SAW technology 'helping to develop tidal bearings'

e14news — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 06:03:59 GMT

Current Revision posted to Documents by e14news on 10/7/2021 6:03:59 AM
Engineers at OpenHydro are using surface acoustic wave (SAW) technology to create sensors to accurately measure rotational speed and frictional forces in a simulator for the turbine bearings.

Engineer Live reported that the firm is using the devices to further its research into the development of tidal electrical generators, with the simulator enabling scientists to determine the forces these bearings will be placed under when in use in the open sea.

Kevin Harnett, Mechanical Engineer at OpenHydro, said: "This model of sensor has integral electronics and a serial output, which means that we can link it directly to a laptop computer in our test laboratory. This is a very straightforward and convenient arrangement."

Elsewhere, the Optoelectronics, Sensors and Discretes report by IC Insight recently predicted that image sensor device sales will reach record levels in 2010.

It showed that while the market fell by 19 per cent last year to $8.5 billion (£5.66 billion), a 31 per cent increase in 2010 is forecast.