diese Seite in Deutsch   Mon, Feb 4, 2008

Hotopp-Locks

Elbe-Luebeck-Canal

Schleswig-Holstein / North Germany

Operator: Wasser- und Schifffahrtsamt
Lauenburg, Germany

Donnerschleuse Neu-Lankau. - also see photo below. -
The locks of the Elbe-Luebeck-Canal were constructed in 1898.
They started operation in 1900 and still are still working well today. A first thorough renovation of some locks has been done in early 2006 leaving the original Hotopp system in function.
Apart from water they do not need any other source of energy.

In those days there was no electric power supply available in the "Herzogtum Lauenburg" county.
Steam engines powering the locks like the ones at the Kiel Canal appeared to be to expensive.
The engineer Hotopp constructed a lock that works with high and low pressure air that is produced by water power.
This high and low pressure air moves the gates and makes the water flow into or out of the basin.
The lock master only has to open or close big air valves.

Here you find an explanation of how it works:

START TOUR HERE

PROMOTION / INTRODUCTION

HIGH PRESSURE PRODUCTION

LOW PRESSURE PRODUCTION

WATER LIFTER

FOLDING GATE

SWIVEL GATE

THE 11 PHASES OF A PROCESS graphically (German explanations)

WHAT HAPPENS DURING A NORMAL PROCESS (Text)

WHAT HAPPENS DURING A WATER SAVING PROCESS (Text)

ORIGINAL REPORT 1898 by Hotopp in German



Centinnel of the Elbe-Luebeck-Canal 2000 Essay in German


Elbe-Luebeck-Canal at the Donnerschleuse in Neu-Lankau.
Looking north from the old bridge in the direction of Luebeck. Guenter Grass lives 3 miles from here . (c) DDD 1/2000




Basin of the lock "Donnerschleuse" in  Neu-Lankau looking south ( direction Moelln).
Overcast weather, light from the front. The basin is half empty.

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