Stator Housing Fluid Flow Deflectors for Compressor Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluid-cooled electrically driven compressors for internal combustion engines face inefficiencies in cooling due to uniform fluid flow paths, leading to thermal issues and reduced performance.
Innovation Solution
The stator housing incorporates multiple fluid flow deflectors on the radially outer and inner walls, deflecting the cooling fluid flow away from the shortest path between the inlet and outlet, creating a helical or axial extension, which imparts a velocity vector component and generates turbulence, enhancing cooling efficiency by distributing heat evenly throughout the chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If cooling fluid flows along the shortest path between inlet and outlet, then pressure losses are reduced, but cooling efficiency deteriorates due to heat accumulation in certain regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating region-specific flow characteristics through deflectors. Different regions of the fluid chamber receive differentiated cooling flows - some areas get direct short-path flow for low pressure loss, while other areas receive deflected flow for enhanced heat removal, making the cooling distribution non-uniform and optimized for local thermal conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a third dimension to the cooling flow by using deflectors that extend in the radial direction. This transforms the traditionally two-dimensional (axial-circumferential) flow path into a three-dimensional flow pattern that utilizes radial deflection, creating helical extensions and improving cooling coverage without significantly increasing pressure losses
2Temperature
If multiple fluid flow deflectors are added to the stator housing, then cooling efficiency is improved through enhanced heat distribution, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cooling flow into multiple distinct paths using individual deflectors positioned at different locations and orientations. Each deflector creates a separate flow deviation, dividing the single cooling stream into multiple sub-streams that collectively cover the entire stator housing surface more uniformly, enhancing cooling efficiency without requiring a complete redesign of the cooling system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by using deflectors with heights that extend only partially across the fluid chamber (up to 50% or 30% of the radial distance). This partial deflection is sufficient to create the desired flow redirection and helical extensions while avoiding the excessive complexity that would result from full-radial deflectors, achieving optimal cooling with minimal structural addition
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 increases cooling efficiency by preventing heat accumulation, improving temperature distribution, and reducing pressure losses, as demonstrated by computational fluid dynamics simulations, thereby enhancing the overall performance of the fluid-cooled electrically driven compressor.
Implementation Method 1
The multiple fluid flow deflectors are configured to deflect a cooling fluid flow away from a shortest path between the inlet and the outlet
Implementation Method 2
The multiple fluid flow deflectors are configured to deflect a cooling fluid flow away from a shortest path between the inlet and the outlet, thereby imparting a velocity vector component on at least a portion of the cooling fluid flow
Data Source
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AI summary
A stator housing for a fluid-cooled electrically driven compressor is described. The stator housing has a longitudinal axis and comprises a stator opening extending along the longitudinal axis and configured to receive a stator of an electric motor. The stator housing further comprises a fluid chamber having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and extending in a circumferential direction of the longitudinal axis around the stator opening. The chamber is delimited by a radially outer wall and a radially inner wall relative to the longitudinal axis. At least one fluid flow deflector is arranged in a region between the radially outer wall and the radially inner wall and configured to deflect at least a portion of a cooling fluid flow away from a shortest path between the inlet and the outlet.