euros.
You can find more information on the project and all participating partners under http://flussstrom.exfa.de/.