Direct-Drive Wheel Cooling Vessel for Stator Heat Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric motors in terrain vehicles, such as lunar rovers, face challenges in efficiently dissipating heat generated by power loss, which traditional cooling systems with pipes, coolant, valves, and pumps introduce complications and vulnerabilities.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a direct-drive wheel system with a cooling vessel that surrounds the stator, utilizing Peltier elements, phase change materials (PCM), and metallic features like fins to radiate heat away from the motor, eliminating the need for central radiators and circulating systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional cooling systems with pipes, coolant, valves, and pumps are used to carry heat from the electric motor to a central radiator, then heat dissipation is achieved, but system complexity and vulnerability increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cooling function into multiple independent cooling vessels, each associated with a specific motor or heat-generating component. Instead of one centralized cooling system, each motor has its own cooling vessel that independently manages heat, thereby reducing overall system complexity and eliminating the need for complex piping and coolant circulation between components.
Solution Approach 2:
Each cooling vessel is equipped with its own Peltier elements and phase change materials, allowing it to autonomously cool its associated motor without requiring external pumps, valves, or coolant circulation systems. The phase change materials automatically absorb heat when melting, and the Peltier elements actively pump heat to the radiator, creating a self-sufficient cooling unit.
2Temperature
If traditional cooling systems with circulating coolant and pumps are implemented, then heat can be transported to a central radiator, but reliability decreases due to potential failures in pipes, valves, and pumps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the vulnerable components (pumps, valves, pipes, and circulating coolant) from the cooling system. Instead of using a centralized system with these components, each motor has its own cooling vessel that uses passive phase change materials and solid-state Peltier elements, eliminating the parts that are most prone to failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses phase change materials that can be replaced or regenerated. When the phase change material becomes depleted or contaminated, it can be replaced without affecting the entire cooling system, as each cooling vessel is independent. This modular approach improves reliability by allowing easy maintenance and replacement of consumable components.
3Temperature
If a centralized heat radiator system is used to radiate heat into space, then heat management is achieved, but system complexity and vulnerability increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of one large centralized radiator, the patent distributes multiple smaller radiators, each attached to its own cooling vessel. This segmentation allows each motor- cooling vessel- radiator assembly to be an independent unit, simplifying the overall system architecture and reducing the complexity of heat distribution piping and control systems.
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
Enhances heat dissipation efficiency by providing a localized cooling solution that effectively removes heat from the stator, improving thermal management without the complexity of traditional cooling systems.
Implementation Method 1
The cooling vessel may include one or more Peltier elements, which can provide cooling to the cooling vessel via the Peltier effect
Implementation Method 2
The cooling vessel may contain a phase change material (PCM), which provides a relatively large amount of heat storage
Implementation Method 3
metallic surface features, such as fins, may extend from the cooling vessel. For example, these fins are surfaces that effectively increase the surface area of the cooling vessel to increase the rate of heat transfer away from the cooling vessel
Implementation Method 4
a cooling vessel at least partially surrounding, and in thermal contact with, the stator. The cooling vessel may be configured to radiate heat away from the wheel system via various routes
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for cooling an electric motor of a terrain vehicle are presented. In particular, embodiments are directed to cooling an electric drive stator and associated structures of an electric motor of a terrain vehicle. Configurations for such cooling may perform as a local heat radiator, thus avoiding a need for a system that includes pipes, circulating coolant, valves, and pumps for carrying heat to a central radiator. A cooling vessel is in thermal contact with a stator of a motor. The cooling vessel includes various features for dissipating heat collected from the stator or other parts of the motor.