Dynamics of an industrial centrifugal atomizer with application to digital twin–based predictive maintenance
摘要
Rotating machinery is critical in industrial production, where operational reliability strongly depends on rotor dynamic behaviour and vibration response. This study presents a comprehensive dynamic characterization of the Atomizer02 rotor, a key component in ceramic manufacturing systems prone to unplanned shutdowns. A two-dimensional axisymmetric finite element (FEM) model is coupled with the classical Jeffcott rotor formulation to analyze lateral vibrations, natural frequencies, mode shapes, and critical rotational speeds. Material-sensitive parametric analyses show that lightweight alloys can increase the first natural frequency by up to 29%, significantly improving the separation margin and reducing vibration amplitudes. The nominal operating speed (74.2 Hz) remains below the first critical speed (87.3 Hz), ensuring a safety margin of approximately 15%. FEM predictions are experimentally validated with deviations below 2%, confirming model accuracy. The validated hybrid FEM–analytical model is integrated into a monitoring-oriented framework, enabling early fault detection and condition-based maintenance. Although real-time bidirectional Digital Twin updating is not implemented, the proposed framework provides a physics-informed foundation for predictive maintenance strategies.