Partition Wall Sealing for Thermal Expansion in Rotating Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
The issue of thermal expansion causing compressive stress on the sleeve portion between the rotor and stator in rotating electric machines, leading to reduced magnetic force and efficiency, is addressed by incorporating a partition wall member with floating ends supported by sealing members to allow thermal expansion without compressive stress.
Innovation Solution
A rotating electric machine system with a partition wall member between the rotor and stator, featuring floatingly supported ends via sealing members, allowing thermal expansion without compressive stress, and utilizing gaseous and liquid coolants for effective cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the housing is thermally expanded during operation, then the sleeve portion is pressed by the housing and receives compressive stress, but this compressive stress reduces magnetic force and efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The partition wall member is designed with both ends floatingly supported by sealing members, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position and accommodate thermal expansion without generating compressive stress that would affect the rotor's magnetic force
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the support condition of the partition wall member from fixed to floating, allowing thermal expansion parameters to vary freely without causing harmful compressive stress on the rotor chamber
2Stability of the object's composition
If the partition wall member is fixed rigidly to prevent thermal expansion, then compressive stress is avoided, but the structure becomes complex and cooling efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The partition wall member serves itself by using the sealing members to provide both sealing and floating support functions, eliminating the need for additional complex constraint structures while maintaining structural stability
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing members perform multiple functions simultaneously: sealing the gap between the partition wall member and housing, and providing floating support to allow thermal expansion without compressive stress
3Temperature
If the rotor is immersed in cooling oil, then cooling effect is improved, but the rotor is subjected to viscous resistance of the cooling oil
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the internal space into separate rotor chamber and stator chamber using the partition wall member, allowing different cooling methods for the rotor and stator, thus avoiding viscous resistance on the rotor while maintaining cooling effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The partition wall member acts as an intermediary that separates the rotor and stator cooling zones, enabling the stator to be cooled by liquid coolant while the rotor operates in air without viscous resistance
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
Prevents compressive stress on the partition wall member during thermal expansion, maintaining magnetic force and efficiency by enabling free expansion, and enhancing cooling efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
a gaseous coolant flow path configured to communicate with the rotor chamber and through which a gaseous coolant flows
Implementation Method 2
a liquid coolant supplying device configured to supply a liquid coolant to the stator chamber
Implementation Method 3
at least one of the distal end surface at the first end part and the distal end surface at the second end part in the partition wall member is an unconstrained surface that is not constrained by any other member. Accordingly, at a time when the rotating electric machine becomes heated accompanying continuous operation of the rotating electric machine, at least one of the first end part or the second end part of the partition wall member is capable of freely extending along the axial direction of the partition wall member based on thermal expansion
Data Source
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AI summary
A rotating electric machine system (20) is equipped with a partition wall member (32) for partitioning the interior of a housing (22) into a rotor chamber (34) and a stator chamber (36). A first sealing member (624) is interposed between a first end of the partition wall member (32) and a partition member (610) connected to the housing. A second sealing member (634) is interposed between a second end of the partition wall member (32) and a part of the housing. The rotor chamber is cooled by a gaseous coolant (AR) and the stator chamber by a liquid coolant (CO). The first end surface or the second end surface of the partition wall member (32) is an open end or a non-contact surface, thus does not come into contact with any member connected to the housing.