Case Study for SeaGen Turbine Housing Casting
The casting illustrated in these videos was designed for the Seagen project (a 1.2MW tidal energy convertor installed in Strangford Lough) which generates electricity from tidal currents. The casting was designed to carry two 8 metre variable pitch rotors and house the actuation necessary to change the angle of attack of the rotors to take account of tidal velocity and direction..
Due to the forces subjected on it, the casting needed to be defect free through-out and carry as little residual stress as possible. It also needed to withstand the stress placed on it during operation at low temperature. The videos on the proceeding page show the casting modelled in Magma in order from the top they show:-
- Percentage liquid solidification
- Liquid fill
- Fill temperature
- Residual component stress
- 5 through 15 Differing views of residual stresses during the casting process
- Casting porosity through section
- Tensile strength
- Solidification by temperature
- Solidification by temperature sectioned
- Solidification without feeders
- Microstructure prediction
- Microstructure of pearite, ferrite and nodular count
For further information and pictures on the SeaGen project click here
