Energy out of from rivers
The entrepreneurs
Menno Broers, technical director of Kolkkracht, explains: “We are from the Achterhoek and are developing a special turbine that you can use in rivers with a low gradient. But to do this as efficiently as possible, we need to test. The turbine generates a churn and converts that into energy. We are testing different types of models of blades, vanes and turbine shapes. They brought in Sowande Boksteen, of the RDM start-up Amela Process Optimization, to calculate the models of the turbine. Boksteen, formerly a teacher, engaged students because he knows from experience that students can come up with fresh ideas.
The students
This project was immediately embraced by the Centre of Excellence of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, with students Jeroen Bozon, Joost Diks, Gijs van Wijk and Sebas Knierim throwing themselves wholeheartedly into the experiment. Jeroen: “Really great. We could have never imagined that we would be working on swirl turbines! We measure with rpm and wattage how much energy there is in a swirl. Like in a river at a dam.” Joost adds; “The test setup still vibrated at first and we couldn’t measure optimally, as it wasn’t stable enough. Then we came up with something, took stuff and put it together at RDM. It worked!”
The calculator and predictor
“Sowande Boksteen is our computational marvel,” Menno continues. “He calculates all the models and then we try to predict what the setups will generate. In the Aqualab on RDM, the water can flow through the test setup. Then we check that the prediction is correct with the observation and measurements we make. And then we adjust the model of weather. In this way we can test on a small scale and refine the mathematical model that Boksteen has built. Sowande smiles modestly, “Yes, this is how you innovate. This is an innovation that is important for energy transition, and it’s nice to contribute to that.”
Future dream
Managing Director Paul Munters dares to dream; “We came up with these turbines for small-scale projects. You can put these turbines anywhere. We have a lot of rivers in the Netherlands where there is a difference in height. Especially in the East, in Gelderland in Overijssel, Brabant and Limburg. Rainwater starts in the Alps and runs through the Netherlands. We can all place turbines there and connect them to the grid.”
RDM
Student Gijs: “RDM is interesting. We are in the right field, that’s for sure! Menno agrees enthusiastically: “When I walk around here, I feel it sizzle. Everywhere I look, in every corner, I see something happening!” The students have since successfully completed their project, and Kolkkracht and AMELA Process Optimization have achieved even more promising results.
