Multi-path Liquid Cooling for Electric Machine Stators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air-cooling methods for electric machines are inefficient, and fluid cooling arrangements are challenging to implement in enclosed stator designs of external rotor electric machines, making it difficult to effectively extract heat from the stator.
Innovation Solution
A multi-path liquid cooling arrangement featuring a cylindrical stator with C-shaped channels and inwardly projecting tabs, where cooling tubes are inserted to extract heat, with the option of using a manifold to interconnect tubes for enhanced heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional air-cooling methods are used, then the cooling arrangement is simple to implement, but the cooling efficiency is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from air-cooling to liquid cooling by introducing cooling tubes that circulate coolant through the stator core. This hydraulic cooling system dramatically improves cooling efficiency by replacing air with liquid coolant that has superior heat transfer properties, while maintaining reasonable implementation complexity through integrated tube design
2Loss of energy
If fluid cooling arrangements are installed in enclosed stator designs, then cooling efficiency improves, but installation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling tubes are nested within the stator core structure itself. The tubes are inserted through the stacked laminations of the stator, utilizing the existing enclosed structure rather than adding external cooling components. This nesting approach allows efficient cooling while maintaining the compact enclosed design of the electric machine
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling tubes extend in the axial dimension of the stator, passing through multiple laminations along the length of the core. This axial arrangement allows cooling fluid to flow through the heat-generating regions of the stator windings, providing efficient heat extraction without compromising the radial or circumferential dimensions of the enclosed stator design
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 configuration increases the density of cooling tubes, improving heat extraction efficiency and allowing for effective cooling of the stator, even in enclosed designs, by circulating a cooling fluid through the tubes.
Implementation Method 1
heat present in the stator is extractable by said cooling tube
Implementation Method 2
circulating a cooling fluid through the tubes
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-path liquid cooling arrangement for electric machines includes a heat storing element provided with channels having a generally C-shaped cross-section and cooling tubes so configured and sized as to be insertable in the channels is described herein. The cooling tubes, once inserted in the channels, are deformed to conform thereto, whereby heat stored in the heat storing element is extracted by circulating cooling fluid inside the cooling tubes.