Permanent Magnet Rotary Machine Thermal Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Permanent magnet rotating machines face thermal degradation due to heat generated by windings and iron cores, leading to decreased efficiency and reliability, as the temperature rise from the air intake to the exhaust port side affects the magnetic properties of the magnets.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a housing with an air intake port and an air exhaust port, where the permanent magnet at the air exhaust port side has a higher coercivity than at the air intake port side, utilizing a surface treatment by grain boundary diffusion to maintain remanence levels while increasing coercivity, and using a blower to feed cooling air through the machine.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If cooling air is fed through the housing from air intake port to air exhaust port, then heat generated by windings and iron core is cooled, but the temperature rise of cooling air causes thermal degradation of permanent magnets especially at the air exhaust port side

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling air temperatureVSAvoidpermanent magnet reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the coercivity requirements of permanent magnets based on their position relative to the air exhaust port. Specifically, permanent magnets located at or near the air exhaust port side are designed with higher coercivity than those at the air intake port side. This localized differentiation addresses the thermal gradient caused by cooling air temperature rise, providing enhanced thermal stability where it is most needed while maintaining cost-effectiveness throughout the entire magnet array.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If alloying process by grain boundary diffusion is used to increase coercivity, then heat resistance and demagnetization resistance are improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecoercivityVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality in the manufacturing approach by applying the alloying process by grain boundary diffusion selectively only to permanent magnets located at or near the air exhaust port side, rather than uniformly to all permanent magnets. This targeted application reduces manufacturing complexity and cost while still achieving the necessary coercivity enhancement in the specific regions where thermal degradation is most severe.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes by modifying the coercivity parameter of permanent magnets based on their spatial position and thermal environment. By adjusting the coercivity parameter (through selective alloying) in regions experiencing higher temperatures, the patent optimizes the balance between magnetic performance and thermal resistance without unnecessarily increasing complexity throughout the entire device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 effectively suppresses thermal degradation and efficiency drops in permanent magnet rotating machines, allowing for improved reliability and performance by maintaining magnetic properties and reducing costs through targeted coercivity enhancement.

Implementation Method 1

an alloying process by grain boundary diffusion is known as a method for manufacturing an R-Fe-B sintered magnet having a high coercivity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGrain boundary diffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 2

a permanent magnet is cooled by feeding cooling air thereto by use of a blower

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 3

a blower for feeding the cooling air to the air intake port

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced convection: Forced Convection

Data Source

PatentEP2533403B1Permanent magnet rotary machine
Publication Date: 2019.09.04 SHIN ETSU CHEMICAL CO LTD
  • EP2533403B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2533403B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2533403B1 patent drawingFigure 4(A)~4(C)

AI summary

Provided is a technology for enhancing the reliability of a permanent magnet rotating machine against thermal degradation of a permanent magnet. Specifically, provided is a permanent magnet rotating machine comprising a housing which houses a rotation shaft, a rotor connected to the rotation shaft and configured to rotate together with the rotation shaft, a stator, and permanent magnets fastened to the rotor or the stator; an air intake port provided at one end of the housing and an air exhaust port provided at the other end of the housing, the air intake port and the air exhaust port being configured to allow cooling air to flow through the housing; and a blower for feeding the cooling air to the air intake port; wherein the permanent magnet rotating machine is configured to be driven by magnetic force of the permanent magnets, and among the permanent magnets, a permanent magnet in the air exhaust port side has a higher coercivity than a permanent magnet in the air intake port side.