Fuel Cell Air Blower Cooling Water Passage Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel cell vehicle air blowers face challenges in cooling efficiency and durability due to high motor speeds and pressure differences, leading to reduced assembly and production efficiency and increased maintenance complexity.
Innovation Solution
The air blower design incorporates a cooling water passage within the motor case and air flowing grooves around bearings to enhance cooling efficiency and reduce shaft load, using high heat conductivity materials and a spiral cooling water passage configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the motor is driven at high speed to generate compressing air, then the air compression function is improved, but the motor case and control box require additional coolers increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling function into the motor case itself by forming cooling water passages directly within the motor case structure. This integrates the previously separate cooler component into the motor housing, eliminating the need for additional coolers in both the motor case and control box while maintaining effective cooling of the high-speed motor.
2Temperature
If a cooler is added to the motor case and control box, then cooling capability is improved, but assembly and production efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling water passages are formed integrally within the motor case as a single unified structure. This integration eliminates multiple separate cooling components that would require separate assembly steps, thereby improving assembly and production efficiency while maintaining adequate cooling capability for the motor and control box.
3Productivity
If the structure is simplified to improve assembly efficiency, then productivity is improved, but cooling efficiency may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The motor case is designed with integrated cooling water passages that follow the circumferential path around the motor, ensuring uniform heat distribution and efficient cooling. This integrated design achieves both simplification for easy assembly and effective thermal management, as the cooling passages are optimally positioned to cool the motor uniformly without requiring complex external cooling systems.
4Power
If air blower operates under pressure difference, then air compression function is improved, but shaft load increases reducing durability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces air flowing grooves that utilize pneumatic principles to reduce shaft load. Compressed air flows through these grooves to create aerodynamic bearing support, reducing the mechanical load on the shaft and bearings. This allows the air blower to operate effectively under pressure difference while improving durability by minimizing mechanical wear.
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 improves cooling efficiency, increases durability by reducing shaft load, and simplifies the structure for easier assembly and maintenance, while enhancing the overall performance of the air blower for fuel cell vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling water passage 330 communicated along the circumference of the motor 400 in the motor case 300 and having cooling water flowing therein
Implementation Method 2
improving durability by reducing a shaft load generated by the difference in internal and external pressure
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an air blower for a fuel cell vehicle, and in particular, an air blower for a fuel cell vehicle having a cooling water passage formed in a motor case and an air flowing groove to increase cooling efficiency and reduce a shaft load to improve durability.