Three-Dimensional Modeling for Mechanical Analysis of Hydropower Generators with Floating Rotor Rim

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

In this paper is proposed a model of hydropower generators with floating rotor rims using 3-D Finite Element Methods, aiming to study its dynamic performance and properties, including natural frequencies, modes of vibrations, and expansion due to centrifugal and electromagnetic forces, with the goal of improving reliability in modern designs.

The manuscript lacks of organization and the novelty is not clear, the authors have to make a hard work in order to improve it.

The followings issues must be addressed:

1. The Introduction section is not clear since is not possible to identify the contribution, the revision of the state of the art must be improved.

2. A section of Theoretical basis, Background or Preliminaries is missing.

3. Please include a step-by-step flow chart with its corresponding explanation in order to provide all the details about the proposal. 

4. The Results section must be written in function of the aforementioned   step-by-step flow chart of the proposed method.

5. Please  highlight the novelty and contribution in the Abstract, end of Introduction and Conclusions.

Author Response

We would like to address the following comments.

1. The Introduction section is not clear since is not possible to identify the contribution, the revision of the state of the art must be improved.

The introduction section has been improved with better identification on the contribution of this paper and expanding the need for this research based on past studies and findings.

2. A section of Theoretical basis, Background or Preliminaries is missing.

A section “Theoretical Background” was added to the article.

3. Please include a step-by-step flow chart with its corresponding explanation in order to provide all the details about the proposal.

A flow chart was added in section 4. See Figure6.

4. The Results section must be written in function of the aforementioned step-by-step flow chart of the proposed method.

A flow chart was added in section 4. See Figure 7.

5. Please highlight the novelty and contribution in the Abstract, end of Introduction and Conclusions.

Abstract, introduction and conclusions were improved to highlight the need and novelty of this study.

Reviewer 2 Report

In my opinion, all the material presented in this article and the information presented do not stand out for their spectacular conclusions or groundbreaking and new information. It is simply a well-conducted simulation, and the final conclusions confirm previous simulation analyzes carried out for other objects and analyzed cases.

Nevertheless, the presented model and the accuracy with which it was made deserve great recognition.

Have similar simulations also been performed using other simulation packages? If so, what results were achieved compared to those presented in this article?

Figure 1. Please enlarge the descriptions of the model elements shown in the figure
Figure 3 is hard to read.
Figure 4a same note as above

Position 21, 22 of referenced literature. Potential selfscitation. Please chceck this out

I understand that the authors refer to previously performed simulations. However, this calls into question the sense of the division. Why wasn't there such a comparison in one paper?

To sum up. The article presents the implementation of the simulation correctly and with high accuracy, which deserves recognition. However, the scientific tone of the presented material may be questionable.
Perhaps the authors will try to present and highlight some specific achievements that distinguish the presented results from other similar projects (?)

Author Response

1. Have similar simulations also been performed using other simulation packages? If so, what results were achieved compared to those presented in this article?

The objective of this study was to present the need to study generators where the rotor rim deforms and illustrate a methodology in how to model them using NX NASTRAN. It is assumed that analogous software packages, when employing the proposed methodology and assumptions, would yield comparable results.

2. Figure 1. Please enlarge the descriptions of the model elements shown in the figure

Figure 1 was modified.

3. Figure 3 is hard to read.

Figure 3 was modified.

4. Figure 4a same note as above

Figure 4a was modified.

5. Position 21, 22 of referenced literature. Potential selfscitation. Please check this out

This reference was modified

6. I understand that the authors refer to previously performed simulations. However, this calls into question the sense of the division. Why wasn't there such a comparison in one paper?

This paper focuses on providing a methodology to create 3D FE models for generators with floating rotor rim time effectively. This paper highlights the similarities between 2D and 3D modelling, as well as advantages of the 3D modelling.

7. To sum up. The article presents the implementation of the simulation correctly and with high accuracy, which deserves recognition. However, the scientific tone of the presented material may be questionable. Perhaps the authors will try to present and highlight some specific achievements that distinguish the presented results from other similar projects (?)

The abstract and conclusions were modified to highlight the achievements of this paper.

Reviewer 3 Report

This paper presented a 3-D modeling technique for hydro-power generators. My comments are:

1- The proposed modeling technique is not probably explained. Please add more details and if possible a flow chart.

2- The literature survey is short. Please, add more recent papers.

3- Please, define 3-D and 2-D in the first appearance.

4- Fig. 1 is located at the bottom of Page 2 and its caption at the top of page 3. This is not suitable.

5- It is not preferred to start subsection at the bottom of the paper like 2.2.

6- References 21 and 22 are the same. Please, correct and update the introduction.

7- Please, add in the introduction the other methods for 3-D modeling in other applications like:   Dai, Z., Li, X., & Lan, B. (2023). Three-Dimensional Modeling of Tsunami Waves Triggered by Submarine Landslides Based on the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics Method. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering , 11(10), 2015. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11102015

8- Please, enrich the introduction and cite the following references:

Li, T., Shi, H., Bai, X., Zhang, K., & Bin, G. (2023). Early performance degradation of ceramic bearings by a twin-driven model. Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, 204, 110826. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymssp.2023.110826

Wang, L., Zou, T., Cai, K., & Liu, Y. (2024). Rolling bearing fault diagnosis method based on improved residual shrinkage network. Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, 46(3), 172. doi: 10.1007/s40430-024-04729-w

Zhi, S., Shen, H., & Wang, T. (2024). Gearbox localized fault detection based on meshing frequency modulation analysis. Applied Acoustics, 219, 109943. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apacoust.2024.109943

Moderate editing of English language required.

Author Response

We would like to answer to the following comments:

• The proposed modeling technique is not probably explained. Please add more details and if possible a flow chart.

A flow chart in Figure 6 have been added.

• 2- The literature survey is short. Please, add more recent papers.

More recent papers have been added.

• 3- Please, define 3-D and 2-D in the first appearance.

Defined in Abstract.

• 4- Fig. 1 is located at the bottom of Page 2 and its caption at the top of page 3. This is not suitable.

Fig 1 have been modified and caption placement corrected.

• 5- It is not preferred to start subsection at the bottom of the paper like 2.2.

Subsection placement corrected.

• 6- References 21 and 22 are the same. Please, correct and update the introduction.

This reference was corrected.

• 7- Please, add in the introduction the other methods for 3-D modeling in other applications like:   Dai, Z., Li, X., & Lan, B. (2023). Three-Dimensional Modeling of Tsunami Waves Triggered by Submarine Landslides Based on the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics Method. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering , 11(10), 2015. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11102015

The methods listed in the paper from Li & Lan (2023) are not related to this study. The model in Li & Lan (2023) is designed to simulate the dynamics of submarine landslides and the resulting tsunami waves using Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics while this study focused on the dynamics of generators with floating rotor rim and the effects of centrifugal and electromagnetic forces.

• 8- Please, enrich the introduction and cite the following references:

Li, T., Shi, H., Bai, X., Zhang, K., & Bin, G. (2023). Early performance degradation of ceramic bearings by a twin-driven model. Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, 204, 110826. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymssp.2023.110826

Wang, L., Zou, T., Cai, K., & Liu, Y. (2024). Rolling bearing fault diagnosis method based on improved residual shrinkage network. Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, 46(3), 172. doi: 10.1007/s40430-024-04729-w

Zhi, S., Shen, H., & Wang, T. (2024). Gearbox localized fault detection based on meshing frequency modulation analysis. Applied Acoustics, 219, 109943. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apacoust.2024.109943

The papers listed here were not related to this study.

Li et al. (2023) focused on potential applications of digital twin models in health monitoring of rolling bearings.

Wang et al. (2024) developed an improved neural network model for fault diagnosis in rolling bearings.

Zhi et al. (2024) proposes to use the Meshing Frequency Modulation (MFM) analysis for detecting localized faults in gearboxes.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Moderate editing of English language required.

Language revision was performed using MDPI’s services.

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

The manuscript has been improved since all the comments have been correctly addressed.

The manuscript may be considered for possible publication after editors decision.

Reviewer 2 Report

no comments

Reviewer 3 Report

Accept in present form.

Accept in present form.