Rotary Electric Machine Refrigerant Flow Below Axis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotary electric machine units face challenges in efficiently supplying refrigerant to the portion below the rotation axis, leading to reduced cooling efficiency due to gravitational flow patterns that bypass the coil end portions.
Innovation Solution
A rotary electric machine unit design featuring a refrigerant supply system with a protruding portion and a refrigerant flow lower surface below the rotation axis, where the refrigerant flows downward from the axial central portion to effectively supply a larger amount of refrigerant to the area below the rotation axis, enhancing cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the cooling oil pipe is arranged above the rotary electric machine and refrigerant is discharged to flow along the coil end portion, then the refrigerant can be supplied to the upper portion of the rotary electric machine, but the refrigerant flows down directly below due to gravity and fails to supply the portion below the rotation axis
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling oil pipe is divided into multiple discharge holes positioned at different locations (above and below the rotation axis). This segmentation allows refrigerant to be discharged at multiple points simultaneously, ensuring both upper and lower portions of the rotary electric machine receive adequate refrigerant supply, resolving the gravity-induced flow distribution issue
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge holes are arranged in the axial direction (vertical dimension) at different heights relative to the rotation axis. By utilizing the axial dimension for discharge hole positioning, the system overcomes the two-dimensional gravity-driven flow pattern and achieves three-dimensional refrigerant distribution throughout the rotary electric machine
2Ease of manufacture
If the refrigerant supply portion is positioned above the rotation axis, then the refrigerant can be discharged to the upper portion, but it becomes difficult to supply refrigerant to the portion below the rotation axis
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling oil pipe is segmented with multiple discharge holes at different axial positions. This allows a single cooling oil pipe structure to supply refrigerant to both upper and lower portions of the rotary electric machine, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving comprehensive refrigerant distribution
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling oil pipe serves multiple functions: it supplies refrigerant to both the upper portion (above rotation axis) and lower portion (below rotation axis) of the rotary electric machine. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate cooling systems for different regions, maintaining structural simplicity while achieving universal refrigerant coverage
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 ensures a greater amount of refrigerant is supplied to the rotary electric machine below the rotation axis, improving cooling efficiency and addressing the inefficiencies of previous designs.
Implementation Method 1
below the rotation axis, the refrigerant flows, not along the coil end portion, but down directly below due to the gravity
Data Source
AI summary
A rotary electric machine unit includes a rotary electric machine, where a protruding portion extending in an axial direction from a one end side cover portion toward the rotary electric machine is formed at a position below a rotation axis of the rotary electric machine and overlapping with the rotary electric machine. A refrigerant flow lower surface formed on a tip end side of the protruding portion and extending in the axial direction, and a recessed surface adjacent to a base side end portion of the refrigerant flow lower surface and extending in the axial direction at a position recessed upward than the refrigerant flow lower surface are formed below a center of the protruding portion in the upper-lower direction. The refrigerant flow lower surface of the protruding portion is arranged such that an axial central portion overlaps the rotary electric machine in the axial direction.