Electrical Machine Fan Flow Separator for Vortex-Free Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current rotating electrical machine fan designs face inefficiencies due to airflow interactions, leading to vortices and inadequate cooling, particularly in the center of the machine, and often require complex structures or increased length.
Innovation Solution
A fan design incorporating a flow separator that extends partway through the fan blades to separate airflows from radially outward and inward directions, using a single set of fan blades to improve airflow efficiency and balance, thereby reducing vortex formation and enhancing cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a fan is designed with a single set of fan blades without flow separation, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but airflow from stator and rotor collide at the fan inlet creating vortices that reduce fan efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the airflow paths by introducing a flow separator that segments the single airflow path into two separate paths - one for stator airflow and one for rotor airflow. This segmentation prevents the harmful collision of airflows at the fan inlet while maintaining a relatively simple single-set fan blade structure, thus resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and fan efficiency.
2Device complexity
If airflow from stator/frame airgap is allowed to dominate, then the fan structure remains simple, but cooling towards the centre of the machine is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The flow separator is positioned and dimensioned to create different airflow characteristics in different regions. It allows rotor airflow (which originates from the center region) to be directed more effectively towards the fan inlet, thereby improving local cooling performance at the center of the machine without requiring a completely redesigned fan structure.
3Productivity
If a multichannel fan with solid web separation is used to separate airflows, then airflow interaction is reduced, but the fan becomes longer and the structure becomes complicated and costly to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a solid web that completely separates the airflow paths (as in multichannel fans), the patent extracts only the necessary flow separation function by using a flow separator that divides the airflow paths without requiring complete physical separation. This approach achieves adequate airflow separation while avoiding the increased length and manufacturing complexity associated with multichannel fan designs.
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 fan design improves airflow efficiency by minimizing airflow interactions, enhancing cooling performance without increasing the fan's length or complexity, and allows for better thermal management within the machine.
Implementation Method 1
a flow separator for separating a first airflow entering the fan from a radially outwards part of the machine and second airflow entering the fan from a radially inwards part of the machine
Implementation Method 2
the fan comprises a plurality of fan blades... airflow through the machine is in a generally axial direction... This may be achieved by providing a fan for forcing airflow through the machine
Data Source
AI summary
A fan for a rotating electrical machine is disclosed. The fan comprises a plurality of fan blades and a flow separator for separating a first airflow entering the fan from a radially outwards part of the rotating electrical machine and second airflow entering the fan from a radially inwards part of the rotating electrical machine. The flow separator extends partway through the fan in a direction of airflow. This may help to improve the efficiency of the fan using a relatively simple construction and without adding to its length.