Housing and blower including same

Abstract

Disclosed are a housing and a blower comprising the same, the housing for providing air cooling for a permanent magnet motor for driving an impeller of a blower to be provided, the housing comprising a cylindrical cavity for accommodating the permanent magnet motor, two openings located at a first end and a second end of the cavity, the air flow guide is used for radially guiding air flow towards the accommodated motor; a first set of cooling channels between and connected to the openings for directing airflow tangentially around the electric machine; and a second set of cooling channels connected to the first set of cooling channels for directing airflow radially from the exterior of the housing to the first set of cooling channels, where the housing further includes a diverting channel located on the exterior of the housing, the cooling channels are used for guiding air flow between the first opening, the second opening and the second group of cooling channels.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present utility model relates to the technical field of centrifugal compressors (also known as turbo compressors, blowers or simply fans). More specifically, the present utility model relates to a housing for accommodating a permanent magnet motor for driving a blower impeller in order to provide cooling for this motor with gas. BACKGROUND

[0002] A blower (or simply a fan) is a machine that performs an energy exchange between a fluid flow and a system of blades performing a rotational movement. In the case of a fan, the system of blades is also known as an impeller.

[0003] The impeller provides the flow and is driven, for example, by a motor such as a permanent magnet motor. The permanent magnet motor, in turn, directly drives the impeller.

[0004] During operation, the engine will generate heat. For reasons of safety and efficiency as well as machine life, it is necessary to dissipate this heat by providing a cooling system.

[0005] In US10533560B2, a directly driven turbo fan is disclosed which comprises a housing with holes to cool the stator of the engine with air. But this has the disadvantage that the rotor of the engine cannot be effectively cooled as well. SUMMARY

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present utility model to provide a housing for a fan for accommodating a permanent magnet motor, wherein the motor can be more effectively cooled without impairing the normal operation of the motor.

[0007] According to the present utility model, the above-mentioned object is achieved in the following way: According to a first aspect of the present utility model, a housing is provided, which is configured to provide air cooling to a permanent magnet motor, the permanent magnet motor comprising a stator and a rotor, the permanent magnet motor being configured to drive an impeller of a blower to provide air cooling, the housing comprising a cylindrical chamber configured to accommodate the permanent magnet motor, and further comprising a housing body comprising:

[0008] - a first and a second set of opposite openings at a first and a second end of the chamber, respectively, the first and second set of openings being configured to direct an air flow radially from the outside of the housing body towards the rotor of the permanent magnet motor when accommodated;

[0009] - a first set of cooling channels on the rotor, the first set of cooling channels being located between and connected to the first and second set of openings, the first set of cooling channels being configured to direct an air flow axially around the permanent magnet motor when accommodated;

[0010] - a second set of cooling channels connected to the first set of cooling channels, said second set of cooling channels being configured to direct a flow of air radially from outside the housing to the first set of cooling channels;

[0011] wherein the housing further comprises a turning channel located outside the housing, the turning channel being configured to direct a flow of air between, on the one hand, an opening of the first set of openings or the second set of openings and, on the other hand, the second set of cooling channels.

[0012] Certain terms or definitions are used to describe the present utility model. Herein, "direction" is understood to mean along which line (imaginary) one can move, while "pointing" is understood to mean to which side of the line indicated by the direction one can move. Movement is for example the movement of a flow of air.

[0013] The housing is a housing designed to accommodate a permanent magnet electric machine, which in turn is configured to drive a blower impeller. This further means that the housing is a housing designed for a blower.

[0014] The housing comprises a cylindrical chamber or a chamber in which a permanent magnet electric machine can be accommodated. It is further understood that this can also include a space for bearings to support the rotor of the electric machine. Furthermore, there is also a space provided for the stator. Around this chamber, there is also a housing that completely surrounds the chamber. This housing comprises two opposite openings at both ends of the chamber. In other words, there are two sets of openings at each end. The term "opposite" is a geometric term meaning that the openings are opposite openings, preferably 180° opposite each other. Each of these sets of opposite openings is configured to direct a flow of air radially from the outside to the rotor of the electric machine. In other words, this means that the flow of air can be blown perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotor and this is done at both ends. It is further understood that, as will be further explained, one opening of each set of openings will be used to direct a flow of air from the outside of the housing towards the rotor, while the corresponding opposite opening will be used to direct a flow of air from the rotor back to the outside.

[0015] Furthermore, as discussed above, the housing comprises a first set of cooling channels located between the two sets of openings, wherein these cooling channels are connected to the openings at the rotor. These cooling channels run around the chamber, so they run axially and tangentially around the engine when the engine is accommodated in the chamber. Furthermore, there is also a second set of cooling channels connected to the cooling channels of the first set of cooling channels, said second set of cooling channels being configured to direct a flow of air radially from outside the housing to the cooling channels of the first set of cooling channels.

[0016] Furthermore, according to the novel and innovative features, the housing comprises a turning channel located on the outside of the housing, which is configured to direct the air flow between, on the one hand, the openings of the first or second set of openings and, on the other hand, the second set of cooling channels. Depending on the direction and pointing of the air flow, as will be further explained, the air flow can then be directed from the first or second set of openings to the cooling channels of the second set of cooling channels and vice versa. The air flow can then follow a path along and around the permanent magnet electric machine and along the air gap between the rotor and the stator, as will be described below.

[0017] According to a first possibility, the air flow is blown through a first opening of the first set of openings. This causes the air flow to be blown radially towards the rotor, the air flow further flowing through the opposite opening of the first set of openings. At the second opening, the air flow then flows radially away from the electric machine to the outside of the housing. By providing the turning channel, the air flow will then be forced to further flow through a cooling channel of the second set of cooling channels, which then connects with the cooling channels of the first set of cooling channels. This forms an air flow around and along the permanent magnet electric machine. According to a second possibility, the air is initially blown through an opening of the second set of openings, but the air flow follows the same path of flow, so that by this second possibility, the air also circulates around the electric machine.

[0018] According to an embodiment, the housing further comprises an air flow barrier configured to obstruct the flow of the air flow at a predetermined pressure. For example, the predetermined pressure is greater than 100 mbar, but it should be noted that this specified value should not be understood as limiting, but that other values are also possible. There are two possibilities for the placement of the air flow barrier.

[0019] According to a first embodiment, the air flow barrier is placed on the outside of the housing at the opening of the first or second set of openings, thereby forcing the air flow to the air gap between the rotor and the stator of the permanent magnet electric machine when housed, which air gap extends axially between the first and second set of openings.

[0020] According to a second embodiment, the air flow barrier is placed on the outside of the housing between the first and second set of openings, so that the air flow is obstructed at the second set of external cooling channels, so that the air flow is directed tangentially around the electric machine and towards the air gap between the rotor and the stator of the permanent magnet electric machine when housed, which air gap again extends axially between the first and second set of openings.

[0021] According to both embodiments, the air flow will be forced to flow through the air gap between the stator and the rotor of the permanent magnet electric machine, which provides effective cooling around the rotor and the rotor. In other words, the air flow will flow axially between the stator and the rotor.

[0022] With such a housing according to these embodiments, it is possible to cool the permanent magnet electric machine according to different methods. With the two sets of openings, cooling channels, turning channels and airflow barriers, it is possible to employ different configurations to cool the electric machine.

[0023] In the process of driving the impeller of the blower by the permanent magnet electric machine, the rotor of the machine will have a higher temperature than the stationary parts of the blower. However, with the housings and methods known in the prior art, it is not possible to directly cool the rotor. Therefore, as will be further discussed, it is an advantage of the present invention that it is possible to directly, and thus efficiently, cool the permanent magnet electric machine.

[0024] According to another aspect, a blower is disclosed, comprising a permanent magnet electric machine configured to drive an impeller of the blower, the impeller being mounted in the blower, and a housing according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the blower further comprises a first fan located at the first opening and a second fan located at the second opening.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the blower further comprises an exhaust channel for exhausting the airflow, the exhaust channel being located at an opening different from the location at which the turning channel is located. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0027] The present invention will be further explained with reference to the drawings, in which

[0028] Figure 1 Fig. 1 illustrates a blower according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 2 Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a blower comprising a cylindrical cavity for accommodating a permanent magnet electric machine, and indicates airflow paths to illustrate a first method of cooling the permanent magnet electric machine when accommodated in the cylindrical cavity;

[0030] Figure 3 Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a blower comprising a cylindrical cavity for accommodating a permanent magnet electric machine, and indicates airflow paths to illustrate a second method of cooling the permanent magnet electric machine when accommodated in the cylindrical cavity;

[0031] Figure 4 Fig. 4 schematically illustrates a blower comprising a cylindrical cavity for accommodating a permanent magnet electric machine, and indicates airflow paths to illustrate a third method of cooling the permanent magnet electric machine when accommodated in the cylindrical cavity;

[0032] Figure 5A fan is schematically illustrated including a cylindrical chamber for housing a permanent magnet motor and airflow paths are indicated to illustrate a fourth method of cooling a permanent magnet motor when housed in the cylindrical chamber;

[0033] Figure 6 A fan is schematically illustrated including a cylindrical chamber for housing a permanent magnet motor and airflow paths are indicated to illustrate a fifth method of cooling a permanent magnet motor when housed in the cylindrical chamber. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The present application will be described with reference to certain embodiments and certain drawings but the application is not limited to the embodiments or drawings described and can only be defined by the claims. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting various aspects of the present application. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements can be exaggerated relative to other elements for illustrating aspects more clearly. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not necessarily correspond to the dimensions of the application actually implemented.

[0035] Further, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing the temporal or chronological order. Unless otherwise specified, these terms are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and the embodiments of the application can operate in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

[0036] In addition, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in the description and the claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing relative positions. Terms so used are inter- changeable under appropriate circumstances and the embodiments of the application described herein can operate in other orientations than described or illustrated herein.

[0037] Further, the various embodiments can be referred to herein, collectively, as "the application" or "the present application", even though only a single embodiment can be described or claimed. This reference is not necessarily made to the same embodiment(s) or claim(s) each time with the same description used here. Further, reference to an "invention" or "the invention" can refer to one or more embodiments of the present application, and yet further reference can be made to the application in a generic sense, to one or more of the inventions, and also to specific techniques described here that can form aspects of the present application.

[0038] The term "comprising", used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being restricted to the means listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. It is thus to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, elements, steps or components as referred to, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, steps or components or groups thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression "a device comprising means A and B" should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. It means that with respect to the present application, the only relevant components of the device are A and B.

[0039] Furthermore, reference is made to the fan and / or to the air flow. Since the air flow is provided by the fan, these designations can be interchanged. In other words, designations referring to the fan can also refer to the air flow and vice versa.

[0040] Figure 1 A fan of an embodiment of the present application is illustrated. The fan 100 comprises a housing which is configured to accommodate a permanent magnet motor. The fan 100 is a machine which performs an energy exchange between a fluid flow and a blade system (in this case an impeller) which performs a rotational movement. The impeller is located inside the fan 100 and ensures that compressed air is available at the outlet 101 of the fan 100. To this end, an electric motor is used to drive the impeller, which, according to the illustrated embodiment, is a permanent magnet motor. During its operation, i.e. when the permanent magnet motor drives the impeller, the electric motor will heat up. To ensure proper operation, this electric motor must be cooled. To this end, two fans 103 and 104 are used which, in combination with the housing and with the method which will be further discussed, cool the rotor and the stator of the electric motor. Furthermore, there is an exhaust 102 for the air which has absorbed heat. Finally, Figure 1 The turning channel 105 is shown in Figures 2 to 6 This will be further discussed below.

[0041] In Figures 2 to 6 A method for cooling a permanent magnet motor during operation and when accommodated in the fan 100 is described. Reference is made to Figure 2 A cylindrical chamber 211 for accommodating a permanent magnet motor is shown. The rotor is located in this chamber and the stator 212 is located around the rotor. Reference 210 indicates the location of the impeller which is driven by the permanent magnet motor. Furthermore, reference 213 indicates the location of what is called the first set of openings and reference 214 indicates the location of what is called the second set of openings. It is noted that the first set of openings 213 is located close to the side of the impeller and the second set of openings 214 is located away from the side of the impeller. Furthermore, Figures 2 to 6 In the illustration of Figures 2 to 6 This is the case for each of the figures in

[0042] Again, reference is made to Figure 2, there is a first fan 201 providing a first air flow (hence the solid arrow) and a second fan 202 providing a second air flow (hence the dashed arrow). The first air flow is blown through openings in a first set of openings 213, is guided via a turning channel shown by reference 203 to an outer housing of the housing, along a cooling channel of a second set of cooling channels, around the electric machine and then out of the housing again (shown by reference 206). Furthermore, the second fan 202 provides a second air flow to openings in a second set of openings 214. Opposite to this fan 202, there is an air flow blockage shown by reference 204. Reference 205 shows that a part of the air flow is allowed to pass, but the majority of the air flow is blocked. This blockage causes the second air flow to be forced to flow through the air gap between the rotor and the stator, shown by reference 207. Then, the air flow continues to the openings in the first set of openings 213 and merges with the first air flow. Please further note that the power of the second fan 202 in this method is greater than the power of the first fan 201. For example, the second fan 202 has a power of 800 W and the first fan 201 has a power of 600 W. The power mentioned here as an example can also be used in the method shown in Figures 3 to 6

[0043] In Figure 3 a second method of cooling a permanent magnet electric machine is illustrated. According to this method, a first fan 301 is located on an outer housing of the housing to blow a first air flow through cooling channels of a second set of cooling channels. These then travel radially to the inside, around the electric machine via cooling channels of a first set of cooling channels and then back through the housing to the outside opposite the first fan 301. The first air flow is then turned via a turning channel 303 to a first set of openings. Furthermore, a second fan 302 is provided which has a greater power than the first fan 301, which blows a second air flow into openings in a second set of openings. An air flow blockage 304 is located opposite this, which partially blocks the air flow blown so that the majority of the air flow travels axially and tangentially along an air gap 306 and then merges with the first air flow and exits the housing via 305.

[0044] In Figure 4 a method is shown in which a first air flow is blown by a first fan 401 into openings in a first set of openings and a second air flow is blown by a second fan 402 into openings in a second set of openings. Here, the power of the second air flow is greater than the power of the first air flow. The second air flow is then turned 404 from the openings in the second set of openings to the outer housing, more specifically to the second set of cooling channels. Furthermore, an air flow blockage 403 is also provided on the outer housing so that the second air flow is further forced to flow to an air gap 406 between the rotor and the stator, where it then merges with the first air flow. The first air flow and the second air flow then exit the housing at reference 405. ​

[0045] In Figure 5 the last method of cooling the permanent magnet motor with the housing is illustrated. A first air flow is blown by fan 501 into the openings in the first set of openings, fan 502 blows a second air flow through the air passages in the second set of air passages to the outside housing at a higher power than the first air flow. The second air flow passes through the housing and is diverted 505 to the openings in the second set of openings where air flow block 503 is further located to force the air flow to flow towards air gap 506 to join the first air flow and exit the housing at location 504.

[0046] Finally, there is also a method as shown in Figure 6 where three fans 601-603 are used to cool the engine. In this method, an air flow is blown by fan 601 into the openings in the first set of openings. An air flow is blown by fan 602 into the second set of cooling passages. Finally, a third air flow is blown by fan 603 into the openings in the second set of openings. Depending on the direction of the fans, and thus the direction and pointing of the various air flows, there can be diversion passages to divert one of the air flows. Furthermore, there is an air flow block 604 at the openings in the second set of openings, whereby the air flow 605 is forced to flow in axial and tangential directions along the rotor. Finally, the air flow, which is then a combination of the various air flows, exits the housing via 606 and 607.

Claims

1. A housing configured to provide air cooling to a permanent magnet electric machine, the permanent magnet electric machine comprising a stator and a rotor, the permanent magnet electric machine configured to drive an impeller (210) of a blower (100) to provide air cooling, the housing comprising a cylindrical chamber (211) configured to house the permanent magnet electric machine, and characterized in that, The housing further comprises a casing comprising: - a first and a second set of openings (213, 214) located at a first and a second end of the chamber (211), respectively, the first and second set of openings (213, 214) being configured to direct an airflow radially from the outside of the casing towards the rotor of the housed permanent magnet electric machine; - a first set of cooling channels on the rotor located between and connected to the first and second set of openings (213, 214), the first set of cooling channels being configured to direct an airflow axially around the housed permanent magnet electric machine; - a second set of cooling channels connected to the first set of cooling channels, the second set of cooling channels being configured to direct an airflow radially from the outside of the casing to the first set of cooling channels; wherein the housing further comprises a diverting channel (105) located on the outside of the casing, the diverting channel being configured to direct an airflow between an opening of the first or second set of openings (213, 214) on the one hand and the second set of cooling channels on the other hand.

2. The housing of claim 1, wherein The casing further comprises a first airflow barrier configured to block the passage of an airflow at a predetermined pressure, the first airflow barrier being provided on the outside of the casing at an opening of the first or second set of openings (213, 214) such that the air is forced into a first air gap between the rotor and the stator of the housed permanent magnet electric machine, the first air gap extending axially between the first and second set of openings (213, 214).

3. The housing of claim 1, wherein, The casing further comprises a second airflow barrier configured to block the passage of an airflow at a predetermined pressure, the second airflow barrier being provided on the outside of the casing between the first and second set of openings (213, 214) such that the airflow to the second set of cooling channels leading to the outside is blocked, the airflow being directed tangentially around the permanent magnet electric machine and directed towards a second air gap between the rotor and the stator of the housed permanent magnet electric machine, the second air gap extending axially between the first and second set of openings.

4. The housing of claim 2, wherein, The predetermined pressure of the airflow blocked by the first airflow barrier is greater than 100 mbar.

5. The housing of claim 3, wherein, The predetermined pressure of the airflow blocked by the second airflow barrier is greater than 100 mbar.

6. A blower (100) characterized by, The blower comprises a permanent magnet electric machine configured to drive an impeller of the blower (100), the impeller being housed in the blower, and a housing according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The air blower (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that The blower further comprises a first fan (201, 301, 401, 501) located at an opening of the first set of openings and a second fan (202, 302, 402, 502) located at an opening of the second set of openings. The blower further comprises an exhaust channel (206, 305, 405, 504) for exhausting the airflow, wherein the exhaust channel is located at an opening different from the location at which the diverting channel is located.

8. The air blower (100) according to any one of claims 6 to 7, characterized in that ​

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