New Comprehensive Approach for Torsional Analyses of Industrial Powertrains

Calculation procedures are well-established for torsional powertrain analyses of industrial applications. The mechanical system is described by a one-dimensional model. The solutions are obtained from a symmetric system of second order linear differential equations. The electromechanical and process interactions are usually neglected, and these effects are included to the solution as external loads. Generally, the model is tuned to the operating point to justify the linearized modeling approach. However, this approach neglects the interactions and non-linear effects of torque and speed variation. In addition, the modeling of powertrain components is usually conducted by the system integrator starting from the drawings and other design documents. This is a manual and laborious procedure and susceptible for mistakes. The main aim of this paper is to introduce a novel approach for industrial powertrain analyses. A distinctive feature of this approach is to rely only on the time-domain simulations and on the first-order differential equations. All powertrain components are modeled by using power parameters in the interfaces. This enables systematic inclusion of non-linear effects and electromechanical interaction. The proposed approach is compared to the traditional one. The pros and cons of these approaches are reviewed. A calculation example of a reciprocating motor-compressor is used to demonstrate the differences. Finally, the paper outlines the future research needs.