Motor Winding Cooling Ring Structure With Internal Water Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cooling systems for high-power electric motors, such as oil baths and peripheral water circuits, are inefficient due to low thermal transfer capacity and reduced heat exchange surfaces, respectively.
Innovation Solution
A cooling component comprising an outer and inner ring with radially extending segments forms continuous channels to circulate a cooling fluid around the motor windings, enhancing heat transfer and using water for its high thermal capacity, while being designed with hollow shells made of insulating materials and embedded in a hardened matrix for improved thermal conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If oil bath cooling is used, then the motor windings are cooled, but the thermal transfer capacity is lower compared to water
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the cooling parameter from oil to water, exploiting water's superior thermal transfer capacity (approximately 4 times higher than oil) to significantly improve cooling efficiency while maintaining system reliability through the insulating barrier structure
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary insulating barrier (hollow rings and segments made of electrically insulating material) between the water cooling circuit and the motor windings, allowing water to be used for cooling while preventing electrical short circuits, thus resolving the contradiction between using water for high thermal transfer and maintaining electrical insulation
2Loss of energy
If peripheral water circuit is used, then water's high thermal capacity is utilized, but the heat exchange surface is reduced because the circuit circulates far from the windings
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a peripheral water circuit that circulates around the motor to an internal cooling structure where water flows through hollow rings and segments positioned directly around the motor windings, moving the cooling function into a new spatial dimension immediately adjacent to the heat source, thereby maximizing heat exchange surface area while maintaining water's high thermal capacity advantage
3Loss of energy
If water is used as cooling fluid, then thermal capacity is increased, but electrical insulation is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses composite material structure combining electrically insulating materials (such as plastic or composite materials) for the hollow rings and segments that contact the windings, with water as the cooling fluid flowing through internal channels, creating a composite system that simultaneously provides electrical insulation and high thermal capacity cooling
Solution Approach 2:
The electrically insulating hollow rings and segments act as an intermediary barrier between the conductive water cooling fluid and the motor windings, allowing thermal energy transfer while preventing electrical conduction, thus resolving the contradiction between using water for cooling and maintaining electrical insulation
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 significantly increases the heat withdrawal area, ensures effective heat dissipation, and maintains a watertight seal, leading to a more efficient cooling system for electric motors.
Implementation Method 1
the rings and segments are internally hollow and are connected to form one or more continuous channels within them capable of transporting a cooling fluid along a path that passes from a ring to the other
Implementation Method 2
The component allows the fluid to circulate around the windings, increasing the heat withdrawing area
Implementation Method 3
the outer ring, the inner ring and the segments are hollow shells, in particular made of electrically insulating material
Implementation Method 4
embedded in a hardened matrix, e.g. resin... increase the transmission of the heat generated from the windings
Data Source
AI summary
A component (20; 18; 100) is described for cooling the windings of an electric motor (10) comprising: an outer ring (30), an inner ring (40) concentric to the outer ring, linear segments (50) extending radially from the inner ring towards the outer ring, wherein the rings (30, 40) and the segments (50) are internally hollow and joined together to form a continuous channel inside them capable of carrying a cooling fluid along a path that stats at a ring and passes to the other ring, preferably coming back to the starting ring, the rings (30, 40) and the segments (50) being arranged to delimit pass-through openings (36) able to accommodate and surround the motor windings.