Rotating Electric Machine Cooling via Segmented Refrigerant Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotating electric machines face challenges in properly distributing refrigerant to coil end portions, leading to inadequate cooling, particularly in hybrid and EV vehicles where temperature management is critical.
Innovation Solution
A rotating electric machine design featuring a rotor and stator with distinct refrigerant flow paths and end surface plates that supply refrigerant to both the root and distal regions of the coil end portions, ensuring uniform cooling through separate refrigerant supply portions for each region.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If refrigerant is discharged from a common opening and outer edge of the end surface plate, then the refrigerant flow path is simplified, but the refrigerant cannot be properly distributed to different regions of the coil end portion
Solution Approach 1:
The end surface plate is divided into multiple functional regions: a root side refrigerant supply portion for supplying refrigerant to the root region of the coil end portion, and a distal side refrigerant supply portion for supplying refrigerant to the distal region. This segmentation allows independent refrigerant supply to different regions, ensuring proper distribution while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the end surface plate are designed with different functions tailored to local cooling needs. The root side refrigerant supply portion is positioned to cool the root region, while the distal side refrigerant supply portion is positioned to cool the distal region. This local quality approach ensures that each region receives refrigerant appropriately for its specific thermal requirements.
2Temperature
If refrigerant is supplied to coil end portions, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but temperature distribution uniformity across different regions may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into multiple independent supply channels: the root side refrigerant supply portion and the distal side refrigerant supply portion. Each channel can be optimized for its specific region, allowing independent control of refrigerant flow to achieve both effective cooling and uniform temperature distribution across different regions of the coil end portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The end surface plate is designed with location-specific refrigerant supply features. The root side refrigerant supply portion addresses the thermal characteristics of the root region, while the distal side refrigerant supply portion addresses the thermal characteristics of the distal region. This local quality approach ensures that each region receives appropriately targeted cooling to achieve uniform overall temperature distribution.
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 effectively cools the coil end portions by ensuring appropriate refrigerant distribution, enhancing the performance and efficiency of the rotating electric machine by maintaining optimal temperature levels.
Implementation Method 1
a first refrigerant flow path in which the refrigerant flows in the axial direction; and a second refrigerant flow path which is disposed further on a radial inner side than the first refrigerant flow path and in which the refrigerant flows in the axial direction
Data Source
AI summary
A rotating electric machine includes a rotor and a stator. The rotor includes: a rotor core having a refrigerant flow path; and an end surface plate arranged at least on one side of the rotor core. The refrigerant flow path includes: a first refrigerant flow path; and a second refrigerant flow path which is disposed further on a radial inner side than the first refrigerant flow pat. The stator includes: a stator core; and a coil end portion protruding from at least one side of the stator core. The end surface plate includes: a root side refrigerant supply portion which communicates with the first refrigerant flow path and supplies the refrigerant to a root region of the coil end portion; and a distal side refrigerant supply portion which communicates with the second refrigerant flow path and supplies the refrigerant to a distal region of the coil end portion.