Electronic Coolant Pump Stator Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Compact electronic coolant pumps for motor vehicles face challenges in efficiently dissipating heat generated by high-energy density stator coils, leading to overheating and reduced electromagnetic efficiency, which can cause malfunction or failure.
Innovation Solution
The electronic coolant pump features a stator coil arrangement in thermal contact with a high thermal conductivity sidewall cooling section, where the coolant flowing through the volute cooling sector efficiently transfers heat away from the stator coils, and the motor electronics are also cooled by the coolant, reducing the need for higher drive energy and preventing overheating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a compact stator coil arrangement with high energy density is used, then the motor performance is improved, but the heat generation increases causing overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful heat generated by the high-energy-density stator coil arrangement into a beneficial cooling mechanism. The heat is transferred through the separation sidewall to the coolant flowing in the pump volute, transforming the waste heat into an efficient thermal management solution that enables high motor performance without overheating
Solution Approach 2:
The separation sidewall serves multiple functions: it provides fluidic separation between the motor chamber and pumping chamber, acts as a thermal conduction path for heat transfer from the stator coil to the coolant, and structurally supports the motor components. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by integrating cooling into the existing structural design
2Temperature
If the stator coil arrangement is cooled by the coolant flowing along the sidewall cooling section, then the temperature is reduced, but the sidewall cooling section area is relatively small limiting cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal conductivity parameter of the separation sidewall material to enhance heat transfer efficiency. By using materials with high thermal conductivity, the limited surface area of the sidewall cooling section achieves effective cooling of the stator coil arrangement, resolving the contradiction between small area and cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies localized thermal management by concentrating the cooling function at the separation sidewall where thermal contact between the stator coil and coolant is maximized. This local quality enhancement allows efficient heat dissipation despite the limited cooling section area
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design enhances electromagnetic efficiency, reduces waste heat generation, and allows for higher pump performance while maintaining a compact form factor, ensuring reliable operation and preventing overheating of the motor electronics.
Implementation Method 1
The stator coil arrangement is in thermal contact with the separation sidewall, in particular with a cooling section of the separation sidewall being defined by the volute cooling sector, so that the stator coil arrangement is cooled by the coolant being pumped through the pump volute and flowing along the sidewall cooling section
Implementation Method 2
the coolant being pumped through the pump volute and flowing along the sidewall cooling section
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
Electric coolant pump (10) comprising a pump housing (12) defining a pumping chamber (20) being filled with a coolant during pump operation, with radially Inner pump Inlet (22), a radially outer pump outlet (24) and a pump volute (26) extending from downstream of the pump inlet (22) to the pump outlet (24), and a motor chamber (28) being fluidically separated from the pumping chamber (20) by a separation sidewal! (18) extending substantially in a radial plane, an electric motor (30) with a rotatable motor rotor (32), a static motor stator (34) with a single compact stator coil arrangement (50) being arranged laterally with respect to the motor rotor (32) in the motor chamber (28) and a motor electronics (36) being arranged in the motor chamber (28) for energizing the stator coil arrangement (50), and a pump wheel (58) being arranged in the pumping chamber (20) and being co-rotatably connected with the motor rotor (32), wherein the stator coil arrangement (50) Is arranged axlally adjacent to a volute cooling sector (60) of the pump volute (26) and is in thermal contact with a cooling section (62) of the separation sidewall (18) being defined by the volute cooling sector (60) and wherein the volute cooling sector (60) of the pump volute extends over a volute angle (A) of 120° starting at the pump outlet (24).