Mechanical Engineering

At around 33 percent, water is still Bavaria's most important renewable energy source, as the Bavarian Energy Atlas shows. But above all, conventional mini hydroelectric power plants with a manageable yield are controversial - they intervene in the ecosystem. Fraunhofer researchers are working on an environmentally friendly alternative: In the future, innovative elastomer materials will convert the mechanical energy of water flows in small rivers directly into electrical energy.

water power generator

The radial deformation of MRE rings in a radially oriented magnetic field can be continuously controlled by the current of the magnetic coil, i. e. the radial gap between MRE ring and magnetic yoke can be closed continuously and opened again. This creates the characteristic of a proportional valve.

Radial Valves

A magnetorheological fluid (MRF) can also largely or completely enclose an irregularly shaped object. When applying a magnetic field to the MRF, the object is thereby fixed over a large area.

adaptive clamping systems

The monitoring of safety-relevant load-bearing structures of glass facades, steel pipes, and fiber composite components in vehicles and aircrafts, wind turbines requires long-term stable sensors with high error and spatial resolution.

structural monitoring

Dielectric elastomer sensors with their soft and flexible structure can be integrated very well in textiles. Thus, such capacitive elastomer pressure sensors can be incorporated, for example, in the fingertips of gloves.

sensor glove