Small-scale test bench of maritime thruster for digital twin research
Sampo Haikonen, Ivar Koene, Joni Keski-Rahkonen, Raine Viitala
Abstract
This paper presents a small-scale powertrain test bench, which was designed and built to simulate a maritime azimuth thruster. Down-scaled replicas enable studying large systems in a cost-effective and less laborious manner. The test bench was equipped with instrumentation able to research dynamic effects, loads and vibration acting in a real azimuth thruster. Two servomotors were used in each end of the powertrain. The other acted as the drive motor and the other was used to create excitations and load from the propeller side. Torsional vibration was detected by measuring the twist of the shafts and by utilizing torque transducers. Analysis of the measurement data indicated that the lowest resonance frequencies of the test bench were similar to full-scale thrusters. The revealed dynamic properties suggested by the measurement data enabled the test bench to be concluded as adequate for emulating the torsional dynamics of the full-scale thrusters. The built apparatus will be used for developing digital twins, physical (wired and wireless) and virtual sensors, and techniques for condition monitoring.