Science becomes reality – that is what the Linz Center of Mechatronics, located on the grounds of the Johannes Kepler University, promises. The Upper Austrians made a name for themselves as a research and development partner in an unearthly project. They optimized fast electric motors that will be used 18 kilometers above the Earth.
An environmentally friendly fuel cell propulsion for an unmanned flying object that is equipped with light and powerful transmitting units and can establish an uninterrupted LTE/4G/5G data connection with a smartphone at an altitude of 18 kilometers – this is the project in which Pankl Turbosystems also relies the know-how that the Linz Center of Mechatronics has built up.
The Johann Hoffelner Linz Center for Mechatronics worked on electrically driven high-speed motors for the company from Mannheim, Germany. The electric motors will in turn drive the compressor wheels in air supply systems for fuel cells.
With the help of the Upper Austrian company’s software platform, all components were optimally coordinated and after just nine months the team from the Linz Center of Mechatronics delivered the first functional samples. “The highest possible speed was required for the compressor wheels,” says Josef Passenbrunner, head of the engine technology team. The new engine, now about nine centimeters long and about ten centimeters in diameter, can reach up to 140,000 revolutions per minute.
“Long-term development cooperation”
The Linz-Mannheim connection should become more extensive. “Our development cooperation is long-term, because we constantly receive new applications with new tasks,” says Pankl Director Gerhard Krachler. Pankl Turbosystems is part of Pankl Racing Systems AG, which in turn is owned by Pankl AG. Currently, 80 percent of Pankl is owned by Pierer Industrie AG, which is currently undergoing a European restructuring process.
Focus on the best solution
As a pure development company, the Linz Center of Mechatronics can operate at high speed, says director Johann Hoffelner: “We are not obliged to any supplier and do not have to tailor our developments to specific production processes. This allows us to fully concentrate on finding the best technical and economic solution for our customers.”
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
