FHV Students honored with an award from the association of german engineers

At the annual awards ceremony hosted by the Lake Constance Regional Chapter of the Association of German Engineers (VDI) at the FHV, Johannes Österle of illwerke VKW and Daniel Ganahl of Liebherr-Werk Nenzing were honored for their master's theses. Ganahl focused on the development of a soft sensor. This sensor will help estimate an unknown variable—namely, the load mass on the crane—and make this information available to the assistance systems. 

On the one hand, this leads to increased efficiency; on the other, it enables the transition to partially automated operation. “We are confident that Liebherr-Werk Nenzing, as a partner company of the dual bachelor’s degree programme in Electronics and Information Technology and a strong partner of the FHV, will bring the product to market readiness. Daniel has impressively demonstrated that only expertise and a willingness to perform lead to innovation,” explains programme director Franz Geiger.

Findings for Lünerseewerk II

In his master's thesis, Österle aimed to develop and conduct an economic evaluation of a drainage system capable of efficiently managing highly fluctuating inflow volumes while minimizing operational wear and tear. The focus was on analyzing various control strategies (e.g., speed-controlled pumps, start-stop operation, impeller adjustment) and their effects on investment and operating costs, energy consumption, and maintenance requirements. In addition, hydraulic aspects such as water hammer behavior and the sizing of storage basins were taken into account. The thesis provides a basis for decision-making regarding the economically optimal design and control of such systems in the context of sustainable power plant management.

Benedikt Reick, programme director for the Master’s in Mechatronics, emphasizes: “Johannes’s findings will be incorporated into the prestigious flagship project Lünerseewerk II. The results demonstrate significant savings potential and, in the field of sustainable energy generation, serve as a prime example of a successful master's thesis in engineering. We thank Johannes for his high level of motivation and dedication, and of course we’re a little proud that we get to play a role in this project alongside our strong partner, illwerken VKW.”