Active Balancing Disk of Rotor-Bearing Systems Based on Vibration Amplitude Data: MATLAB-Aided Wireless Control

Purpose The implementation of simple, feasible and inexpensive techniques to balance rotating systems is mandatory, par-ticularly during operation. This article presents simulation and experimental studies of a new wireless active disk to balance rigid rotor-bear ing systems during operation using MATLAB. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first study to perform wireless active balancing.Methods The active disk is based on the offline four test-run method; however, new equations were derived to modify the method to adjust the positions of balancing masses during system operation. The disk has four equal masses arranged 90? apart and moved by means of stepper motors to balance the system. A MATLAB program was written to control the motors wirelessly using a microcontroller and Bluetooth module attached to the disk. The disk was virtually investigated and experimentally examined on a test rig.Results The simulation and experimental results showed that the new active disk dramatically decreased the system vibra-tion due to imbalance. Experimentally, the average percentage reductions of vibration were 81.5% and 85.5% at the left and right bearings, respectively. Furthermore, the average time of balancing was approximately 8.75 min, which is almost half the time using the offline method or a balancing machine in a factory.Conclusion The wireless connection has eliminated the need for slip rings to connect the motors with the control unit, which prevents any weakness or disruption in the control signals. The disk has also excluded the use of mechanical commutators to transport power during system operation using a built-in power source. Moreover, the active disk is affordable compared to other active schemes, such as ball movement-type or electromagnetic ring-type structures.