Hybrid triboelectric-variable reluctance generator assisted wireless intelligent condition monitoring of aero-engine main bearings

The service environments of critical components such as aeronautical main bearings impose severe limitations on the signal transmission capabilities of intelligent sensors based on triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). This paper presents a novel hybrid triboelectric variable reluctance generator (HTVRG) that synergistically integrates the precise sensing capabilities of a TENG with the high-power output of a VRG, enabling the intelligent wireless perception of bearing states. An investigation was conducted to examine the impact of various parameters on the output performance of the HTVRG and obtain optimized structural parameters that satisfy sensing requirements and facilitate the stable charging of three 6800 μF capacitors. The self-sensing ability of the HTVRG was verified through experiments considering different speeds, constant speeds, and cage skidding fault monitoring. Additionally, tests utilizing an aero-engine rotor system platform were conducted to validate the wireless intelligent perception of the bearing states of the HTVRG under complex operational scenarios. Finally, the wireless intelligent sensing of the main bearing was validated. The results demonstrate that the HTVRG can help wirelessly transmit TENG real-time sensing signals, even at a low speed of 600 r/min with an interval time of 34 s. Furthermore, the signal features were consistent with the actual operational scenarios. The proposed HTVRG has substantial application prospects and developmental potential in the high-end equipment sector.