Design, construction and performance analysis of dynamic torque transducer

Abstract

Most of the dynamic torque measurement devices present are not easy to afford and accurate for higher shaft speed, at the same time, especially in the case of Micro-hydropower stations where dynamic torque fluctuates and requires constant monitoring. To fulfill the lack of standard devices, this project concentrated on fabricating non-contact torque transducer devices using easily accessible materials. The project primarily focuses on developing electronics and mechanical systems required to measure dynamic torque. The hollow Aluminum shaft is taken as a torque transducer specimen with a coupling facility. A strain gauge is attached with the specimen shaft in the Wheatstone bridge arrangement such that the strain gauge produces an electrical signal while the shaft experiences strain.  Arduino NANO as an I/O device, HX711 ADC module as a signal amplifier, HC05 as a Bluetooth module for wirelessly measured data communication. For calibration, torque is applied to the specimen by coupling it with motor-generator dynamic torque measurement apparatus (DL 10055ETM) which is manufactured by DE LORENZO. Linear regression is used to predict the value of applied torque. The experimental data obtained using the proposed torque transducer prototype has made it clear that it is possible to measure and analyze real-time digital data of dynamic torque produced on specimen shaft rotating at high speed, wirelessly, using locally available resources.