Electric Drive Unit Cooling Fin Layout for Shared Airflow
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric drive units face inefficiencies in cooling both the electric motor and electrical components, often requiring separate cooling airflows and increasing construction complexity.
Innovation Solution
An electric drive unit design where the additional housing for the electrical module is integrated with the motor housing, sharing cooling fins to utilize the same airflow, reducing complexity and allowing for closer component integration and effective cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate cooling systems are used for the motor housing and electrical module, then each component can be cooled independently, but the construction complexity increases and multiple cooling airflows are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling systems of the motor housing and electrical module by providing a common cooling airflow that passes through both components. The cooling airflows are combined into a single flow path that cools both the motor housing cooling fins and the electrical module cooling fins simultaneously, thereby reducing construction complexity while maintaining effective cooling of both components.
2Ease of manufacture
If the electrical module is disposed away from the electric motor, then easier assembly and maintenance are achieved, but connecting cables become longer causing higher losses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the electrical module in a radially outward direction from the motor housing rather than axially, utilizing the radial dimension of the motor housing. This allows the electrical module to be disposed close to the motor for short cable connections while providing sufficient space for assembly and maintenance access through the radial configuration.
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 cooling efficiency by aligning cooling fins between the motor and additional housings, reducing cable losses and achieving a compact, thermally coupled cooling structure, thereby simplifying the overall construction and improving heat dissipation.
Implementation Method 1
cooling fins that run in the same direction as the cooling fins of the motor housing... cooled by the same airflow
Implementation Method 2
cooling fins... discharging heat
Implementation Method 3
the cooling fins of the additional housing are aligned with the cooling fins of the motor housing... the respective cooling fins are thermally coupled so that the motor housing and the additional housing are also thermally coupled
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to an electric drive unit that includes: a motor housing that surrounds an electric motor and has an external side; cooling fins configured on the external side of the motor housing; and an electrical module having components to be cooled. The electrical module is disposed in or on an additional housing that adjoins the motor housing, wherein the additional housing on the external side thereof has cooling fins that run in the same direction as the cooling fins of the motor housing.