With just 16 locks, the canal overcomes a total height difference of 243 metres. With a lifting height of up to 24.70 metres and a maximum usable length of 190 metres, the locks are among the largest and most modern structures of their kind in Europe. A number of technical innovations were also developed specifically for the Main-Danube Canal. To this day, these are recognised as top achievements in international waterway construction. These include, above all, the so-called economy locks developed to save water. These lock systems have storage basins at three different levels in which the water can be stored after a lockage process. In this way, a total of two thirds of the water volume can be stored and reused during the next passage.
Bamberg, Beer Capital
Port of Bamberg
Bamberg
Bamberg-Nuremberg
RMD Corporation
Strullendorf, Power Station
Altendorf-Buttenheim
Eggolsheim & Hallerndorf
Forchheim
Hausen, Baiersdorf & Möhrendorf
Erlangen & Kriegenbrunn Lock
Aurach, a Bitter Division
Kriegenbrunn Compensation
Fürth, Atzenhof
Fürth, Crossing Boundaries
Nuremberg, Recreation
Cruise Port Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Industrial Port Nuremberg
Eibach Lock
Nuremberg, Katzwang Memorial
Neuses, Aqueduct
Lock Hydro Plants
Crossflow Turbine:The crossflow turbine also known as Bánki-Michell turbine, or Ossberger turbine was developed by the Australian Anthony Michell, the Hungarian Donát Bánki andthe German Fritz Ossberger. Ossberger developed this turbine design to the production stage. He patented a ‘free-jet turbine’ in 1922 and a ‘cross-flow turbine’ in 1933. The company he founded is now a leading manufacturer of this turbine type.The crossflow turbine operates at heads from 2.5 up to 200 meters. This turbine type has been developed especially for small hydropower. Currently, it is available with outputs of up to 6 megawatts. Even at very low water flows it reliably supplies energy and copes excellently with fluctuating water volumes. This is achieved by two cells inside the turbine, which can operate independently of each other. The small unit only requires 5% of the design water volume to start the turbine.The secret of its success is simplicity: only three moving parts ensure minimum maintenance and maximum technical reliability.If you would like to know more about the crossflow turbine click on the link for a clip on YouTube.Kaplan Turbine:The Kaplan turbine was developed by the Austrian professor Viktor Kaplan based on the Francis turbine. The Kaplan turbine is also referred to as an overpressure turbine because the water pressure decreases continuously from the entry into the runner to the exit. Both the blades of the runner (similar to a propeller) and the guide vanes of the turbine are adjustable.The guide vanes ensure that the water hits the runner blades at an optimal angle and transfers the energy optimally. This double regulation makes optimal use of the available water and always achieves the best possible efficiency.If you would like to know more about the Kaplan turbine click on the link for a clip on YouTube.The peak efficiency of an Ossberger crossflow turbine is somewhat less than a Kaplan, Francis or Pelton turbine. However, the crossflow turbine has a flat efficiency curve under varying load.
