Generator Housing Lattice Cooling for Compact Heat Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling techniques for high-power electric generators, such as those used in aerospace applications, face inefficiencies in heat transfer within compact size and weight constraints, leading to increased windage losses and iron/copper losses, which are not effectively managed by traditional methods.
Innovation Solution
A housing for electric generators featuring a hollow cylindrical body with an integrated lattice structure cooling channel, utilizing triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS) to enhance heat transfer and maintain structural integrity, fabricated through additive manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional spiral cooling channels are used in the housing, then the structure is simple to manufacture, but heat transfer capability is insufficient for high-power generators
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a lattice structure within the cooling channel that creates a porous-like configuration with multiple flow paths. This lattice structure increases the surface area for heat transfer between the cooling oil and the stator back-iron, thereby improving heat transfer capability while maintaining a compact form factor suitable for high-power generators.
Solution Approach 2:
The lattice structure introduces a three-dimensional cooling pathway within the housing wall, transforming the traditional two-dimensional spiral channel into a multi-dimensional heat exchange network. This dimensional enhancement allows for significantly increased heat transfer surface area without proportionally increasing the overall size of the generator.
2Volume of moving object
If the generator size is reduced to meet compact constraints, then weight and volume are reduced, but heat transfer efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The lattice structure creates a porous-like configuration that packs extensive heat transfer surface area into a compact volume. The interconnected struts and cells of the lattice provide multiple heat transfer pathways within the limited space of the housing wall, enabling efficient cooling in a reduced-size generator.
Solution Approach 2:
The lattice structure is nested within the housing wall thickness, utilizing the available wall space efficiently. The cooling channels are integrated into the housing structure itself, with the lattice pattern filling the wall cross-section to maximize heat transfer surface area within the constrained volume of the generator.
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 lattice structure provides improved heat transfer capabilities while maintaining structural rigidity, effectively dissipating heat in high-power generators without compromising weight or size, using materials suitable for additive manufacturing.
Implementation Method 1
the lattice structure configured to receive a cooling fluid... provides improved heat transfer capabilities... effectively dissipating heat
Implementation Method 2
receive a cooling fluid... heat transfer capabilities... dissipating heat
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A housing is provided. The housing may include a hollow cylindrical body having an interior surface. A device may include a cooling channel including a lattice structure integrated in the hollow cylindrical body adjacent to the interior surface, the lattice structure configured to receive a cooling fluid.