Rotating Electric Machine Housing With Partitioned Coolant Paths
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotating electric machines face challenges in effectively cooling the first electrical component of the power converter, which generates more heat than the second electrical component, leading to inadequate cooling performance.
Innovation Solution
The rotating electric machine incorporates a coolant passage with a partitioned upstream-side path and downstream-side path, where the first electrical component is positioned on the inner side of the upstream path, allowing for preferential cooling by coolant flow, and the second electrical component is positioned on the inner side of the downstream path, with separate coolant inflow and outflow ports for each component.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a single coolant passage is used for both electrical components, then the structure is simple, but the cooling performance for the first electrical component is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant passage is segmented into an upstream-side path and a downstream-side path by a partition wall portion. The upstream-side path is dedicated to cooling the first electrical component, while the downstream-side path cools the second electrical component. This segmentation allows independent cooling optimization for each component, particularly enabling effective cooling of the heat-generating first electrical component without compromising structural simplicity.
2Productivity
If the first electrical component is positioned to receive preferential cooling, then cooling efficiency improves, but the device complexity increases due to partition walls
Solution Approach 1:
The partition wall portion is strategically positioned to create local quality differences in the coolant flow. The upstream-side path is designed with smaller cross-sectional area to increase coolant flow velocity and cooling efficiency for the first electrical component, while the downstream-side path has larger area for the second component. This local differentiation optimizes cooling where needed without requiring complete structural redesign.
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 enhances cooling performance for the first electrical component, reducing temperature increase in the coolant and improving overall cooling efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A coolant passage that has an inlet portion into which a coolant flows and an outlet portion from which the coolant flows, and connects between the inlet portion and the outlet portion in one direction along the cylindrical portion is formed in the cylindrical portion
Implementation Method 2
a coolant passage that has an inlet portion into which a coolant flows and an outlet portion from which the coolant flows
Data Source
AI summary
A rotating electric machine includes a housing member including a cylindrical portion. First and second electrical components are arranged in the circumferential direction along the cylindrical portion in a radial direction of the cylindrical portion. A coolant passage between an inlet portion and an outlet portion is formed in the cylindrical portion. The housing member includes a partition wall portion partitioning a portion of the coolant passage from the inlet portion to a specific position between the inlet portion and the outlet portion in the circumferential direction as an upstream-side path. The partition wall portion is separated in the radial direction from a wall portion of the cylindrical portion. The first electrical component is arranged on an inner side in the radial direction relative to the upstream-side path, and the second electrical component is arranged on the inner side in the radial direction relative to a downstream-side path.