Rotary Electric Machine Cooling with Segmented Airflow

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing cooling systems for motor vehicle alternator-starters are not optimized for the specific heat dissipation needs of power, control, and filtering components, leading to inefficient heat management.

Innovation Solution

The proposed rotary electrical machine features a cooling device with a protective cover and multiple heatsinks that create specific air flows for each component block, ensuring targeted cooling without the need for a dividing wall or multiple series of openings, and uses thermal and electrical insulation to minimize heat exchange between blocks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single cooling device is used for all electronic components, then the device complexity is reduced, but the cooling efficiency for each component block is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling device structureVSAvoidcooling efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling device is segmented into multiple independent cooling circuits, each dedicated to a specific component block (power block, control block, filtering block). Each circuit includes its own pump, heat exchanger, and cooling channels, allowing customized cooling flow rates and temperatures for each block based on its specific heat dissipation requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the electronic assembly are provided with different cooling characteristics. The power block receives high-flow cooling due to its high heat generation, while the control block receives lower-flow cooling. The cooling parameters are locally optimized for each component's thermal needs rather than using a uniform approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If thermal insulation is increased between component blocks, then the operating temperature stability is improved, but the heat dissipation efficiency may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperating temperature stabilityVSAvoidheat dissipation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic assembly is divided into thermally isolated blocks (power, control, filtering) with dedicated cooling circuits for each. This segmentation allows thermal insulation between blocks while maintaining efficient heat dissipation within each block through its own customized cooling system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Thermal insulation materials are used as intermediaries between adjacent component blocks to prevent unwanted heat transfer. These insulating barriers ensure that heat generated in one block does not adversely affect adjacent blocks, while each block's dedicated cooling system efficiently removes its own heat through isolated thermal pathways.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 approach achieves optimized cooling for each block, maintaining different operating temperatures and reducing thermal decoupling, thereby enhancing the overall cooling efficiency of the electronic assembly.

Implementation Method 1

a cooling device to cool said blocks, said cooling device comprising: a protective cover adapted to cover the power, filtering and control blocks; a first set of openings adapted to be positioned facing the fins of a first cooling element coupled to the power block and facing the control block; and the first cooling element which is a first dissipator provided with a sole protruding with respect to the power block so as to create a first flow of cooling air for the power block and a second flow of cooling air for the control block

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

a first cooling element which is a first dissipator provided with a sole protruding with respect to the power block so as to create a first flow of cooling air for the power block

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat Sink: Heat Sink

Data Source

PatentEP2913910B1Rotary electric machine for a motor vehicle comprising an electronic assembly
Publication Date: 2022.08.10 VALEO EQUIP ELECTRIC MOTEUR
  • EP2913910B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2913910B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~3a
  • EP2913910B1 patent drawingFigure 3b~5

AI summary

The present invention relates to an electronic assembly for a rotating electric machine for a motor vehicle, said electronic assembly comprising: - blocks (100, 300) of electronic components, the blocks having different heat dissipation requirements, the blocks comprising a power block (100), a control block (300); - a cooling device for said blocks (100, 300), said cooling device comprising a protective cover (400) adapted to cover the power and control blocks (100, 300), said protective cover comprising a first set of openings (401) adapted to be positioned opposite a first cooling element coupled to the power block (100), and opposite the control block (300);the first cooling element being a first heat sink equipped with a base (1016), said base (1016) protruding from the power block (100) so as to produce a first radial cooling airflow (F1) for said power block (100) and a second radial cooling airflow (F2) for said control block (300).