06/04/2016
Successful Cooperation of Voith Hydro and Heidenheim Apprentices
In addition to their daily business Voith apprentices in Heidenheim cared for repair and overhaul of Voith Hydro’s mechanical crank generator. Now the model that is normally placed in the showroom of Voith Hydro‘s research and development center “Brunnenmuehle” is again in top condition.
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- Zur Großansicht
Already in the 1970ies the first generator that could be operated manually has been developed in the Siemens Dynamowerk in Berlin. A prototype has been manufactured privately in a small garage. The model was optimized again and again and four generators of the final version have been given to Siemens, Voith and universities in Dresden, Germany and Tolosa, Spain.
The Voith model has found its place in the Brunnenmuehle where it has been installed on the occasion of its 100th anniversary in 2008. Since then it fills young and old with enthusiasm by demonstrating various phenomena. For example different operating modes of generators like short circuit, no-load and load rejection (when a consumer is turned off) can be demonstrated while playing with the model. As the installed consumers are lightbulbs their brightness is especially descriptive. “We are used to push buttons and switching the light on. With the mechanical crank generator the power that is needed to generate 100 watts can be experienced at first hand,” says Achim Frank Development Engineer for Large Hydro generators.
For the apprentices in their first and third training year this experience has been very exciting. Furthermore the mechatronics, industry and cutting mechanics could prove their practical skills. Beside the installation of a completely new crank the model has also been wired again. First of all the apprentices began by analyzing the project in detail. Afterwards a precise planning with CAD flow diagrams took place. After all required material has been procured they began with the professional production and assembly works. “Projects like that arising directly from our businesses are not rare but always outstanding. The results outlast and operate for decades what motivates our apprentices and makes them proud,” explains Matthias Schlenkermann trainer in the electronics sector.
The overhauled generator now gets shipped to St. Poelten to an event called “The Long Night of Research” and will afterwards take its place at Brunnenmuehle showroom again.
Voith Hydro offers generator solutions for all range of speeds, for horizontal and vertical designs, with air-cooled as well as water-cooled windings. More than 300 engineers work in research and development at its six locations worldwide. Generators, turbines, shut-off valves, control and regulation technology are all developed here.
