A Low-Cost Digital Torquemeter Coordinated by Arduino Board

Abstract

Torquemeter is a transducer for measuring rotational force and converting it into electronic output signal. In this paper, the techniques to fabricate a low cost yet effective torquemeter system is introduced. The device is calibrated and tested to prove it effectiveness and robustness. Thesystem is developed to investigate thetorquegeneratedbywind turbinesystem.The presented torquemeter system comprisesof two subsystemsnamely photointerrupter (primary) and load cell (secondary).The reliability of the developed system is analyzed bystages in order to verify the effectiveness in acquiring measurementnamely RPM, weight (load) and torque. It is found that 5 kg load cell illustratedunsteady noise behavior relative to the defined calibration weight. Meanwhile, the percentage of accuracy (Pa) of final 3threading is Pa= 94.709 %, 97.32 %, 98.826 % for 10 g, 20 g and 100 g respectively.Measurement acquired from torquemeter system is compared against2D CFD numerical modelunder similar flow condition. Resultsshows that themeasurement of torquemeter system is Mt= 0.731842 and as for CFD model is Mt= 0.82553 which results in error (%) of Pe= 11.35 %. However,the CFD numerical model has overpredicted moment value since it has compensated the blockage factor and external environmental factors. It is safe to say, that the presented instrument is applicable and feasible for WT torque acquisition.