Rotating Machine Ventilation Axial Radial Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Rotating electrical machines, such as electric ship motors, face significant cooling challenges due to high heat generation from the Joule effect, particularly in confined spaces, where traditional cooling methods like axial and dual air inlets lead to temperature gradients, inefficient cooling, and poor temperature homogeneity.

Innovation Solution

A ventilation system that circulates cooling air both axially and radially between magnetic lamination stacks, with air supply and recovery means at both axial ends, ensuring efficient cooling by distributing air radially between all stacks, thereby reducing temperature gradients and achieving better temperature homogeneity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If radial air circulation is distributed between all stacks, then cooling efficiency and temperature uniformity are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature uniformityVSAvoidventilation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ventilation system components serve multiple functions: air supply means provide cooling air to both axial ends, first air circulation means handle rotor cooling, second air circulation means handle stator cooling, and air recovery means collect and redirect air. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, managing complexity while achieving uniform cooling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges axial and radial air circulation paths into an integrated ventilation system where air flows through multiple circulation means in sequence. By combining these paths and using shared components like air supply and recovery means, the system achieves distributed cooling across all stacks without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The system effectively cools the entire machine by balancing axial and radial air circulation, maintaining good temperature homogeneity and ensuring efficient heat dissipation even in confined spaces like a ship's nacelle.

Implementation Method 1

They release a relatively large amount of heat, mainly due to Joule heat losses

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

air supply means for bringing ventilation air into the machine axially in first air circulation means capable of allowing axial circulation of the ventilation air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced convection: Forced Convection

Data Source

PatentEP2098447B1Ventilation system of a rotating electric machine
Publication Date: 2016.06.01 GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION FRANCE SAS
  • EP2098447B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2098447B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2098447B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a rotating electrical machine comprising a shaft (7), a rotor (14) secured to the shaft and a stator (6), the rotor and the stator comprising packets (16, 9) of magnetic sheets (17, 10) separated by spacing means (20, 13).This machine comprises: - means (26, 27, 31) for causing ventilation air to enter the machine axially in first means (22) capable of allowing axial circulation of the ventilation air at the stator; - second means (21) capable of allowing axial circulation of the ventilation air at the stator; - means (28, 32) for collecting the ventilation air leaving the air circulation means; so that the ventilation air is caused to circulate in the machine successively: - axially (F1) in the first circulation means (22); - radially (F2, F3) between the lamination packs of the rotor, then of the stator, and between their respective spacing means; - axially (F4) in the second air circulation means (21).