Rotating Electric Machine Cooling Frame with Dual Coolant Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotating electric machine cooling systems face challenges such as increased complexity and cost due to complicated structures and large size, particularly when using multiple coolant methods like oil and water cooling simultaneously, which compromises cooling efficiency and miniaturization.
Innovation Solution
A rotating electric machine design featuring a cooling frame with a flow passage that circulates a first liquid coolant, dividing the passage into sections to primarily cool a second liquid coolant and a gas coolant, enhancing cooling performance and miniaturization by optimizing coolant flow and pressure loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If multiple coolant methods (oil cooling and water cooling) are used simultaneously to enhance cooling capacity, then cooling performance is improved, but system complexity and device size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines oil cooling and water cooling systems into a single integrated cooling frame structure. The cooling frame includes flow passages for both first liquid coolant (water) and second liquid coolant (oil), allowing both cooling methods to operate simultaneously within one unified device rather than as separate systems, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining enhanced cooling performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling frame serves multiple functions: it acts as both a structural support component and a dual-coolant circulation system. The same cooling frame houses flow passages for both water coolant and oil coolant, enabling the single component to perform multiple cooling functions simultaneously, thus reducing the need for separate cooling devices and lowering system complexity.
2Temperature
If multiple coolant methods are used simultaneously to enhance cooling capacity, then cooling performance is improved, but the physical size of the machine increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the water cooling system and oil cooling system into a single cooling frame with integrated flow passages. By combining both cooling systems within one unified structure rather than using separate cooling devices, the overall volume occupied by the cooling system is reduced, allowing enhanced cooling performance without proportionally increasing machine size.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling frame employs a nested structure where flow passages for both first liquid coolant and second liquid coolant are embedded within the same cooling frame body. This nesting approach allows multiple coolant circulation paths to occupy overlapping or adjacent spaces within the same volume, thereby reducing the total space required compared to separate cooling systems.
3Temperature
If a pump is arranged inside the rotating electric machine to lift liquid coolant for cooling, then cooling capacity is strengthened, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a self-service cooling mechanism where the rotating electric machine's own rotational motion drives the circulation of liquid coolant through centrifugal force and pressure differential, eliminating the need for separate pumps inside the machine. The rotation of the rotor itself generates the necessary fluid dynamics to circulate coolant through the cooling frame, thereby maintaining cooling capacity without adding pump components and reducing structural complexity.
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
The design improves cooling efficiency and miniaturization of the rotating electric machine by effectively cooling both liquid and gas coolants within the machine, reducing pressure loss and system size while maintaining enhanced cooling performance.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling frame that makes a first liquid coolant circulate therethrough and cools the inside of the rotating electric machine and has a structure of cooling the inside of the rotating electric machine by a second liquid coolant sealed in the inside of the rotating electric machine
Implementation Method 2
cooling the second liquid coolant and the gas coolant by the cooling frame
Data Source
AI summary
A rotating electric machine includes a cooling frame. The cooling frame includes a flow passage through which the first liquid coolant circulates, a flow inlet connected to one end of the flow passage so as to make the first liquid coolant flow from the outside into the flow passage, and a flow outlet connected to the other end of the flow passage so as to make the first liquid coolant having flown through the flow passage flow to the outside. The machine is configured that, when the flow passage is divided into a front half portion closer to the flow inlet and a latter half portion closer to the flow outlet, the front half portion becomes a portion where the first liquid coolant mainly cools the second liquid coolant, and the latter half portion becomes a portion where the first liquid coolant mainly cools the gas coolant.