Caratterizzazione della finitura superficiale di diversi acciai su componenti meccanici per energy harvesting

Erosion of wind turbines can reduce performance and lead to 3-5% power losses. Repairs and replacements, particularly for offshore environments, can be costly. Therefore, it is important to characterize the durability of different materials to minimize the need for repair or replacement. In this study, the focus is correlating the surface roughness and geometry of specific components of wind turbines with their functionalities. The main focus of this work is on the surface which is defined as the feature of a component that interacts with the outer environment and it is important to consider its topography and material characteristics. Characterization of surface topography is a branch of metrology and includes a large range of parameters. Surface roughness is a critical factor to consider while analyzing mechanical components for energy harvesting systems, particularly in wind turbines, as it significantly influences the overall efficiency. The presence of surface imperfections can manifest in different forms, each with detrimental effects. Given the significance of surface roughness in energy harvesting systems, it becomes important to evaluate it in accordance with established standards. The international organization for standardization (ISO) has outlined guidelines to ensure uniformity and accuracy in surface roughness measurements. Different techniques are available and can be broadly categorized as contact and non-contact methods. In this study, I employed a combination of both types of techniques. Contact-based methods, such as the stylus profilometer, involve physical contact between the probe and the specimen’s surface, offering high resolution analysis. On the other side, non-contact methods, such as optical profilometer (confocal and interferometric modes) and the chromatic confocal punctual sensor (CCPS), operate without direct contact with the surface, minimizing the risk of damage. In this study four different mechanical components employed in systems for energy harvesting (gear tooth, ball bearing and large ring segment), each with distinct three surface treatments, were analyzed to determine their roughness and dimensional parameters to understand the relationship between the surface properties and the functionality and overall efficiency of energy harvesting systems. This work also underlines the importance of precise surface treatments in optimizing the performance of mechanical components in these systems.