Feasibility assessment of using a fiber reinforced polymer composite rotor shaft for a vertical axis hydrokinetic turbine

Instream Energy Systems Corp.是一家总部位于加拿大的公司，活跃在潮汐水流和内陆应用的流体动力系统领域。由于对环境的影响最小，使用流体动力系统已成为中小型内燃机的一种有吸引力的替代方案。该公司的垂直轴水力涡轮机以可持续的方式将流水的动能转化为电力。在本项目中，将研究用纤维增强聚合物复合材料(FRPC)轴取代水轮机不锈钢转子轴的可行性。在工业合作伙伴目前的水力涡轮机设计中，垂直涡轮机的转子轴采用不锈钢，从顶端悬臂连接到上面的水轮发电机系统。轴承载涡轮叶片，所有叶片都浸入水流中。与这种安排相关的缺点包括高材料和制造成本以及系统的沉重重量。在拟议的研究中，大学研究人员将贡献他们在设计、模拟和建模具有成本效益的轻质FRPC组件方面的专业知识，以改进水力涡轮机的轴设计。为了研究设计解决方案，将对现有的FRPC轴技术进行研究和分析，以评估目标应用的能力和未来的研究需求。将通过调查现有的流体动力涡轮轴和类似的FRPC结构，例如用于工业和运输设备以及风力涡轮机系统的FRPC传动轴，来制定技术规范。工业伙伴在这一进程中发挥了重要作用，因为他们在设计和开发水力发电系统方面具有远见和专业知识。通过将工业伙伴和大学研究人员的专门知识和能力结合起来，从而建立了一个专家小组，从而能够进行有效和及时的研究。在项目阶段之后，预计未来的合作工作将导致详细的研究，以优化设计和原型开发合适的FRPC轴解决方案。

Instream Energy Systems Corp. is a Canadian based company active in the field of hydrokinetic systems for tidal streams and inland applications. Given the minimal environmental impact, the use of hydrokinetic systems has become an attractive alternative to small and midsize internal combustion power generators. The company's vertical axis hydrokinetic turbines convert the kinetic energy of flowing water into electricity in a sustainable fashion. In this project the feasibility of replacing a stainless steel rotor shaft in a hydrokinetic turbine with a fiber reinforced polymer composite (FRPC) shaft will be examined. In the industrial partner's current hydrokinetic turbine design, stainless steel is used for the vertical turbine rotor shaft, which is cantilevered from the top end where it attaches to the above-water generator system. The shaft carries the turbine blades, all of which are immersed in the water flow. Drawbacks associated with this arrangement include high material and manufacturing costs and the heavy weight of the system. In the proposed study, the university researchers will contribute their expertise in design, simulation and modeling of cost-effective and lightweight FRPC components toward an improved shaft design for the hydrokinetic turbine. To investigate design solutions, existing FRPC shaft technologies will be researched and analyzed to assess capabilities and future research needs for the target applications. Technical specifications will be developed by investigating the existing hydrokinetic turbine shaft and comparable FRPC structures, e.g. FRPC drive shafts for industrial and transportation equipment as well as wind turbine systems. The industrial partner is instrumental in this process due to their perspective and expertise in the field of designing and developing hydrokinetic power generation systems. By combining the expertise and capabilities of the industrial partner and the university researchers an expert team is thus created enabling effective and timely research. Following the engagement phase, it is anticipated that future collaborative work will lead to detailed research toward an optimized design and prototype development for a suitable FRPC shaft solution.