Marine Drive Frame Heat Exchanger for Passive Power Unit Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing marine drives face challenges in effectively cooling electrical components, particularly the electrical power unit, which generates heat and can lead to performance issues and reduced operational life without adequate cooling mechanisms like forced air or cooling fluids.
Innovation Solution
The marine drive incorporates a supporting frame with a cowling configuration where a portion of the frame acts as a heat exchanger, exposing it to the atmosphere to efficiently transfer heat from the electrical power unit, utilizing ribs for enhanced heat transfer without the need for cooling fluids or forced air.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If forced air cooling or cooling fluids are used to cool electrical components, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cooling function from a separate cooling system and integrates it into the supporting frame structure itself. The frame is designed with exposed portions that act as heat exchangers, eliminating the need for forced air cooling systems or cooling fluids. This resolves the contradiction by removing complex cooling mechanisms while maintaining effective heat dissipation through the frame's inherent thermal conductivity and exposed surface area.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting frame serves multiple functions: structural support for electrical components and simultaneous heat dissipation through its exposed portions. By making the frame multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate cooling systems, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining effective cooling of electrical components.
2Temperature
If forced air cooling mechanisms are added, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but ease of operation and maintenance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting frame with exposed portions provides passive heat dissipation that requires no external power source, control systems, or maintenance. The frame naturally dissipates heat from electrical components through its exposed surfaces to the surrounding environment, eliminating the need for forced air mechanisms that would require operation, control, and maintenance.
3Temperature
If cooling fluids are used, then cooling performance is improved, but loss of substance and environmental concerns increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes cooling fluids entirely from the system by using the supporting frame's exposed portions as passive heat exchangers. This eliminates concerns about fluid loss, environmental contamination, and the need for fluid management systems, while maintaining effective heat dissipation through the frame structure.
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 solution effectively cools the electrical components by utilizing the natural airflow and heat conductivity of the frame, reducing the complexity and cost of cooling systems while preventing water ingress and maintaining the drive's operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
operation of the electrical power unit generates heat that is transferred to the supporting frame... the second portion of the supporting frame functions as a heat exchanger that transfers the heat from the electrical power unit to atmosphere
Implementation Method 2
the supporting frame and cowling are configured so that the second portion of the supporting frame functions as a heat exchanger that transfers the heat from the electrical power unit to atmosphere
Implementation Method 3
The marine drive may further comprise one or more (e.g. a plurality of) ribs on an opposite, exterior surface of the second portion of the supporting frame. Each of the one or more (e.g. each rib in the plurality of) ribs may be configured to promote heat transfer.
Data Source
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AI summary
A marine drive (50) has a supporting frame (52), an electric motor (65) configured to power a propulsor (72) for generating a thrust force in water, and an electrical power unit (100) for the electric motor (65) which is coupled to the supporting frame (52). Operation of the electrical power unit (100) generates heat that is transferred to the supporting frame (52). A cowling (56) encloses the electrical power unit (100) and covers a first portion (130) of the supporting frame (52). A different, second portion (132) of the supporting frame (52) is exposed to atmosphere outside the cowling (56). The supporting frame (52) and cowling (56) are configured so that the second portion (132) of the supporting frame (52) provides a heat exchanger that transfers the heat from the electrical power unit (100) to the atmosphere.